Wakura Onsen was discovered and began when a fisherman noticed a white heron healing its injured leg in the hot water bubbling up from the sea. In the square, there is a bronze statue of the white heron and a monument commemorating the legend of the onsen's origin.
In the center of the two white herons, the onsen source springs forth. At the square, visitors can drink the onsen water and make onsen eggs. Wakura Onsen is characterized by its colorless, transparent water with abundant salt content, a unique feature of this "sea onsen." By placing raw eggs in the spring where the water gushes out, you can create onsen eggs with a slightly salty taste.
There is also a fountain-like monument with an onsen water flow tower and "Wakuura no Honoo," Japan's largest gas lamp, standing at 11.5 meters tall.
Bentenzaki Gensen Park is located almost in the center of the Wakura Onsen town. In the middle of the park stands Wakura Benten Shrine, and next to it is Kameiwa Pond. The area was once an island named "Benten Island" until it was reclaimed. Kameiwa, a rock that closely resembles the shape of a turtle, is a remnant of Benten Island. In the past, onsen water gushed out around this rock, and it was said that it looked as if a turtle was breathing in the sea.
The park is well-equipped with facilities that utilize the onsen water. The hand baths allow visitors to enjoy the onsen water by simply immersing their hands. Hand baths warm the body starting from the fingertips, making them a convenient option for women wearing tights or stockings who may find foot baths difficult to use. Additionally, there are "Attaka Benches," which use the heat from the onsen to provide a floor-heating effect. These warm benches offer a chance to warm up and enjoy the onsen atmosphere even during a short break.
Yuttari Park is a foot bath facility facing the sea. It offers stunning views with the sea spreading out before you, Noto Ohashi, the longest bridge in Ishikawa Prefecture, to your right, and the Twin Bridge Noto to your left. This scenic spot allows visitors to relax while gradually warming up from their feet as they gaze at the calm sea. The foot baths are free of charge, but visitors should note that towels for drying wet feet are not provided, so it's advisable to bring your own.
Yuttari Park features foot baths, walking paths, and benches. The wooden promenade, made of a wood deck, faces Nanao Bay. The promenade is easy to walk on and offers stunning views of the beautiful Nanao Bay right beside it. This makes for a perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely stroll while taking in the scenic surroundings
Notojima Aquarium focuses on breeding and exhibiting fish that inhabit and migrate through the nearby waters of the Noto Peninsula. The aquarium houses and displays approximately 500 species and 40,000 individual marine creatures. From the large windows of the adjacent shop, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Nanao Bay. The shop sells cute merchandise such as plush toys of the dolphins and spotted seals that are bred at the aquarium. There are also restaurants and a food court available, making it a great place to spend the day exploring and relaxing.
Opened in 1991, the Notojima Glass Art Museum is dedicated to the theme of glass art. The museum houses nearly 400 works, primarily by contemporary glass artists from around the world. The main collection includes sculptural works created in Venetian glass workshops based on designs by 20th-century artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Jean Cocteau. It also features glass craftworks from the Qing Dynasty of China, collaborative pieces by Salvador Dalí and the French Daum glassworks, and glass art by contemporary artists active both domestically and internationally.
The museum hosts special exhibitions introducing glass artworks from around the world and workshops where visitors can get hands-on experience with glass, making it an accessible and engaging destination for all.
Sukunahikona Shrine, founded around 806 to 810 AD, is a historic shrine located in Nanao City. During this period, onsen began to emerge in a place called Yunotani, now part of Wakura Town. The villagers were overjoyed and regarded the onsen as a divine blessing, leading them to enshrine Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto, the deity of the shrine. Sukuna Hikona is known in Japan as the god of medicine and onsen. This marked the beginning of the shrine, which has since been a place of worship and reverence for those seeking healing and the blessings of the onsen.
Within the shrine grounds, there are two sacred trees known as the Meoto Shinboku, or "Married Couple Trees," which consist of a cypress and a zelkova tree. These trees are called the Meoto Shinboku because they stand close together, resembling a married couple. The zelkova tree is estimated to be over 500 years old. It is believed that praying to these sacred trees brings safety to one's household and harmony to married couples.
Wakura Onsen is located almost in the center of Nanao City in Ishikawa Prefecture. With a history of about 1,200 years since its opening, it is a rare onsen in Japan that springs forth from the sea. Wakura Onsen is famous not only as the only sea onsen in the Hokuriku region but also as a well-known onsen destination nationwide.
At the International Mineral Springs Expo held in Germany in 1880, it was selected as one of the "world's top three mineral springs," and its efficacy and spring quality have been highly regarded since ancient times. At Wakura Onsen, large ryokan line the coast overlooking Nanao Bay, forming a vibrant onsen town. Among these ryokan are some of Japan's most renowned establishments.
Get to know Wakura Onsen
Area guide
The Noto Peninsula, where the onsen town is located, is registered as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) under the name "Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi." The four cities and five towns, including Nanao City on the Noto Peninsula, are areas where satoyama and satoumi are concentrated.
Satoyama refers to areas located between human settlements, such as towns and villages, and mountainous regions, where rich natural environments have been maintained through human intervention. Satoumi refers to coastal areas that have a deep relationship with human life.
In the satoyama and satoumi of the Noto Peninsula, the local people have established a unique agricultural, forestry, and fisheries system that coexists with nature. The traditional lifestyles in these satoyama and satoumi areas have been recognized, leading to Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi being designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Near Wakura Onsen, there are many tourist attractions such as Notojima Aquarium, Notojima Glass Art Museum, and SenmaidaRice Fields , which is part of the "Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi" Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in Oku-Noto. Wakura Onsen has flourished as a lodging hub for tourism on the Noto Peninsula.
The central communal bathhouse of Wakura Onsen is the Wakura Onsen Sōyu. The roots of Wakura Onsen Sōyu date back to 1641, when a thatched hut was built on an artificial island created by reclaiming the area around the onsen source in the sea. Wakura Onsen Sōyu is a historic communal bathhouse that can be used by both locals and tourists. After bathing, visitors can relax in the spacious tatami-matted rest area.
In the onsen town where you can feel the sea breeze, there are onsen ryokan facing the sea that offer beautiful views. These ryokan also serve fresh seafood cuisine. At Bentenzaki Gensen Park and Yuttari Park, visitors can enjoy foot baths and hand baths, while at the Yumoto no Hiroba, they can easily try making onsen eggs.
Yuttari Park is a scenic spot where you can relieve foot fatigue while gazing at the Notojima Ohashi Bridge connecting Wakura Onsen and Notojima Island and the calm sea. The Notojima Ohashi Bridge is known as the longest bridge in Ishikawa Prefecture.
In Nanao City, there are four major festivals known as the Nanao Big Four Festivals: "Seihakusai," "Issaki Houtou Festival," "Okuma Kabuto Festival," and "Notojima Koda Fire Festival." Seihakusai is the most grandiose festival in Noto and is recognized as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan as well as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Okuma Kabuto Festival is also designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
In addition to the communal bathhouse Wakura Onsen Sōyu, Wakura Onsen also has onsen ryokan that can be used for day trips. In 2024, the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened from Kanazawa Station to Tsuruga Station, making transportation from Tokyo and Osaka even more convenient. Wakura Onsen serves as an accommodation hub for exploring the Noto Peninsula, allowing visitors to stay for extended periods and experience Japanese traditional culture and lifestyle, or enjoy day trips for sightseeing.
*Due to the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in January 2024, some ryokan, tourist facilities, and events are currently suspended. Please check the latest information on official websites and other sources before your visit.
Access
The nearest train station is JR Wakura Onsen Station. If you are traveling to Wakura Onsen by plane, you can go via Noto Airport (Noto Satoyama Airport) or Komatsu Airport.
From Hokkaido
<By Plane, Bus, and Train> New Chitose Airport → Komatsu Airport → <Limousine Bus> → Kanazawa Station → <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 3 hours and 10 minutes)
From Sendai
<By Plane, Bus, and Train> Sendai Airport → Komatsu Airport → <Limousine Bus>→ Kanazawa Station → <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 2 hours and 40 minutes)
From Tokyo
<By Train> Tokyo Station → <Hokuriku Shinkansen> → Kanazawa Station → <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 3 hours and 30 minutes)
<By Plane and Taxi> Haneda Airport → Noto Airport (Noto Satoyama Airport) → <Taxi> → Wakura Onsen (About 1 hour and 50 minutes)
<By Plane, Bus, and Train> Haneda Airport → Komatsu Airport → <Limousine Bus> → Kanazawa Station → <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 2 hours and 40 minutes)
From Nagoya
<By Train> Nagoya Station → <JR Limited Express> → Kanazawa Station→ <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 4 hours)
From Osaka
<By Train> Osaka Station → <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 3 hours and 45 minutes)
From Kanazawa
<By Train> Kanazawa Station → < JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 1 hour)
From Fukuoka
<By Plane, Bus, and Train> Fukuoka Airport → Komatsu Airport → <Limousine Bus> → Kanazawa Station → <JR Limited Express> → JR Wakura Onsen Station (About 3 hours and 10 minutes)
Water quality
The source of Wakura Onsen is about 80°C, making it a high-temperature onsen characterized by its abundant salt content, a unique feature of this "sea onsen." The water quality is classified as sodium-calcium chloride spring. The onsen water is colorless, transparent, odorless, and has a salty taste.
The water of Wakura Onsen has three major benefits. The first is its antibacterial effect, which helps with wounds and skin diseases. The second benefit is its moisturizing effect; the salt in the water adheres to the skin, reducing sweat evaporation and preventing chills after bathing. The third benefit is its beautifying effect on the skin; the salt tightens pores and smooths the skin. Additionally, bathing in this onsen is said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, bruises, cuts, and poor circulation.
The water can also be consumed. When diluted to half its concentration, it is beneficial for gastrointestinal diseases and anemia. However, people with high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, or general edema should refrain from drinking the onsen water.
History
Approximately 1,200 years ago (around 806 to 810 AD), onsen began to emerge in a place called Yunotani, marking the opening of Wakura Onsen. The onsen were used by the local people in their daily lives. It was said that "if you bathe in the onsen before going fishing, you'll have a great catch," and it was treasured as a lucky onsen. However, about 250 years later (around 1046 to 1053 AD), a tectonic shift caused the onsen source to move 60 meters offshore into the sea, causing the Yunotani onsen to dry up.
One day, a fisherman and his wife living in Wakura noticed an injured white heron dipping its wounded leg into the bubbling sea. Curious, they approached and discovered that hot onsen water was gushing out. This is said to be the first time an onsen was discovered in the sea at Wakura. Since the onsen was gushing out from the sea, the area was called "Wakuura," meaning "bay of gushing hot water."
In 1611, Toshinaga Maeda, the second lord of the Kaga Domain, had onsen water brought to him to treat his tumors, which enhanced its reputation as an effective medicinal water. The Kaga Domain was an autonomous region under the authority of the shogunate during the Edo period (1603-1867). It encompassed the territories of present-day Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures and was ruled by the Maeda family for 14 generations from 1583 to 1871.
In 1641, Toshitsune Maeda, the third lord of the Kaga Domain, ordered the maintenance of the onsen source and the reclamation of the surrounding area. To make it easier to draw onsen water from the sea, an artificial island called "Yushima" was created. On Yushima, there were stone-enclosed hot water basins and barrels to collect the water, all covered by a thatched hut. This thatched hut, built at that time, is the origin of the present-day Wakura Onsen Sōyu.
Thereafter, many people began visiting the onsen for illness recovery and health restoration. The reclamation of Yushima progressed, and bridges were built. In 1654, large bathhouses, mineral spring inns, and private bath inns were constructed. In 1674, by order of the Kaga Domain, the name was changed from "Wakuura" to the current "Wakura."
From around 1853 to 1868, nobles from Kyoto, wealthy merchants from Osaka, as well as painters and haiku poets, visited Wakura Onsen for therapeutic baths, spreading its reputation nationwide.
Wakura Onsen was honored as one of the "world's top three mineral springs" at the International Mineral Springs Expo held in Germany in 1880. In 1909, Crown Prince Yoshihito, who later became Emperor Taishō, visited Wakura Onsen, marking the first visit by a member of the imperial family. Since then, many members of the imperial family have visited the onsen.
In 1925, Wakura Station was established, leading to significant development for Wakura Onsen. The Hokuriku Shinkansen project has been progressing with plans to connect Tokyo to Osaka. The Hokuriku Shinkansen opened from Takasaki Station to Nagano Station in 1997, and from Kanazawa Station to Nagano Station in 2015. Furthermore, in 2024, the line was extended from Kanazawa Station to Tsuruga Station. This extension allows for the fastest travel time from Osaka to Kanazawa, which is now approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Wakura Onsen Sōyu, which traces its roots to the thatched hut built on Yushima, was renovated and reopened in 2011. Wakura Onsen Sōyu serves as the central communal bathhouse of the onsen town and includes facilities for distributing onsen water to various ryokan. Since its opening approximately 1,200 years ago, Wakura Onsen has evolved with the times while continuing to be cherished by both locals and tourists.
Attractions
Wakura Onsen Yumoto no Hiroba
Wakura Onsen was discovered and began when a fisherman noticed a white heron healing its injured leg in the hot water bubbling up from the sea. In the square, there is a bronze statue of the white heron and a monument commemorating the legend of the onsen's origin.
In the center of the two white herons, the onsen source springs forth. At the square, visitors can drink the onsen water and make onsen eggs. Wakura Onsen is characterized by its colorless, transparent water with abundant salt content, a unique feature of this "sea onsen." By placing raw eggs in the spring where the water gushes out, you can create onsen eggs with a slightly salty taste.
There is also a fountain-like monument with an onsen water flow tower and "Wakuura no Honoo," Japan's largest gas lamp, standing at 11.5 meters tall.
Bentenzaki Gensen Park
Bentenzaki Gensen Park is located almost in the center of the Wakura Onsen town. In the middle of the park stands Wakura Benten Shrine, and next to it is Kameiwa Pond. The area was once an island named "Benten Island" until it was reclaimed. Kameiwa, a rock that closely resembles the shape of a turtle, is a remnant of Benten Island. In the past, onsen water gushed out around this rock, and it was said that it looked as if a turtle was breathing in the sea.
The park is well-equipped with facilities that utilize the onsen water. The hand baths allow visitors to enjoy the onsen water by simply immersing their hands. Hand baths warm the body starting from the fingertips, making them a convenient option for women wearing tights or stockings who may find foot baths difficult to use. Additionally, there are "Attaka Benches," which use the heat from the onsen to provide a floor-heating effect. These warm benches offer a chance to warm up and enjoy the onsen atmosphere even during a short break.
Yuttari Park
Yuttari Park is a foot bath facility facing the sea. It offers stunning views with the sea spreading out before you, Noto Ohashi, the longest bridge in Ishikawa Prefecture, to your right, and the Twin Bridge Noto to your left. This scenic spot allows visitors to relax while gradually warming up from their feet as they gaze at the calm sea. The foot baths are free of charge, but visitors should note that towels for drying wet feet are not provided, so it's advisable to bring your own.
Yuttari Park features foot baths, walking paths, and benches. The wooden promenade, made of a wood deck, faces Nanao Bay. The promenade is easy to walk on and offers stunning views of the beautiful Nanao Bay right beside it. This makes for a perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely stroll while taking in the scenic surroundings
Notojima Aquarium
Notojima Aquarium focuses on breeding and exhibiting fish that inhabit and migrate through the nearby waters of the Noto Peninsula. The aquarium houses and displays approximately 500 species and 40,000 individual marine creatures. From the large windows of the adjacent shop, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Nanao Bay. The shop sells cute merchandise such as plush toys of the dolphins and spotted seals that are bred at the aquarium. There are also restaurants and a food court available, making it a great place to spend the day exploring and relaxing.
Notojima Glass Art Museum
Opened in 1991, the Notojima Glass Art Museum is dedicated to the theme of glass art. The museum houses nearly 400 works, primarily by contemporary glass artists from around the world. The main collection includes sculptural works created in Venetian glass workshops based on designs by 20th-century artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Jean Cocteau. It also features glass craftworks from the Qing Dynasty of China, collaborative pieces by Salvador Dalí and the French Daum glassworks, and glass art by contemporary artists active both domestically and internationally.
The museum hosts special exhibitions introducing glass artworks from around the world and workshops where visitors can get hands-on experience with glass, making it an accessible and engaging destination for all.
Sukunahikona Shrine
Sukunahikona Shrine, founded around 806 to 810 AD, is a historic shrine located in Nanao City. During this period, onsen began to emerge in a place called Yunotani, now part of Wakura Town. The villagers were overjoyed and regarded the onsen as a divine blessing, leading them to enshrine Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto, the deity of the shrine. Sukuna Hikona is known in Japan as the god of medicine and onsen. This marked the beginning of the shrine, which has since been a place of worship and reverence for those seeking healing and the blessings of the onsen.
Within the shrine grounds, there are two sacred trees known as the Meoto Shinboku, or "Married Couple Trees," which consist of a cypress and a zelkova tree. These trees are called the Meoto Shinboku because they stand close together, resembling a married couple. The zelkova tree is estimated to be over 500 years old. It is believed that praying to these sacred trees brings safety to one's household and harmony to married couples.
