Travelling around the Noto Peninsula was a special experience that allowed me to feel both the magnificent natural beauty of Japan and the strength of its people. If you ever have the chance to visit Japan, I truly hope you will visit the Noto Peninsula.

The greatest charm of this area is, above all, the beauty of its nature. In particular, from Rokkosaki Lighthouse at the northernmost tip of the Noto Peninsula, you can look out over the vast Sea of Japan. The endless blue sea gives you a unique sense of openness that only Noto can offer.

However, this area was affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Even now, two and a half years after the earthquake, you may still see roads under repair or traces of the damage. The road leading to Shiroyone Senmaida was also damaged by the earthquake but was recently restored, so I was able to see the beautiful terraced rice fields. Terraced rice fields are step-like rice paddies built on a mountain slope.

Even so, what left an even stronger impression on me was the sight of people trying to move forward and regain their everyday lives.

Wajima Morning Market is a traditional morning market where fresh seafood and local specialties are sold. It is one of Noto’s most famous tourist spots.

Since the original Wajima Morning Market Street was severely damaged by the earthquake and subsequent heavy rains, the market is currently being held as a temporary morning market at the back of a supermarket’s food section. Rows of lively stalls fill the supermarket space, offering everything from dried fish and local vegetables to handmade traditional crafts.

Visitors can enjoy warm interactions with local people who continue their businesses despite difficult circumstances. I bought a pair of beautiful Wajima chopsticks with a rabbit pattern and a cute handmade pinwheel as souvenirs.

Since it was around the time of Tanabata, there was a wish strip displayed at the morning market that said, “May there be a light of hope for the future of the Noto Peninsula”. Tanabata is a traditional Japanese event held on July 7, when people write their wishes on strips of paper called “tanzaku” and hang them on bamboo branches.

I had the opportunity to speak with a few people, including a high school student who told me, “Many of my friends have moved to Kanazawa, so I feel lonely,” and residents whose homes had been destroyed.

I also met a woman living in a nearby temporary housing unit, where she and two family members sleep with their futons lined up side by side. She told me that because she is already elderly, she felt deeply grateful for her son, who lives with her and helps shovel snow in the winter. Looking around the morning market, I saw so many women, even in their later years, still working actively and full of energy.

I also heard that among those whose homes were not damaged, some have started small community-based shops, such as stores renovated from garages. These are efforts to restore, with their own hands, the functions and connections that were lost in the earthquake. Local support initiatives are also spreading, such as selling rice in easy-to-carry one-kilogram portions and providing transportation for residents who have difficulty walking.

The local people were very warm and welcoming to visitors. Through this trip, what I felt most was that the simple act of visiting can itself become a form of support for the region. Being able to enjoy sightseeing while also supporting the place’s recovery made my experience feel deeply meaningful.

                                                                                                                                                  (Translated by Thanh Van)