Exploring the Great Nature and Mountain Villages at the Foot of Mt Hakusan
This is a scenic drive course where you can explore the foothills of Mt Hakusan using a rental car or your own vehicle. After visiting the "Hakusan Shrine" (Hakusan Hime Jingu), you'll follow the Tedori River Valley to the trailhead of Mt. Hakusan in the Shiramine area. Along the way, you'll be mesmerized by stunning natural landscapes and can enjoy many historic spots. You’ll also have the chance to relax in hot springs and savor local mountain delicacies.
For those who prefer public transport, buses are available from Tsurugi to Shiramine, so it’s also recommended to take a leisurely 1-night tour using local trains and buses from Kanazawa.
For recommended cycling routes in the Hakusan area, please check here.

Kanazawa Station
Kanazawa Station is JR West Railway's major station located in Kanazawa. The reconstruction of the surrounding area is still making progress for the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (a bullet train) from Kanazawa to Osaka.
There is a glass dome called "Motenashi (Welcome) Dome," which looks like a huge umbrella, at the east entrance of Kanazawa Station. The dome has a wooden gate called "Tsuzumi-mon," which symbolizes a traditional Japanese instrument called tsuzumi (hand drums). The underground of the dome serves as an information corner and event space. In recent years, the area has become a busier shopping quarter with the construction of large-sized shopping buildings.

Shirayama Hime Jinja Shrine, the head shrine of the Hakusan Faith – The Grand Shrine protecting the Hokuriku Region
One of the must-visit spots on your drive through the foothills of Mt. Hakusan is the Shirayama Hime Jinja Shrine, which regards Mt. Hakusan as its sacred mountain. This shrine is considered one of Japan's Three Sacred Mountains and serves as the head shrine of approximately 3,000 Hakusan Shrines nationwide.
The main deity of the shrine is "Hakusan Hime no Okami", also known as Kikurihime no Kami, who is celebrated for her role in reconciling the gods Izanagi and Izanami. This deity is particularly revered as a goddess of connections, symbolizing the tying (or "kukuru") of bonds, and the shrine is considered a powerful spot for love and relationship blessings.
On the first day of every month, the shrine attracts many visitors for "Otsuitachi-mairi," a traditional visit to the shrine to mark the start of the month. A special bus tour from Kanazawa Station, called the "Otsuitachi-mairi Bus Tour," operates only on the first day of each month.
The shrine grounds are full of beautiful sights, including an elegant hall of worship, a sacred gate, and a majestic tree along the main approach. Visitors can also see a lion-shaped wood carving at the purification fountain building and the "Hakusan Sacred Water" that springs forth near the northern approach. At the "Treasures Hall," important cultural properties, including national treasures, are preserved for visitors to appreciate.

Shiramine Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings
The area, known for its severe environment as one of Japan's heaviest snowfall regions, retains a distinctive settlement structure that has been preserved. In 2012 (Heisei 24), it was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Due to its heavy snowfall and the long-standing importance of sericulture (silk farming), the main houses in the area are typically two or three stories tall, with the upper floors used for sericulture. The houses are built using earthen storehouses (kura) to maintain a stable indoor temperature, creating a unique architectural style. This style still strongly retains the charm of the past.
At the center of the village stands the Yamagishi family estate, a grand merchant house with distinctive ochre-colored earthen walls and tall, narrow windows, along with other charming houses built from the Edo to Meiji periods. The area exudes an atmosphere more reminiscent of a small town than a mountain village, making it a rare example among Japan's rural mountain settlements.

Rinsai-ji Temple and Hakusan-gezan-butsu
Mt. Hakusan, towering across the three prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, and Gifu, was established as a sacred site by the revered Buddhist monk Taicho Daishi in the year 717. It has long been a destination of deep spiritual significance.
The Rinsen-ji Temple is a sub-temple of the Hongan-ji branch of the Jodo Shinshu sect, but it originally belonged to the Tendai sect and is believed to have been founded by Taicho Daishi in the 8th century. It is the oldest and largest temple in the Shiramine area.
On the summit of Mt. Hakusan, many sacred statues have been enshrined since ancient times. However, following the Meiji government's separation of Shinto and Buddhism in 1874 (Meiji 7), many of these statues were at risk of being destroyed. Thanks to the efforts of the temple’s head priest, Kasho Hoshi, about half of them were saved and relocated to Rinsen-ji.
These statues, collectively known as the "Hakusan Gezan-butsu" (Statues of the Descent from Mount Hakusan), include significant cultural treasures. Among them is the Standing Statue of Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva, a National Important Cultural Property, housed in the "Gezan Butsudo" (Hall of the Descent Statues), along with eight other statues that convey the history of Hakusan worship, as well as a statue of Taicho Daishi seated in meditation.

Hakusan Specialty Products Sales Facility "Saisai"
Located right in front of Shiramine Onsen Sōyu, the specialty products sales facility "Saisai" offers a variety of traditional foods and handmade crafts from the Shiramine area. You can find local specialties such as "Tochi Mochi" (Japanese sticky rice cake) and "Kata Tofu" (firm tofu), along with folk crafts and handicrafts. One of the popular regional dishes is "Kacchiri", a local specialty made by simmering small potatoes (2-3 cm in diameter) with soy sauce and sugar.
For souvenirs, visitors can choose from freshly made products packed that day or vacuum-sealed versions that have a longer shelf life. You can also enjoy these specialties at the attached dining area. On the menu, you'll find dishes like "Kata Tofu Steak Set Meal"—tofu grilled with butter and dashi (Japanese soup stock)—and "Jige Ramen" topped with the local specialty, crushed tofu. For a more complete experience, try the "Hakusan Hyakuzenn Jige Gozen", a set meal full of local dishes that showcase the mountain delicacies from Shiramine, regional specialties, and homegrown grains.
With a variety of sweets and drinks available, it’s also a great place to relax and enjoy a meal or dessert after a soak in the Sōyu Onsen.

Shiramine Soyu Onsen
Located in the heart of the Shiramine area, surrounded by the abundant nature at the foot of the sacred Mount Hakusan, this hot spring facility is built using local timber. The 100% natural hot spring water is a sodium bicarbonate spring, often referred to as the "silky skin bath" because it leaves the skin smooth and soft after bathing. It is said to be particularly beneficial for nerve pain, muscle pain, and is perfect for relaxing after activities such as hiking, skiing, camping, or walking.
The large baths include both an Iwa (rock) outdoor bath and a Hinoki (cypress) outdoor bath, with the men's and women's baths alternating each week, allowing guests to enjoy different styles of baths and the ever-changing mountain views with the passing seasons. The entire building has a calm, wooden atmosphere, and guests can also relax in a tatami-floored rest area after their bath.

Michinoeki (Roadside Station) SENA
Located at the junction of National Routes 157 and 360, which connect Gifu and Fukui Prefectures, this roadside station is surrounded by mountains over 1,000 meters high. Visitors can enjoy beautiful seasonal landscapes, including fresh green foliage in spring, vibrant autumn leaves, and snowy scenes in winter.
Inside the station, there is a wide variety of souvenirs from the Hakusan foothills, including selections from the "Hakusan Hyakusen" collection, showcasing the area's rich history as a transportation hub and its development of unique local culture.
In spring 2018, the "Yama no Pan-ya-san Sena" bakery opened inside the station, offering freshly baked goods made with Shiramine hot spring water in all of its doughs, resulting in incredibly soft and fluffy bread. The bakery also features local seasonal vegetables and ingredients, with a standout item being the "Tochi-no-Mi Shokupan" (bread made with tochi nuts), available exclusively on weekends. Additionally, the "Geo-Cube", inspired by Japan’s Geopark, is a unique bread that layers three types of dough to represent geological strata, with walnuts inside to resemble fossils.
For a perfect break, visitors can relax on the wooden deck with freshly baked bread and a delicious cup of Hakusan Kilimanjaro Coffee.

Tedorigawa Gorge & Watagataki Falls
The Tedorigawa Gorge stretches approximately 8 kilometers from Kōmon Bridge to Taiyama Bridge, where towering cliffs ranging from 20 to 30 meters high line the middle reaches of the Tedorigawa River. The rocks in this area were formed through volcanic activity that occurred during the time when the Eurasian continent's edge began to split, leading to the formation of the Sea of Japan. The Tedorigawa River’s water flow gradually eroded hard lava rock, creating these steep cliffs.
Scenic spots such as Kōmon Bridge and Furō Bridge offer parking areas for visitors. One of the most popular detours is to see the Watagata Falls, which has a dramatic drop of 32 meters. The falls are said to be named after the white water spray that resembles pieces of cotton being torn off and dropped.
From the parking area, it’s about a 150-meter walk along a promenade to a viewing platform. If you walk another 15 minutes, you’ll get very close to the falls themselves. Be aware that the path to the waterfall involves steep stairs and rocky terrain, so it’s important to wear non-slip footwear such as sneakers and be cautious.

Yoshino Craft Village
Surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Hakusan foothills, Yoshino Craft Village is home to artisans specializing in various traditional crafts such as pottery, wood carving, washi paper, glass, stone sculpture, and woodworking. The site is dotted with various facilities, including:
The "Performance Plaza", where numerous sculptures are displayed on a grassy field.
"Uzurasou", a cultural exchange salon housed in a traditional farmhouse from the mid-Edo period.
"Furusato Kobo", a gallery and shop showcasing the works of local artisans, which can be viewed free of charge.
Additionally, "Furusato Kobo" offers reservation-based workshops where visitors can experience crafting pottery (hand-building or wheel throwing), glasswork, woodworking, washi paper making, natural dyeing, art calligraphy, and glass art. Under the guidance of skilled artisans, participants can enjoy creating their own works of art.
The souvenir shop "Yamaboushi" at the entrance is popular for its freshly made "obanyaki" (Japanese filled pancakes).

The Great Cedar of Gojudani
The Great Cedar of Gojudani, designated as a Natural Monument of Ishikawa Prefecture, stands at the upper reaches of the Dōgawa River, a tributary of the Dainichi River. According to local legend, around the year 800, Kōbō Daishi, the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism, visited this area during his travels across Japan, and his staff is said to have taken root here, growing into this great tree. Another legend speaks of early settlers who protected the tree as a sacred tree, considering it a symbol of divine protection.
The tree is estimated to be around 1,200 years old, with a trunk circumference of approximately 8 meters and a height of about 40 meters. The sight of its thick trunks extending in all directions is truly awe-inspiring.
