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Highly Rated Hokuriku Shinetsu Venues
🎌 [Inspection Report] 🗻
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Japan National Tourism Organization staff would like to share the following venues in Hokuriku Shinetsu – Ishikawa, Toyama and Nagano, inspected personally when accompanying travel agents in a FAM trip in July 2023.
These venues are highly rated by the travel agencies. The JNTO staff would like to share you it’s experience and personal comments for you to consider putting in your “Jom Japan List”! |
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Appreciating Japan’s Beauty & Wisdom
Kenrokuen Garden, Ishikawa Prefecture
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One of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, Kenrokuen Garden.
(Photo @Kanazawa City)
We felt it was extraordinarily beautiful until we learned about the deep wisdom behind the design – “the six factors” (three sets of two contrasting concepts which is very challenging to be brought together).
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For example, the garden possesses "magnificent scenic views to the city" which high grounds are necessary, at the same time combines "water sources" that flow in lower areas, all within the same garden. All this using wisdom around 400 years ago!
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Historical and modern, Kenrokuen covered it all, featuring a wealth of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) content. Features like “water fountain without manmade pump”, “cloned Pine trees”, “preserving traditional skills” and more, shows us how Japanese connects their wisdom from past to the future.
Kenrokuen is a place where visitors can relax, but it also stimulates the thirst for wisdom. Do request for a guide when you visit to have a dip of the garden’s wisdom.
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Another interesting part of Kenrokuen area (Kanazawa City) is it is compact so that travellers can reach several major tourist spots within walking distance! Within the tourist spots visitors can consider visiting Kanazawa Castle and The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
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Photo: Kanazawa Castle shares a historical connection with Kenrokuen, as its waters were sourced from the garden.
©Kanazawa City |
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JNTO staff comments:
The area around Kenrokuen, Kanazawa city, has a nickname as “Small Kyoto”, offering rich cultural experiences including Samurai, Gold leaf and Yukata wearing. This ensures the Japan culture lovers an efficient and uncrowded two days trip in their itinerary. |
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Create My Unique Japanese Paper Postcards
Gokayama Washi no Sato, Toyama Prefecture
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Nestled in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, Gokayama Washi no Sato (Village of Japanese Paper) is celebrated for its ancient craft of traditional Japanese papermaking, known as "Washi." Gokayama Washi stands out for its remarkable durability compared to modern papers. It finds versatile applications in water-proof accessories, decorative items and Traditional Japanese paper doors. |
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I am always a fan of the vibrant and unique looking of the Washi accessories, and of course I’ve got my love one and myself some new accessories!
Best of all is visitors have the opportunity to create personalized postcards by participating in a hands-on Washi making workshop! The soft view and touching of the washi calm us and the customization of the design helps us passing our love to the receiver. |
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Besides washi workshop, we also explored the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gokayama Gassho-style houses village. Nestled deep within the picturesque mountains of Toyama Prefecture, Gokayama is renowned for its beautifully preserved Gassho-style houses. Unlike other Gassho-style villages, Gokayama exudes a tranquil ambiance, as the villagers are actually still living in the houses.
Photo © 2023 Toyama Tourism Organization |
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JNTO staff comments:
Gokayama is a living history and embodies continuously evolving traditions. While strolling around the area, we can feel the hug from Mother Earth while we humans embrace it by trying our best to adopt what She provides into our life. |
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A Sacred Journey to Enlightenment
Zenkoji Temple, Nagano Prefecture
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Zenkoji Temple makes a great first impression due to its large scale and appearance, but there is an even deeper sacred journey to be discovered.
The temple houses a Buddha statue known as the "Three Countries' Buddha", is believed to have been crafted in India, brought to Japan from Korea during the early days of Buddhism's introduction, and revered as one of the oldest Buddhist statues in Japan. Zenkoji Temple was founded by a figure named Yoshimitsu, and the kanji character in his name can be read as "zenkou," meaning "Good and Light." The temple takes its name from him.
One of the unique aspects of Zenkoji is that the Buddha image enshrined here has been concealed from public view since 654 AD. It remains hidden to this day, and no one has been allowed to see it. This tradition has given rise to a belief among the people that "Buddha takes care of people whether or not He sees you, so we should help others even when our actions might go unnoticed."
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Another experience in Zenkoji was the “Okaidan-Meguri”. This "Okaidan-Meguri" tour walks visitors through the underground in total darkness and touching the key, set just beneath the sacred image is believed to promise you the “Pure Land" in the afterlife. |
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Additionally, Zenkoji houses the "Illness-healing statue" known as wooden statue of Binzuru Sonja. He was one of the sixteen disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha and was known for using his supernatural powers to aid people. Tourists can touch this Buddha statue at specific spots believed to provide blessings and healing for various ailments. |
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-------- Photos provided by Zenkoji Temple -------- |
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JNTO staff comments:
The visit to Zenkoji was contemplative, addressing the human thirst to realize more about goodness, one's own life, and health. The experiences definitely exceed the expectations towards ordinary tourist spots. |
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Hokuriku Shinetsu offered us one step deeper experiences with its unique, educational and spiritual contents. Even it was summer, the whole trip was quite cool compared to the major cities, maybe because of the mountains and alps around Hokuriku Shinetsu.
Tourists can take Thunderbird express train plus Hokuriku Shinkansen from Osaka to Hokuriku Shinetsu area; and Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo. Seafood, Sake and Soba are the must taste in Hokuriku Shinestu area. Make sure to taste it when you are there!
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Ready to start the trip?
Find the 2 following links to kick start your Hokuriku Shinetsu trip!
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