Tsurugi Town Travel Guide: Things to Do in Ishikawa, Japan

Tsurugi Town is home to some of the bravest Japanese people you could ever meet. Located a short train ride into the countryside beyond the city limits of Kanazawa, this is a place rich in nature with a long history of courage and defiance, and it offers quite a few unique experiences for travelers who are willing to go off the beaten path.

The Lion Dance: A Battle to the Death!

Every October, men and boys take to the street, donning the ceremonial costume of a warrior to battle the fearsome lion, or shishi. You’ve perhaps seen lion dances before. (A quick YouTube search will churn out plenty of videos showing performances from all over Asia.) The lion dance of Tsurugi is known for its athletic battle moves, culminating in the ritual slaying of the lion, and also the lion head itself, which is made locally and from locally sourced wood.

If you’re not in time to catch the lion dance, you can still experience a part of the process, namely, the crafting of the lion head. Chida Factory carries on the centuries’-old tradition of carving lion heads for lion dances. With a reservation, you’ll be able to assemble and paint your own lion head charm right in the master’s workshop!

Why do you need a lion head in your life? Because they’ve been traditionally used to ward off evil spirits and misfortune – and who doesn’t need a little help with that these days?

Paragliding: Beginners Welcome!

Is there anything that takes more guts than jumping off of a mountain slope? (Okay, maybe lots of things, but you’ve got to admit this makes the top ten.) In Tsurugi, Shishiku Kogen Paragliding School offers 1-day experiences for beginners. Sign up for an experienced instructor to take you on a breathtaking 15-minute tandem flight with spectacular views of the Tedori River and its alluvial plane, beyond which you’ll be able to see Kanazawa City and the Sea of Japan.

Or if you’re determined to take off, fly, and land all by yourself, the school gives you that chance. No, you won’t be plummeting off of the mountain top. There’s another, gentler slope that’s just a short shuttle bus ride into the foothills that will let you spread your wings, so to speak, and land safely.

The Butterfly House: Eternal Summer

The Ishikawa Insect Museum boasts a beautiful butterfly house with a dozen species of butterflies native to Japan. It’s open all year round, so if you need a place to wait out a bit of inclement weather, take a stroll along the winding path among its hundreds of fluttering occupants.

The museum itself only offers information in Japanese, so arrange for a guide to accompany you if you have an interest in entomology. There are insect habitats where you may gently handle the inhabitants and the museum sometimes holds hands-on events on weekends. Other regular exhibits (outside of the free-range butterflies) include the ever-popular and well-loved rhinoscerous beetle and the terrifying Japanese sparrow bee, from which a single sting can be lethal.

Hinoki: Get Weaving!

Some of the locals are quite handy when it comes to weaving strips of cypress wood to make all sorts of personal accessories and home accents. With a phone call in advance to Tsurugi’s local history hub and resthouse, Yokomachi Urarakan, you’ll be able to find out when the local weavers will be able to offer lessons. Beginners should start out with something simple, like a square coaster, which takes about 30 minutes to finish. If you’re feeling ambitious and you can spare at least 90 minutes, make a basket.

What else can be made from cypress wood? The Yokomachi Urarakan sells handbags and sedge hats, earrings and broaches, framed artwork and even sculptures! The possibilities are endless.

Sake: The Taste of Japan

Tsurugi has been the home of exceptional Japanese rice wine, or sake, for centuries. One brand, Kikuhime, was listed on the drink menu at a banquet for nobility in the late 1500s. If you know what kind of sake you like, stop by the Kikuhime office to buy a bottle from the staff. However, if you prefer to taste before you buy, another local sake maker which produces the brand Manzairaku has a shop right in Tsurugi where you can sample their selection, which ranges from fruity tones of pear and melon to crisp and dry on the palette.

If alcoholic beverages are not for you, no problem. Swing by ice cream shop Atsushi Ikeda for a scoop. Their blend of cream cheese and Kikuhime sake ice cream is exceptional: creamy and flavorful the way a robust, fruity sake should be but without the alcohol.

Misogi: Purify the Soul

Near Tsurugi is one of Japan’s most famous shrines, Hakusanhime Shrine. It stands at the old trailhead to sacred Mount Hakusan, or White Mountain. Many people venture to this shrine to pray for health, success, and (if you wish to take advantage of the resident goddess’s specific purview) the mending of relationships.

But if you wander to the right and around the back of the ceremony hall, you’ll discover a shallow pool of sacred water where the Shinto purification ceremony called misogi is held.

To participate, you’ll need to make a reservation and be prepared to don the plain, white garments that the shrine provides. A blessing will be given before you enter the pool, where you will sit with the water up to your shoulders as your sins are washed away.

The ceremony can be performed year round as the water stays at about 15° Celsius (or, 60° Fahrenheit) no matter the ambient air temperature. The entire experience, from reservation to blessing to ceremony, will be done in Japanese. If you need an interpreter, be sure to hire one in advance.

About Keri Yazawa

Keri Yazawa, a resident of Kanazawa City since 2005, guides bicycle tours specializing in good food, quirky history, local craft making, and gorgeous landscapes.

Article photos and written content © 2025 Keri Yazawa. All rights reserved.