On the second day of our roadtrip, we headed to Notojima, a small island in Nanao Bay, halfway between Anamizu and Nanao, which is connected to the mainland by two bridges. It’s one of my favorite places in Ishikawa: the annual Notojima Te-Matsuri Craft Fair in October is always a treat, and it’s hard not to fall in love with Notojima’s scenic charms.
One of Notojima’s main attractions is the Notojima Aquarium (能登島水族館). Tickets are available at conbini nearby (for a discount) or at the door.
This cloudy day was great for exploring the aquarium.
I finally managed a photo of the mantra ray (sea pancake) after getting photobombed by some sharks (not pictured).
Adorable sign for the otter show:
The jellyfish were much more cooperative than the manta ray:
And the view of the bay from the dolphin area.
It’s almost surreal looking back on these photos. The roadtrip was about 2 months ago now, and sometimes it–and my life in Japan–seems like it was all a dream. I’m a confirmed City Person, but I do love my trips to the country. Traveling alone in Ishikawa was often very lonely (but beautiful), and I’m so glad that my friends and family let me drag them all over the prefecture to show it off.
More Noto:
Senmaida
Mitsukejima
The Lobster Dance 
[…] Notojima‘s other main attraction is the glass art museum, which features international glass ranging from the practical to the abstract. […]
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