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Ishikawa Prefecture

Japan’s Pokémon hot spring reinstalls all damaged statues, adds no-touching rule

Casey Baseel
Jul 12, 2026
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Gyarados, Psyduck, and Vaporeon all needed repairs just weeks after the Pokémon footbath opened.

Japan
(anime • ashiyu • cool • cute • footbaths • hot springs • Ishikawa • Ishikawa Prefecture • Japan travel • manga • Noto • Noto Peninsula • onsen • Pokemon • tourism • travel • video games)

Nearly half of Pokémon hot spring’s statues have been damaged less than two months after opening

Casey Baseel
Jun 23, 2026

Adorable new ashiyu destination has no Pokémon battles, but injuries to the creatures are still occurring.

Japan
(anime • ashiyu • cool • cute • footbaths • hot springs • Ishikawa • Ishikawa Prefecture • Japan travel • manga • Noto • Noto Peninsula • onsen • Pokemon • tourism • travel • video games)

Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]

Casey Baseel
May 26, 2026

Pikachu and Gyarados invite you to come by for a relaxing soak as Noto town recovers from disaster.

Japan
(anime • ashiyu • cool • cute • footbaths • hot springs • Ishikawa • Ishikawa Prefecture • Japan travel • manga • Noto • Noto Peninsula • onsen • Pokemon • tourism • travel • video games)

Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring

Casey Baseel
Apr 19, 2026

A relaxing, adorable, and free place to soak your toes with Pikachu, Gyarados, and more.

Japan
(anime • ashiyu • cool • cute • footbaths • hot spring • Ishikawa • Ishikawa Prefecture • Japan travel • manga • manhole covers • Noto • Noto Peninsula • onsen • Poké Lids • Pokéfuta • Pokemon • Pokémon manhole covers • tourism • travel • video games)

Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan

Casey Baseel
Apr 18, 2026

Noto Peninsula is ready to welcome travelers again, and these Pokémon are ready to help them do it.

Japan
(anime • Ishikawa • Ishikawa Prefecture • Japan travel • manga • manhole covers • Noto • Noto Peninsula • Poké Lids • Pokéfuta • Pokemon • Pokémon manhole covers • tourism • travel • video games)

Which parts of Ishikawa are OK to travel to after Noto quake? Government shares guideline map

Casey Baseel
Jan 22, 2024

“Don’t come to Noto, but please come to Ishikawa.”

Japan
(earthquake • Ishikawa • Ishikawa Prefecture • Noto • Noto earthquake • Noto Peninsula • travel)

Watch Ishikawa-set anime, support January 1 earthquake relief efforts

Krista Rogers
Jan 17, 2024

The 2011 anime series Hanasaku Iroha and its film are now streaming on YouTube for free for residents of Japan with proceeds going towards aid.

Japan
(anime • benefit • charity • disaster relief • Hanairo • Hanasaku Iroha • hot springs • Ishikawa Prefecture • Kanazawa • Noto earthquake • Noto Peninsula • ryokan • Yuwaku Onsen)

Sacred forbidden forest at a Japanese shrine has been off-limits to visitors for centuries

Oona McGee
Apr 24, 2021

We get to enter a holy land that’s been protected since ancient times, and it reminds us of the world of Princess Mononoke.

Japan
(culture • curse • Cursed Japan • forbidden • haunted Japan • history • Ishikawa Prefecture • Keta Grand Shrine • nature • Noto Peninsula • religion • Seiji Nakazawa • shrines • SNJO • tradition • trees)

Rice “raised on fighter jet roars” from Ishikawa Prefecture is sure to break the flavor barrier

Dale Roll
Mar 2, 2018

And it’s all thanks to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s F-15s (and an Ishikawa-based vendor).

Japan
(food • funny • Ishikawa Prefecture • Japan Self-Defense Force • JSDF • rice • weird)

Japanese schoolgirls in sailor suit uniforms demonstrate 82 sumo techniques【Video】

Oona McGee
May 13, 2017

These girls expertly throw each other around the ring to help promote high school sumo in Japan.

Japan
(high school • Ishikawa Prefecture • Kanazawa • sailor suits • School Uniforms • schoolgirls • sports • Sumo • uniforms • video)

We tried the expensive but delicious curry at Ishikawa’s Go! Go! Curry! But is it worth the trip?

Preston Phro
Jun 30, 2015

Curry in Japan is not usually a fancy affair. It’s mostly found in places that are closer to a fast food level than a top-tier restaurant in Ginza — and that’s fine! Who can argue with inexpensive but delicious?

But not every curry restaurant is merely “cheap ‘n’ tasty.” Take, for example, Ishikawa Prefecture’s Go! Go! Curry, where you can get both regular curry and high-class 5,500-yen-a-plate curry! But is this US$45-curry worth the trip from Tokyo? We sent our Japanese writer Meg to find out!

Japan
(curry • food • Go! Go! Curry • high-class curry • Ishikawa Prefecture • Wajima)

Nanao Bay, Ishikawa Prefecture: 98-percent chance of seeing dolphins in the wild!

Preston Phro
Jul 8, 2013

Some of the smartest and cutest creatures to ever flip in and out of the sea, dolphins have long captured the imagination and hearts of us land-dwellers. Dolphin watching excursions seem to be as popular as whale watching excursions, and there’s hardly anyone who isn’t thrilled by these friendly mammals’ smiles and enthusiastic squeaks.

So, if you happen to be melting in the Japanese heat this summer, why not head out to Ishikawa Prefecture where you can cool off in the ocean—and have a 98-percent chance of seeing some dolphins!