Wajima, Ishikawa
Wajima (輪島市, Wajima-shi) is a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.
As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,532 and the density of 74 persons per km². The total area is 426.25 km².
The city was founded on March 31, 1954.
On February 1, 2006 the town of Monzen, from Hōsu District, was merged into Wajima.
Noto Airport serves Wajima.
On 25 March 2007, the 2007 Noto earthquake caused one death, injuries, and property damage in Wajima and other parts of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Wajima Lacquerware
The town is known within Japan for its lacquerware, called Wajima-nuri (輪島塗). There are artifacts showing lacquer was used to decorate and strengthen a shrine door from the 14th century. Wajima-nuri uses a technique that is unique to the area, mixing a finely powdered mineral, jinoko, with the lacquer in the early stages of production. Jinoko adds extra durability to Wajima-nuri items. The rougher, earlier layers are then coated with more layers of finer lacquer, which is then polished to a lustrous shine, and often decorated with designs made of gold and other precious materials. The lacquer tree was once abundant in the area, but is now scarce and most of the lacquer used is imported from China.
Wajima Morning Market
The Wajima Morning Market (輪島朝市) is open everyday except the 10th and 25th of each month (and January 1-3 every year). Opening Hours are from 8:00 - Noon.
Visitors can stroll freely through the many stalls of fresh seafood, lacquerware and other handicrafts.
1000 Rice Fields (千枚田)
Senmaida (1000 Rice Fields) is one of the most scenic places in Ishikawa. There are actually 1004 fields which are either owned and tended to by families, or rented out and looked after by the locals.
Senmaida is beautiful in each of the four seasons and visitors can both view it from above, or take a leisurely stroll through the fields below.
Each year in the last week of September two lucky couples will be drawn from a nation-wide lottery to have their wedding ceremony take place at Senmaida. The event is open to the public to view and is a very memorable experience.
Every year in the first week of October locals light millions of candles and place them around each field. It is a truly spectacular sight!
Kiriko Museum
Wajima's museum of Kiriko (キリコ) lanterns is open every day of the year from 8:00am to 5:00pm (8:30am to 4:00pm from December to February)
Entry is 600 yen for adults, 430 yen for high school students and 350 yen for elementary school students
Website (in Japanese): http://www.inachu.jp/kiriko.htm
Wajima Taisai (輪島大祭)
Every year on either the last or second last weekend in August Wajima comes alive with its famous 4-day festival.
Visitors can watch huge Kiriko lanterns being carried through the streets, eat all sorts of delicious festival foods, hear Taiko drums being played and watch the main event - a massive (4 or 5 storey high) torch being set alight before collapsing to the ground. Men fight each other to take pieces of the delluge bamboo as it is a symbol of good fortune.
The main event takes place on the Saturday night of the festival at midnight at Wajima Marine Park.
Website (in Japanese): http://www.city.wajima.ishikawa.jp/kankou/taisai.html
Wajima Crab Festival
The Wajima Crab Festival (輪島かに祭り) takes place each year in mid-November. Visitors can purchase all sorts of fresh seafood and sit at one of many large, long tables and barbecue their own meal.
Website (in Japanese): http://www.jf-net.ne.jp/ikwajimagyokyo/
Kanakura Light Festival
Kanakura is a town in the northern part of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It is a small, peaceful village with ancient temples and rice terraces. This town celebrates an annual light festival (matsuri) in which the residents place one candle in each of 10,000 sake bottles and then arrange them in geometric configurations after dark while listening to traditional Japanese music.
External links
Media related to Wajima, Ishikawa at Wikimedia Commons
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