'''Nanao''' (____) is the largest city on the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa, Japan.

Understand

Nanao is essentially an overgrown fishing village on Nanao Bay. Once, it was the capital of Noto Province, but today Noto Castle lies in ruins and little trace of its history remains.

Get in

Nanao is on the JR Noto Line and the terminus of the roughly hourly local trains from Kanazawa via Tsubata. Limited expresses from Ueno (Tokyo), Osaka and Nagoya stop at Nanao on their way to Wakura Onsen. Nanao is also the terminus of the private Noto Railway from Anamizu to the north, and the station is shared by the two.

If going to Wakura Onsen by ordinary train, you'll need to transfer at Nanao and consider a tradeoff between time and money: the Noto Railway costs just ¥180, but runs only hourly and leaves you 3 km from the center, while buses leave half-hourly and take you all the way, but cost ¥350.

Get around

The train station is centrally located and within easy walking distance of all sights of interest.

See

There are no sights as such in Nanao, but some mildly diverting eating and shopping is available.

Do

The Seihakusai Festival in May (May 3,4, and 5th) is a very special festival. Try to visit at that time.

Buy

'''Ipponsugi-d?ri''' (___{______) is Nanao's main (only?) shopping street, about halfway between station and the wharf. While home to a few heritage buildings, most of it is distinctly ordinary. However, there are a few diverting shops to be found.

  • '''Shirai''' (______), Ipponsugi-dori, [http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~shirai52/]. A famous dealer of kelp and all things seaweedy. You'll be amazed at the variety (and prices!), presented in a stylish shop that wouldn't feel out of place on the Champs-Elysees, and you can even pick up some kelp candy for the folks back home.
  • Eat

  • '''Fisherman's Wharf''' (_\_o_H___s__ ''Noto Shokusai Ichiba''), by the seaside (''5 min on foot from JR Noto stn''). Not a wharf at all, this is a touristy two-story building solidly on firm land (but near the sea) that offers souvenir shopping on the first level and seafood restaurants on the second. Try the seafood grill next to the fish stalls, or if you have seafood coming out your ears, the '''Awabi''' restaurant on the 2nd offers a range of reasonably priced meaty curries.
  • Drink

    Sleep

    Get out

  • Wakura Onsen — hot springs one stop down the line