Ishikawa and Toyama: The Uncrowded Gems Nestled in Northern Japan

Ishikawa and Toyama are prefectures located in Northern Japan’s Hokuriku Coast on Honshu Island. Bordered by the Sea of Japan and the Hokusan Mountains, these prefectures can be easily accessed via the ‘New Golden Route‘, which connects Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka to the Hokuriku region by the Shinkansen bullet train. A ride from Tokyo to the Hokuriku region takes around two and a half hours by bullet train, making them convenient destinations for wellness travel. Two airports, Komatsu Airport and Noto Satoyama Airport, serve Ishikawa Prefecture and offer domestic flights to and from Tokyo, as well as some international routes, further simplifying travel plans.

Along with ease of access, Ishikawa and Toyama offer travellers a slow-paced atmosphere that naturally encourages slowing down. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, rich gastronomic history, and landscapes shaped by mountains and sea, both prefectures offer a quieter, more contemplative side of Japan—one that aligns effortlessly with wellness travel focused on restoration, mindfulness, and connection to place.

Together, Ishikawa and Toyama reveal two distinct yet complementary expressions of wellness travel, where time slows through restorative onsens, artisanal traditions, and dramatic landscapes shaped by mountains and sea. These regions offer authentic opportunities for mindfulness, connection to nature, and cultural immersion, making them ideal for restorative journeys.

Ishikawa: The Golden Destination

In Ishikawa, wellness is rooted in cultural refinement—through historic gardens, mineral-rich onsens, centuries-old temples, and a lifestyle that emphasizes presence and mindfulness over speed, making it ideal for restorative journeys.

Kanazawa, meaning ‘Marsh of Gold’, is the prefecture’s capital. This city balances refined modern elegance with moments of contemplative calm. The D.T. Suzuki Museum is a serene oasis in the middle of this sophisticated city. At the heart of the museum is the Water Mirror Garden, a minimalist pond designed to look like a literal mirror of the sky, architecture, and surrounding nature. Also, in the same city is the treasured Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Visitors to the Kenrokuen Gardens can experience an authentic tea ceremony inside the historic Kenrokutei Tea House located on the garden’s grounds, where the lord once entertained important guests. In this experience, visitors get to sit in on a heartwarming tea ceremony and Japanese traditions, including a tea ceremony demonstration by the tea master and the opportunity to make their own tea. 

Accommodations that suit all budgets and travel styles are plentiful in Ishikawa. Still, for travellers seeking a deeply restorative stay, the Beniya Mukayu ryokan embodies an equal mix of wellness and luxury. Located in the historic onsen town of Yamanaka, this ryokan is designed around the concept of nothingness, with each room featuring minimalist interiors, private open-air hot spring baths, and wide windows that face out to the forest and onsite gardens. Their onsite spa, Spa Entei, offers guests their signature “Yakushiyama treatment“, which is a mental and physical health care service using hot spring water and medicinal herbs. It is the modern application of the spirit of traditional Yakushiyama hot spring and herbal remedies provided by local monks. Surrounded by lush, rolling forested hills and nourished by centuries-old hot spring waters, Beniya Mukayu offers an experience that feels less like a hotel stay and more like a deliberate pause—one that encourages guests to stop and tune into nature at their own pace.

Toyama: Elevated Dining, Grounded Living

In Toyama, wellness reveals itself through flavour and flow, where mineral-rich waters, seasonal ingredients, and three distinctive environments (sea, countryside, and mountains) shape a regional dining culture rooted in balance and restraint. From the prefecture’s celebrated seafood and premium sake breweries to elevated dining spaces like Toyama‘s Toyamarché Noren Yokocho, dining in Toyama becomes an experience of quiet indulgence rather than excess—one that reflects the region’s deep respect for craftsmanship and locality. This same philosophy carries through to stays at River Retreat Garaku, an adults-only resort where Japanese-French fusion cuisine, Art Walk, and a natural hot stone room converge to create a restorative escape that feels both nourishing and grounding. 

Ishikawa and Toyama: Where Slowing Down Becomes the Destination

Together, Toyama and Ishikawa offer a harmonious approach to wellness travel, where culinary ritual, cultural depth, and restorative landscapes work in quiet dialogue to create a journey defined by balance, intention, and ease.