Wakura Onsen is a 1,200-year-old hot spring resort on the Noto Peninsula’s Nanao Bay. According to legend, the hot springs were first discovered by a fisherman who saw a heron bathing its injured wing in the warm spring waters. These mineral-rich waters have long been famous for their health benefits, and the historic public bath and a limited number of ryokan make Wakura Onsen a rewarding side trip from Kanazawa. The town was badly affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, and rebuilding and seawall work continue in some areas, so check official Wakura Onsen lodging and facility notices before booking or setting out.
Wakura Onsen seaside hotels
The Main Attractions at Wakura Onsen
Wakura Onsen Soyu is the local public bath. Dating back to 1641 but fully renovated in 2011, this is a bright and well-run facility with a variety of outdoor and indoor baths. It is open from 7:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:30. Fees are 500 yen for adults, 150 yen for elementary school children, and 50 yen for preschool children. From January 2026, the regular closing day is the 25th of each month, or the following Monday when the 25th falls on a weekend. The Soyu footbath is not available, so plan on using the main bath if you want a hot-spring soak.
Yuttari Park has a free outdoor public footbath where you can soak your feet while enjoying the view of the bay. The footbath has been renovated and reopened as Wakura Pokemon Footbath in Yuttari Park, and may close in bad weather.
Seirinji Temple is a Zen temple located in a bamboo grove. It is best known for its Gobenden imperial rest-house building, but public viewing of the Gobenden is suspended for the time being because of the earthquake. Goshuin are available, so check with the local tourism association before making the temple a main stop on your itinerary.
Noto Shokusai Market, also known as Nanao Fisherman’s Wharf, is closer to Nanao Station (one stop south of Wakura Onsen Station) and is about 10 minutes on foot from the station. It is worth a visit for its seafood market, dining area, and local-product shops. Opening hours vary by floor and day, so check before going. The Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto is also associated with Nanao, with date-specific details listed on the official event site each year.
Notojima Glass Art Museum is a museum devoted to glass art and holds many beautiful pieces from around the world. Located across the bay on Notojima Island, it is linked to Wakura Onsen by a bridge. The Notojima Kotsu bus from Wakura Onsen Station takes about 30 minutes to reach the museum area, with passengers getting off at Bijutsukan-mae. The museum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 from April to November and from 9:00 to 16:30 from December to March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. It is usually closed on the third Tuesday of the month, and admission details are listed on the official museum information page.
Wakura Onsen Hotels and Ryokans: What to Check Before Booking
The best way to enjoy Wakura Onsen is an overnight stay at a ryokan inn, with hot spring baths and seafood dining, but the lodging scene is rebuilding. Before booking, use the official Wakura Onsen lodging update and each ryokan’s own reservation page, because some properties are operating provisionally and construction or seawall work may affect sea views.
The official lodging update lists Hanagoyomi, Hosenkaku, Yunohana, Notoraku, TAOYA Wakura, Hamazuru, Noushu Iroha, Yukemurinoyado Biwanso, and Hotel Kaibo for tourist guests, with Shirasagi no Yu Noto Kaishu scheduled to reopen on 16-Jul-2026. Biwanso is listed for provisional operation from 11-Nov-2025.
Several famous Wakura Onsen names require special care. Kagaya and Matsuno Midori are being consolidated into a rebuilt Kagaya, with a 2027 fiscal-year-end reopening target. Aenokaze has a 2027 fiscal-year first-half reopening target. Togetsuan should be checked directly before planning a stay, because it is not listed among the tourism association’s tourist-guest accommodations.
How to Get There
Wakura Onsen can be reached by train or by car. Train services are best if your plan is focused on the town, Soyu, and nearby attractions. A car gives you more mobility around the Noto Peninsula, but road recovery work and traffic restrictions can affect routes, especially beyond Nanao and Wakura Onsen.
A local train on the Nanao Line
By Train
Wakura Onsen is connected to Kanazawa Station by local train lines: the IR Ishikawa Railway Line, the JR Nanao Line, and the Noto Railway for the final section from Nanao. Direct limited express services on the Noto Kagaribi also link Kanazawa with Nanao and Wakura Onsen. Check a date-specific timetable and fare search before departure, because ordinary trains, limited express trains, and pass use have different ticket rules.
The Limited Express Noto Kagaribi
The Kanazawa Noto tabiwa Pass is a useful 2-day digital pass for ordinary trains in the JR, IR Ishikawa Railway, and Noto Railway free area, plus some Noto-area buses. For the 2026-2027 pass period it costs 3,250 yen for adults and 1,620 yen for children. Limited express services such as the Noto Kagaribi require a separate fare and limited express ticket.
In addition there is a very special sightseeing train called the Hanayome Noren that runs between Kanazawa and Wakura Onsen on selected dates. This train is nicknamed a “ryokan on wheels” because of its deluxe interior and high degree of service. Ticket sales resumed in January 2026, all seats are reserved, and a reserved-seat limited express ticket is required in addition to the base fare. JR West lists the reserved-seat limited express ticket for Kanazawa to Nanao or Wakura Onsen at 1,490 yen for adults and 740 yen for children. Meals, snacks, sweets, and drinks are separate pre-booked options. For more details on this train and pictures of its highly decorated interior and exterior see our article: The Hanayome Noren.
The Hanayome Noren
By Car
Wakura Onsen can be reached by car via the coastal Noto Satoyama Kaido and Noetsu Expressway route. The Noto Satoyama Kaido has no toll fees, and the drive from Kanazawa to Wakura Onsen takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes under normal conditions, or around 1 to 1.5 hours depending on route and traffic. Road recovery work and traffic restrictions continue on parts of the Noto Satoyama Kaido / Noetsu Expressway network, especially farther north, so check road information before driving beyond Nanao and Wakura Onsen. Wajima City is not reached by railway, so travel there is by car or by bus. For more information on local driving check our article on Car Rental in Kanazawa.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 05-Jun-2026.
