Nanao

Nanao sits on the southeastern coast of Noto Peninsula along the Sea of Japan, backed by seven mountain ridges that give the area its name. The city serves around 50,000 residents as an administrative and commercial center for northern Ishikawa Prefecture, with schools, hospitals, and public facilities serving the surrounding communities.

During the Nara period, the provincial capital stood in this area before the site became a stronghold of the Hatakeyama clan during the Sengoku era. The city took its current form after several boundary reforms in the 20th century that merged surrounding villages into the administrative unit.

The Dekayama Festival in May brings out wooden floats pulled by teams through narrow streets, passing under bridges and between houses with just inches to spare. The city lanes fill with onlookers during these days, watching the crews call out commands and maneuvering the decorated structures through tight corners.

The city is reached via the JR Noto Line with hourly connections from Kanazawa or through Noto Airport with two daily flights to Tokyo. Walking up Joyama hill offers an overview of how the city sits between mountains and sea, while the harbor area gives insight into fishing activities.

The name means Seven Tails and refers to the seven mountain peaks visible from the old castle site on Joyama hill. These peaks once formed a natural defensive line and helped residents navigate the landscape.