The Ever Changing Toyama Coast

Two different faces of Noto Peninsula in autumn

Takako Sakamoto Dec 17, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>View of Amaharashi Beach in Himi City in Toyama Prefecture. The island in center is Yoshitsune Rock, with the magnificent Tateyama Mountain Range in the background.</p>

<p>There wasn't much steam-like fog on this day, probably due to the warmer temperature</p>

<p>I drove along R160 in Noto Peninsula toward Nanao City enjoying the view of Toyama Bay on my right</p>

<p>The Matchmaking Bell on Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) in Mitsuke-jaya. At low tide, you can walk to the island.</p>

<p>I wonder how many islands in Japan are called, 'Gunkanjima (Battleship Island)'? The wind was still and the sea was calm.</p>

<p>The Rokkosaki Lighthouse. This is also called, 'Noroshi (beacon fire) Lighthouse'.</p>

<p>Rokkosaki Lighthouse stands at the edge of Noto Peninsula</p>

<p>'Senmaida', the thousand terraced rice paddies. I will definitely come back to see the rice planting here!</p>

<p>At a beach in Wajima City, the calm sea suddenly changed its face for a violent one</p>

<p>A strong wind blew and white waves crashed into rocks. This is the kind of scene everybody expects from the Japan Sea!</p>

<p>The sky turned into madder red, and my trip to Noto Peninsula was about to end</p>

<p>This place is called, 'Noto-Kongo', which is especially famous for its scenic beauty in Noto Peninsula</p>

<p>Before I knew it, the wind lulled and the stormy sea was calm again</p>

<p>Saying good bye to the setting sun over the horizon. I wonder when I could come back again?</p>

In late October in 2011, I made a trip to Amaharashi Beach in Himi City of Toyama Prefecture to take photos of the sea fog.

On the Japan Sea side, the weather becomes extremely unstable from autumn to spring. However, against all odds, the weather was fine throughout Japan on the day I visited. As soon as I saw the good weather forecast I called my office to take paid holidays, and departed at midnight on the previous day. As a result, I was able to see the wonderful sunrise there, although the sea fog was not as good as I'd expected. I decided to come back again later to capture the sea fog, and enjoyed traveling around Noto Peninsula, which juts out into the Japan Sea. The picturesque scenery was fantastic!

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...