Lighthouse on Cape Rokkozaki

Set off for Cape Rokkozaki early in the morning, to make the most of your time.

After a brief visit to Wajima Asaichi (輪島朝市), slip into the car and head northwest away from the city center.
The furthermost tip of the peninsula, Cape Rokkozaki (禄剛埼) is nearly 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Wajima. Cruise up the seaside road, with its variety of attractions, including picture-perfect Shiroyone Senmaida (白米千枚田) and rocky Sosogi Coast (曽々木海岸).
This seaboard area is also known as home to the traditional agehamashiki salt-making method. There are a few places you can eat and purchase the locally harvested salt. In Wajima-shio (輪島塩), you can try your hand at making your own spice featuring salt, as well as taste ice cream topped with salt. Salt making experiences are also available at another facility, Oku-Noto Endenmura (奥能登塩田村) (see page 29), but you’ll be hard-pressed to do so if you want to make it to Rokkozaki.

Enjoy the jugged coastline and luscious landscapes.

Route 249 connects to 28 which is known to be a perfect coastal road for a dramatic drive. You can get a glimpse of small fishing villages clinging on to cliffs. The thrill-packed drive will peak at around Kinoura (木ノ浦), where the road, with lush green on one side and the bright blue sea on the other, winds through woods leading up the peninsula’s most northerly point. Don’t hurry. Soak up the scenery on the slow drive.
Cape Rokkozaki, where a 130-year-old, white chalk lighthouse stands, is walking distance from the Michinoeki Noroshi (道の駅 狼煙). Amble up the sloped hill and flight of stairs, and admire the panoramic view from the cliff, while listening to crashing waves. The sign says you can watch both sunrise and sunset here, but even in daytime, it never disappoints you.
After walking up and down the steep hill in the summer heat, a cold drink at the michinoeki may perk you up.

Make your way back along the mild and feminine coastline.

Did you notice that the seascape has changed at all after you passed the cape? Let us explain. Local people usually divide the coast of the peninsula into two; sotoura (外浦) and uchiura (内浦). Sotoura, the west coast of the peninsula, features rugged shoreline as it is exposed to rough sea. Uchiura, the east coast, is made up primarily of bays and inlets filled with tranquil water.
28 becomes 12, and leads you to the city center of Suzu via the small resort town Hachigasaki (鉢ヶ崎) with its beautiful and shallow beach. Suzu retains nostalgic downtown scenery, including old-fashioned shopping streets and houses. It’s time to do something for your stomach. You’ll find some eateries around here, but if it’s Thursday, Friday or Saturday, pop into Chiisana Ouchi (小さなおうち). Literally meaning“small house”, it really is a small house, offering healthy, ethnic-flavored meals featuring local produce.
After filling your stomach, check out Mitsukejima Rock (見附島), a 30-meter (98-feet)-tall symbol of uchiura, rising out of the sea right in front of the beach. There is a rock path that allows you to get a closer look.
Although nearby Tsukumo Bay (九十九湾) with its beautifully indented coastline is worth visiting, it’s time to return to Kanazawa. Head west for about 35 kilometers (22 miles) on 57 to the Noto Airport (能登空港), and then hop onto Noto Satoyama Kaido at Noto Airport Interchange on the west of the airport and head toward Kanazawa.