At the northmost part of the Noto Penisula, there is a picturesque cape called Cape Suzu (珠洲岬). It is also where the most fanciful Ryokan is located on the peninsula!
Cape Suzu is actually a general term for a couple of capes in the area, including Rokkosaki Cape, where the Rokkosaki Lighthouse is located. However, many people nowadays refer to Cape Suzu as Cape Kongō (金剛崎), which is the spot in the photo.
It is one of the rare places in the world where the cold current from the north and the warm current from the south meet in the ocean, creating polar and subtropical jet streams interacting in the air.
Explore Cape Suzu and the Noto Peninsula With a Guided Tour
If you prefer a guide to introduce you to the beauty of the Noto Peninsula or a photographer to take professional photos for you, how about joining one of the below tours?
- Full-Day Bicycle Tour on the Noto Peninsula
- The Noto Peninsula Full-Day Driving Tour with a Private Car
- The Noto Peninsula Private 1-Day Tour + Photoshoot with Professional Photographer
Lamp no Yado Ryokan (よしが浦温泉 ランプの宿)
Important: The ryokan is temporarily closed due to damage caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on January 1, 2024.
The black houses in the photo above are the Lamp no Yado Ryokan under the cliff at the coast. Just like its name, the onsen ryokan uses lanterns to light up the guestrooms and common areas at night, creating an adventurous but luxurious atmosphere.
The guestrooms in this ryokan come with a private onsen bath. Giving you all the privacy you need to enjoy the stunning view while indulging in the onsen! Apart from the onsen tub in your room, there is also a splendid private bath you can reserve after you check in. As it can only be booked on a first-come, first-served basis, try to get there around 3 pm!
Note that this ryokan, albeit its inconvenient location, is really popular that the ryokan can be booked out 6 months in advance. So if you want to stay there, make a reservation as early as possible.
For more information, please refer to Ryokan’s website HERE.
Tips:
☛ Let the ryokan know your special dietary requirements. They can cater (^_-)-☆.
☛ Pick-up and drop-off services to the nearest bus stop, Yoshigaura (葭ヶ浦), are available. If you want to utilize this service, give them a call before you board the bus at Suzunarikan-mae (すずなり館前).
☛ Ryokan guests get a discount on the admission fees to the Aerial Observatory and the Blue Cave.
☛ If you are staying overnight at the Ryokan and are driving, park your car in the pink area in the aerial photo on the Ryokan website’s access page HERE. The staff should be waiting for you at the yellow area, ready to fetch you to the ryokan between 3 and 5 pm.
Aerial Observatory Sky Bird (空中展望台 カイバード)
Standing at the tip of the aerial deck can be quite scary for those scared of height, especially when it swings as you walk. If you come on a windy day, it swings regardless if you are on it or not (´▽｀*).
But rest assured. The structure is steady as long as there aren’t more than six people on the deck at any given time!
One thing to note is that accessing the deck isn’t free. It is relatively pricey (but very cheap for elementary school students and younger children). The fees below includes the admission to the Blue Cave below the observatory.
- 1,500 yen for adults
- 200 yen for elementary school students and younger
Even if you aren’t interested in the observation deck (like us), if you want to see the scenery at the tip of Cape Kongō, you have to go through the promenade that continues from the side of the aerial observatory.
As a side note, it takes around 15 minutes to stroll through the entire promenade.
Tip: The tickets you buy will allow you access to the attraction(s) throughout the day. Just in case you want to head back for a second view.
Blue Cave (青の洞窟)
To get to the cave, you have to pay 1,500 yen for your way. And if you are going to the cave, don’t forget to grab one of the helmets near the ticket vending machine.
The promenade on the side of the observatory is linked to the path that goes down to the cave. A pole might block the entrance with a “no entry (立入禁止)” sign. So if you didn’t purchase the ticket to the cave, follow the rule and stay clear.
The color of the cave will be the bluest from 7 to 11 am when the light shines into the cave. The blue is really the reflection of the sunlight. If you come later than that, all you will get is a partially artificial cave lit up with blue LED lighting.
Note that some also say that spring and September is the best time to visit the cave for its blue.
Aerial Observatory Sky Bird and Blue Cave’s Opening Hours
- Both spots are open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
How to Get to Cape Suzu by Public Transport
From JR Kanazawa Station (金沢駅) west exit’s bus stop no. 7, take the Suzu Express Line (珠洲特急線) and get off at Suzunarikan-mae (すずなり館前). From there, change to Suzu City Community Bus (珠洲市コミュニティバス) and get off at Yoshigaura (葭ヶ浦). Cape Suzu will then be a 10 to 15-minute walk away.
- Refer to this bus’s timetable HERE and click the PDF next to “北鉄奥能登バス 特急線時刻表” at the bottom of the website. As it only comes in Japanese, please use the Japanese name of the bus stops to read.
- For the timetable for the Suzu City Community Bus’s Noroshi-iida Sea Route, please refer to HERE and click on the PDF that says “狼煙飯田 海ルート”.
- If you don’t read Japanese, you can use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan.
Discover Other Awesome Attractions in Noto Penisula
Looking forward to visiting Chirihama Beach Driveway during your next Japan trip? The beach is only one of the many fascinating attractions on the Noto Penisula.
For more attractions you may be interested in, refer to our article on Noto Penisula!
