Cycle the Heartland
of Notojima
Explore centuries-old fishing villages, rice paddies, and satoyama forests with an English-speaking local guide on Notojima Island, Japan.
100+
Happy Cyclists
GIAHS
FAO Recognition
English
Speaking Guides
8 max
Group Size
What We Offer
Choose Your Adventure
From a peaceful morning ride to a fully bespoke island exploration — every tour is led by a local who genuinely loves this place.
Most PopularThe Classic Notojima Experience
Half Day Cycling Tour
Pedal through the FAO-designated GIAHS Satoyama landscapes of Notojima Island. Ride past oyster farms, rice paddies, and quiet fishing villages — places that connect centuries of tradition with modern island life.
Included
- ✓Bicycle & helmet rental
- ✓English-speaking local guide
- ✓All taxes
¥15,400
per adult | ¥7,700 per child
Fully CustomisableYour Island, Your Pace
Private Custom Tour
Design your own day on Notojima. Meet a local potter, explore a sake brewery, join a forest walk, or simply cycle the coastal roads at leisure. Our guides craft the perfect itinerary around your interests.
Included
- ✓English-speaking local guide
- ✓Custom itinerary planning
- ✓All taxes
From ¥13,200
per person (varies by group size)
Why NotoNote
More Than Just Cycling
GIAHS Heritage Landscapes
Noto was designated by the FAO in 2011 as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) — a living landscape where satoyama and satoumi co-exist in harmony.
Local Guides, Real Stories
Our guides were born and raised on the island. They share stories you won't find in any guidebook — the rhythm of the tides, the sake-rice farmers, the glass artists.
English-Speaking Tours
Every tour is led in English, with Japanese context woven in. No translation barriers — just genuine connection with the island and its people.
Small Groups, Big Experience
Maximum 8 guests on group tours. You'll never feel like a number. Private tours are just you and your guide, fully on your own schedule.
Half Day Tour
Sample Itinerary
Every ride is shaped by the season, the tides, and your curiosity. Here's a typical morning or afternoon on Notojima.
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
Private Tours
Your Island, Your Way
Have a specific interest? A family with young children? A group of food lovers? We'll design every hour of your day around what matters to you.
- ✓Meet a local potter or glass artist in their studio
- ✓Join a rice or sake farmer for a morning harvest
- ✓Explore hidden forest trails and Shinto shrine paths
- ✓Enjoy a slow coastal cycle with stops at your own pace
Pricing
Guest Reviews
Trusted by Travellers Worldwide
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.
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 UsReady to Ride?
Secure your spot in minutes. Small groups, real stories, and a landscape that will stay with you long after you've left the island.
Book Your Tour →Free cancellation up to 72 hours before your tour.