Holly 's page

Sora no Eki Komatsu

A souvenir shop on the first floor of the Komatsu Airport Terminal Building, this antenna shop is packed with the charms of Komatsu. Inside, you’ll find processed foods made with locally grown barley and tomatoes, traditional crafts such as Kutani ware, long-established Japanese sweets, and a wide variety of local sake, all featuring specialties unique to Komatsu.

• Ishikawa
• Local Products Center & Souvenir Stores

Sora no Eki Komatsu is on the first floor of Komatsu Airport and is probably the most prominent souvenir shop as you enter the terminal. The store mainly carries food, sweets, alcoholic beverages, and household goods from Komatsu and the Ishikawa area. If you didn't have time to buy everything earlier in your trip, it's convenient to stock up here at the airport. If you collect goshuin-style airport stamps, you can buy one here. I bought mine here as well.
The capsule toy machines near the entrance are also interesting, but the machine I encountered didn't take coins directly. You had to exchange money for tokens inside the store first. I didn't know that the first time and put yen directly into the machine, but it wouldn't turn. After asking a staff member for help, I learned that I needed to get tokens first.
Buses connecting Komatsu Airport to the surrounding area don't run very frequently. If you miss one and have to wait at the airport for a while, you can buy some snacks and drinks here to tide yourself over.

Komatsu Airport

Komatsu Airport serves as the largest airport in the Hokuriku region from its perch in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The airport offers convenient access to southern Ishikawa and northern Fukui, including Kanazawa and Fukui cities, and is also close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gassho-style villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, making it a key gateway to the Hokuriku area.

• Ishikawa
• Airplanes & Airport

Komatsu Airport itself isn't large, but because it is a joint military-civilian airport shared with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Komatsu Air Base, you can find JASDF-related merchandise inside. For example, there are Kutani ware capsule toys featuring unit emblems such as that of the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Komatsu Air Base. Although the terminal is small, it still tries to bring together as much of the Hokuriku region's character as possible. There's even a moving Fukui raptor on the first floor, and the souvenir shops sell specialties from Ishikawa and Fukui as well as dinosaur merchandise.

Personally, I think the biggest drawback is still the transportation to and from the airport. Buses to Kanazawa and Komatsu Station don't run as frequently as they do in big cities. Most services are scheduled around domestic flights, but if you're flying Tigerair, you should basically be prepared to miss the bus because Tigerair is delayed so often. I even skipped checking luggage and cleared immigration in under 10 minutes, but I still didn't make it. That time, I waited about an hour for the next bus. This was the most inconvenient part of using Komatsu Airport for me, and it really made me miss how considerate Okayama Airport is toward Tigerair passengers.

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri is around the 3rd Saturday in May, lasting from Friday to Sunday in Asakusa, Tokyo. Residents call it Sanja sama. Each year, about 1.8 million visitors watch this prominent 3-day festival in Japan.

• Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree
• Spring festivals & Events

While staying in Asakusa this time, I unexpectedly came across the annual Sanja Matsuri, held in May. Since I hadn't planned for it, I couldn't make time to attend any of the related events, but as long as you're in the Asakusa area, it's actually hard to miss the festival entirely. While walking around Asakusa and Kappabashi, I would occasionally come across mikoshi processions and local residents wearing happi coats and other festival attire. The atmosphere was completely different from Asakusa during a typical sightseeing visit.
I happened to be staying on the outskirts of Asakusa, and after returning to my hotel one evening, I noticed a mikoshi procession passing nearby, so I followed it for a short while. It unexpectedly became a fun memory from the trip. During the festival, many nearby hotels and shops also put up Sanja Matsuri decorations, and throughout the neighborhood, you could really feel that the local residents were involved. It was very interesting for a foreign visitor.

Shikemichi Townscape Preservation District

Centered on Shikemichi, a street in Nishi Ward, Nagoya, the Shikemichi Townscape Preservation District extends around Ofunamachi-dori. The Shikemichi area is a castle town that prospered thanks to merchants using water transport on the Horikawa Canal, which was excavated in 1610 along with the construction of Nagoya Castle.

• Nagoya
• Tourist Attractions

The Shikemichi Townscape Preservation District was much quieter than I expected, but it actually covers a fairly large area. There are many preserved white-walled storehouses, machiya townhouses, stone walls, and narrow alleys, giving it the atmosphere of an old Edo-period castle town. This time, I specifically went looking for the Yanegami shrine. There was a map on-site for reference, so it wasn't difficult to find. Hidden in the alleys are also the Komori Jizo statue, cafes converted from old houses, and small arts and crafts shops, making it fun to explore at a leisurely pace. You can also easily continue on to the nearby Endoji Shopping Street, though it was also surprisingly quiet when I visited.
If you just want to admire the old buildings and take streetscape photos, I think it's actually a good idea to come before the regular attractions open or before evening, since the peaceful atmosphere suits Shikemichi well. But if you want to take your time visiting cafes and variety stores, don't schedule your visit too early or too late, as the businesses here aren't open for very long.

Kanazawa Castle & Kenrokuen Four Seasons Tale

Known as the residence of the 14th generation of the Maeda family of the Kaga Clan, "Kanazawa Castle", and the large garden "Kenrokuen" constructed in its outer citadel, are representative tourist attractions of Ishikawa and Kanazawa. Kenrokuen is famous as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan and has been designated as a special place of scenic beauty by the national government.

• Kanazawa
• Festivals & Events

We happened to visit during Kenrokuen Garden's nighttime opening. Although it wasn't quite the season for the classic yukizuri snow-rope scenery, the illuminated garden was truly gorgeous at night. The lights reflected on the ponds, trees, and buildings, and occasional live music performances made the overall atmosphere very romantic.
However, visiting at night also has some clear drawbacks. Many details of the garden are hidden in the darkness. The landscaping, terrain, and overall layout that are easy to see during the day are harder to fully appreciate at night. Some paths are still quite dark even with lighting, so watch your step and follow the staff's directions.
Overall, Kenrokuen Garden at night has a wonderful atmosphere and is worth experiencing once, but I would still treat it as an extra activity in addition to a daytime visit. After all, daytime is better if you want to see more of the garden's details. If you want to enjoy romantic lighting and a seasonal atmosphere, you can plan another visit in the evening. Nighttime openings are also usually free, making them a great addition to a daytime visit.