Known among hot spring lovers, one of the most popular spots amongst the Japanese in the Noto Peninsula is Wakura Onsen Town (和倉温泉). Discovered around 1,200 years ago, the onsen became famous after the second lord of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Toshinaga (前田利長), who was treated with the hot spring here. Besides the hot spring, the town is also known for its delicious sweets and desserts!
Tip: Refer to the official website HERE for the coupons available for Wakura Onsen. You can translate the website using Google Chrome’s translation function at the right of the address bar.
Explore Wakura Onsen 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
Bicycle Rental at Wakura Onsen
If you like cycling, you can rent a bicycle from Wakura Onsen Inn Union (和倉温泉観光協会). They are open from 9 am to 5 pm daily. Just remember to return the bike before the office is closed for the day.
- Normal bicycles cost 500 yen for less than 4 hours of rental and 1,000 yen for a one-day rental.
- Electric-assisted bicycles cost 1,000 yen for less than 4 hours of rental and 2,000 yen for a one-day rental.
Tip: Besides bicycles, you can now rent an electric kickboard or even a one-person electric car to get to various attractions in Wakura Onsen Town from the Wakura Onsen Inn Union!
Onsen Public Bath (和倉温泉 総湯)
For a day trip, if you don’t mind bathing with strangers, the Wakura Onsen Public Bath (和倉温泉 総湯) is a great place to indulge in the onsen. The public bath was first opened in 1641 and was renovated in 2011 to modernize the bathhouse’s internal while keeping the traditional elements nicely
The cost of bathing here is quite reasonable.
- 490 yen for adults
- 130 yen for primary school students
- 50 for pre-school children
- Shower gel and shampoo are free of charge. But if you need a towel, it is another 250 yen.
At the left of the Wakura Onsen Public Bath’s gate, there is also a free foot bath for anyone who wants to take a short break from sightseeing and warm up!
At the left of the Wakura Onsen Public Bath’s gate, there is also a free foot bath for anyone who wants to take a short break from sightseeing and warm up!
Wakura Onsen Public Bath’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Wakura Onsen Public Bath is open from 7 am to 9 pm daily except on the 25th of each month. If the 25th of the month falls on a weekend, the bathhouse will close on the following Monday.
- To get to Wakura Onsen Public Bath from JR Wakuraonsen Station (和倉温泉駅), you can either:
- Walk for 25 minutes or,
- Take a bus bound for Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) from the station. Please refer to THIS TIMETABLE for the service. The first table is for weekdays, and the second table is for weekends and public holidays.
Noto Milk (能登ミルク)
For truly local dairy products, come to Noto Milk! The milk used to make their gelato and drinkable yogurt is sourced from the four farms in the Noto Peninsula.
In Japan, after you come up from the onsen pool, you drink a bottle of nice chilled milk to balance out the heat. And if you are staying overnight at Wakura Onsen, and milk is part of your breakfast menu, check with your hotel’s reception to see if you can order Noto Milk’s milk through them to save you the hassle of going out!
The gelato on their menu since 2018 has a natural taste and contains less sugar. So even if you are on a diet, giving it a go won’t make you feel as bad (^_-)-☆.
Noto Milk’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The shop is open from 9 am to 5 pm from Friday to Tuesday.
Yuttari Park Footbath (湯っ足りパーク足湯)
In the coastal area of Wakura Onsen Town, there are a few footbaths, such as Yuttari Park Footbath, to keep you warm while enjoying some quiet moments.
The footbath is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm but may be closed on days with bad weather.
After you have enough rest, how about heading to the magnificent Notojima Ōhashi Bridge and maybe even crossing the bridge to Noto Island for some exploration?
Notojima Ōhashi Bridge (能登島大橋)
As you stroll around Wakura Onsen Town (和倉温泉), you will notice a super long stylish bridge (1,050 meters in exact) that stretches all the way to an island across the sea.
Notojima Ōhashi Bridge, the longest bridge in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a bridge that connects Japan’s main island with Notojima or Noto Island (能登島). Depending on your itinerary, you can drive or walk on the island. But if you are going to drive, please follow the speed limit (20m/s) for your own safety.
The Noto Island has been developed for tourism purposes since the bridge was completed in 1982. For an idea of what you can do on the island, please check out an illustration of Notojima HERE.
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 Noto Penisula.
For more attractions you may be interested in, refer to our article on Noto Penisula!
