Here’s an idea for a summer destination: anywhere in Ishikawa. Bordered by the Japan Sea on the western coast of Japan, this prefecture perfectly lends itself to outdoor sports and relaxation. Just so you know what to expect, Kanazawa, the most well-known city in Ishikawa, rightfully boasts of Japan’s best preserved Samurai towns and beautiful garden landscapes.
So you’ve heeded our advice and booked your round trip ticket. You’ve packed all the essentials and you’re ready to navigate your way through the prefecture. You’ve got the maps, the restaurant guides, the hotel guides, the tour brochures, and the compass. Hold it. Here’s a better idea. Toss it all and opt for the newly released Ishikawa Travel Guide application, available for iPhones and Androids. Unlike those travel guides, the app is bulk-free (and just plain free).
The application includes all you need to know about accommodations, food, sightseeing, shopping and activities and offers recommendations based on your location. Aside from the basics, it also gives you sample tours so that you can choose the best experience.
The Ishikawa Travel Guide App covers four cities of the prefecture: Kanazawa, Kaga, Noto and Hakusan. Just in time for the summer are the Kiriki (Lantern) Float Festivals. Check out the city of Noto in particular. The app will keep you updated with a calendar of what’s going on during your stay like the Abare Festival, the Hassaku Festival and the Takojima’s Autumn Festival.
If you’re in Hakusan, the app might lead you to Mount Hakusan, a sacred mountain with traditional Japanese villages at its base, or perhaps it’ll recommend you take in a Kaiko drumming performance. For Kaga, maybe it’ll suggest the relaxing hot springs resorts. All the information is available in the following languages: Japanese, English, Chinese (simplified and traditional) and Korean, so you don’t need to summon another guide to translate.
Even though you’ve already tossed out your maps, don’t worry, the phone tracks your current location and helps you navigate to your future destination. Aside from the navigation option, every destination on the app includes in-depth descriptions along with addresses and telephone numbers, as well as pictures. It all sounds highly organized; just what you’d expect in Japan!
www.hot-ishikawa.jp/f-lang/app/index_en.html
www.itunes.apple.com/jp/app/ishikawa-travel-guide/id412377293?mt=8