Slow Down.
Ride with the Island.
Notojima is not a destination — it's a way of living. Cycle through working rice paddies, fishing harbours, and satoyama forests with a guide who lives here. See Japan not as a tourist, but as a guest.
Slow
Travel
GIAHS
UN World Agricultural Heritage
Local
Guides Who Live Here
Max 5
Guests
What We Offer
Two Ways to Ride
Both tours are led by local guides who know every back road, every fisherman, and every farmer on this island. The difference is simply time.
Most Popular3 hours. One island. Memories that last longer.
Half Day Cycling Tour
A three-hour ride through the living landscape of Notojima. Pause at a local fishing harbour, ride past working rice paddies, and spend a quiet moment in a village that most travellers never reach.
Included
- ✓Bicycle & helmet rental
- ✓English-speaking local guide
- ✓All taxes
¥15,400
per adult | ¥7,700 per child
Full ExperienceCycling, soba lunch, and glassblowing on a hilltop — a full day lived at the island's pace.
Full Day Cycling Tour
A full day in the rhythm of the island. Cycle through satoyama and satoumi, share a soba and tempura lunch with your guide, and blow your own glass artwork in a hilltop studio with views across the island. A day that stays with you.
Included
- ✓Bicycle & helmet rental
- ✓English-speaking local guide
- ✓Soba & tempura lunch
- ✓Glassblowing workshop
- ✓Glass artwork shipping (domestic)
- ✓All taxes
About Your Glass Artwork
Your piece cannot be taken home on the day.
It will be shipped to your accommodation within 3–5 days after the tour.
・Domestic shipping (within Japan): included in tour price
・International shipping: available at additional cost
¥33,000
per person
For groups of 6 or more, please contact us at info@notonote.com
Why NotoNote
This is Not Sightseeing
A Living Landscape, Recognised by the United Nations
Noto's satoyama and satoumi were designated by the FAO in 2011 as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System — the first in Japan. Generations of farmers and fishermen have shaped every hillside and cove. It is not a preserved landscape. It is a working one.
Your Guide Lives Here
Our guides live on this island. They know the fisherman who heads out before dawn, the farmer who tends the same fields his family has for generations, the glassblower who came here to start again. They will introduce you to them.
No Translation Needed
Every tour is led in English — not because we translated a script, but because our guides have spent years in conversation with travellers from around the world. The stories come naturally.
Five Guests Maximum
We keep groups small on purpose. Five guests means your guide can stop the ride when a farmer wants to talk, take a longer detour through the forest, or just sit quietly by the sea for a while.
Half Day Tour
How a Morning Unfolds
No two rides are the same — the season, the tide, and the people you meet shape every tour. But here's how a morning usually goes.
Gather at Notojima Community Center. Meet your guide and get fitted for your bicycle.
Cycle the coastal road with views of Nanao Bay and oyster farming rafts.
Visit a working fishing or farming family and hear about their self-sustaining lifestyle.
Explore the quieter inland roads — rice paddies, satoyama forests, and shrine paths.
Rest stop at a local café or viewpoint. Optional local snack (extra cost).
Head back to the starting point. Q&A, photos, and farewell.
About the Island
Notojima Island
Notojima is a small island in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture — a place where fishing and farming have shaped every hillside, cove, and coastal path for over a thousand years.
In 2011, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognised Noto's Satoyama (mountain village) and Satoumi (coastal community) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) — Japan's first such designation, honouring over 1,300 years of the iriai collective land-management tradition.
GIAHS
FAO Recognition
2011
Designation Year
1,300+
Years of Iriai
Source: FAO GIAHS
Guest Reviews
What Guests Remember
Real reviews from guests who explored Notojima with us.
An unforgettable experience on the island of Noto!
A personalized bike tour with guide Hajime through rice fields with sea views, traditional villages, a fishing port, and encounters with a local octopus fisherman and traditional salt-making. The homemade mochi and tea were wonderful. A zen and peaceful experience.
Biking tour on the Noto island
A day-trip with guides Shota and Hajime. Morning biking covered community life including rice culture and fishery on mostly flat terrain with frequent stops. Afternoon included soba lunch and glass-making. The guides are very kind and passionate about their region.
Great bike tour off the beaten track
A wonderful experience with long-time island resident Hajime. The tour covered local customs, farming, and fishing. The route is quite flat and not difficult at all — a perfect way to get off the usual tourist path.
Amazing cycling experience in Noto island
Beautiful landscape with sea, rice fields, and farms. Guide Hajime helped us understand Japanese culture and traditions through a very original and peaceful way to explore the countryside.
Reviews sourced from TripAdvisor — an independent review platform.
Getting Here
Access
Getting to Notojima Island is easier than you think.
Kanazawa → Wakura Onsen Station
Take the JR Nanao Line from Kanazawa Station to Wakura Onsen Station (approx. 1–1.5 hours). Covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Free Pick-up from Wakura Onsen Station
We pick you up by car at Wakura Onsen Station and drive you to the tour starting point on Notojima Island.
Japan Rail Pass Accepted
The route from Kanazawa to Wakura Onsen is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass — no extra ticket needed.
📍 Notojima Community Center, Nanao City, Ishikawa
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What fitness level is required?+
The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling — suitable for casual cyclists. No prior cycling experience needed. Minimum height is 120 cm (4 ft) for bicycle fitting.
What happens if it rains?+
Tours operate in light rain (we provide ponchos). In case of heavy rain or storms, we will contact you to reschedule. Safety is our priority.
Can I cancel or reschedule?+
Full refund for cancellations made 72+ hours before the tour. 50% refund within 48 hours. No refund within 24 hours. Reschedules are always welcome, subject to availability.
Where do we start and finish?+
Tours start and end at Notojima Community Center (8-1 Ro, Notojima Koda-machi, Nanao). Pick-up from Wakura Onsen Station and nearby accommodations can be arranged.
Are electric bikes available?+
Yes! E-bikes can be arranged for an additional fee. Please request when booking.
Still have questions?
Email UsCome Ride with Us
Small groups. Local guides. An island where everyday life is the attraction.
Book Your Tour →Free cancellation up to 72 hours before your tour.