Noto Peninsula 2-Day Trip!
Day 1 starts with a stay in Shin-Yokohama. At 6:20 AM, I line up for breakfast, and even at that early hour, there’s a queue of about 30 minutes, typical of a large hotel. By 7:00 AM, I finish breakfast and check out.
The airport limousine bus operates intermittently from the hotel, but in the morning, only departures from Shin-Yokohama Station are available. Fortunately, the station is just a 4-minute walk from the hotel. Thanks to Dokul, the rain has stopped. 🙏
I board the limousine bus at 7:15 AM, expecting to arrive at Haneda Terminal 2 by 7:55 AM. However, I underestimated the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war. The bus arrives around 7:20 AM, starting with a 5-minute delay.
Most of the route is through tunnels, and traffic begins to build up during rush hour. My flight is at 8:55 AM, but even after 8:00 AM, I’m still stuck on the road. I reach Terminal 1 around 8:10 AM and Terminal 2 by 8:20 AM.
For domestic flights in Japan, ticketing closes 40 minutes before departure, and check-in ends 20 minutes prior. Thankfully, I issued a mobile ticket while on the bus. Without checked luggage, I head straight to the check-in line, which has over 200 people.
I thought I wouldn’t make it, but Japan’s ANA staff, equipped with iPads, locate passengers with imminent departures and guide them to the fast-track lane. I manage to check in by 8:30 AM.
I wasn’t the only one; there were dozens of others. 🤣 Just when I thought everything was sorted, I learned that domestic flights to remote areas require a 5-minute bus ride to a separate building. I expected stairs but found an entirely different facility. 😅
If you’re assigned gates 45–47, brace yourself for some hassle. 😂 Thanks to Japan’s systematic approach, I arrived at the airport at 8:20 AM and was seated by 8:50 AM, allowing the flight to depart on time. 👏👏👏
Today’s destination is Noto Airport. It’s exclusively served by ANA with only two flights a day. There are no limousine buses or rail services, but there’s a system called Furusato Taxi. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance.
This taxi service requires cash payment to the driver, with a fixed fare of 1,300 yen for a comfortable ride to Suzu City, 40 kilometers away. I shared the ride with a Suzu resident who was on the same flight. An 8-seater jumbo taxi arrived.
In Suzu City, I spent about three hours sightseeing and having lunch. Then, I moved to Anamizu for more sightseeing and took the Noto Railway. At Hakui Station, I enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner. Since these are uncommon areas, I’ll share everything through photos.
I returned to Kanazawa around 7:00 PM and checked into the hotel for Day 2. Once again, I was upgraded to the premium floor on the top level, offering a view of Kanazawa Station.
With rain forecasted for tomorrow, I decided to take a night stroll. Although this is my seventh trip to Kanazawa, it’s only my third time exploring the city center. I even found a Pokémon manhole.
I captured the late autumn scenery of Kanazawa. Unfortunately, the Michelin yakitori restaurant I had planned to visit was out of ingredients when I arrived just before 10:00 PM.
Morning arrives with a 100% chance of rain. I wake up around 6:00 AM to find cloudy skies and light rain. I go back to sleep until 7:00 AM.
The rain alternates between stopping and starting, prompting me to activate Plan B. I cancel the morning itinerary, which involved a 40-minute round trip walk outdoors, due to the windy and rainy conditions.
I join breakfast at 8:30 AM, a leisurely hour and a half later than usual, and finish by 9:30 AM. After checking out at 10:30 AM, I head to an 11:00 AM afternoon tea at a hotel near Omicho Market.
The hotel exudes Kanazawa’s traditional charm, reminiscent of Mitsui Kyoto. The afternoon tea blends Kanazawa’s autumn vibes with Christmas spirit.
Having eaten breakfast late, the heavy afternoon tea spread leaves me speechless. The portions are enormous. 🤣 The service rivals that of a 5-star establishment, and the restaurant ambiance is delightful.
After finishing the first afternoon tea, I revisit the Pokémon manhole mission I completed the previous night and focus on the Samurai District. Luckily, the rain stops while I’m outdoors and resumes only during afternoon tea.
The Samurai District is quite small. ^^ At 2:00 PM, I enter the second afternoon tea session of the day. I spend 1 hour and 15 minutes here before catching the Komatsu Airport limousine bus.
I arrive at Komatsu Airport 50 minutes before departure and use the automated ticket machine to issue boarding passes for tomorrow’s flight back to Gimpo. After relaxing in the Komatsu lounge, I board the flight to Tokyo.
Tonight’s hotel offers a SkyTree view, and I’m given a room with the closest view of the SkyTree. ^^ It’s not an exaggeration; it’s the corner room!~
This concludes my 2-day trip to the Noto Peninsula.
Thank you.