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Ischia

Ischia is the largest island in the bay of Naples and is considered by many to be the most beautiful, though Capri is considerably more famous. It is volcanic in origin and still classed as an active volcano, but it has not erupted since 1302.

The island is a 10 km from east to west and 7 km north to south. It has a coastline of 34 km and covers an area of 46.3 km2. It has a permanent population of approximately 70,000 (2019). Up to 6 million tourists (principally from the Italian mainland and Germany) flock to the island for its volcanic thermal spas, its beaches and its food.

Cities
There are several towns along the island's coast.

 * Ischia: The largest city (often confusing name for tourists). It has two centers:
 * Ischia: The largest city (often confusing name for tourists). It has two centers:
 * Ischia: The largest city (often confusing name for tourists). It has two centers:
 * Ischia: The largest city (often confusing name for tourists). It has two centers:

Understand
Ischia — historically called Pitecusae — was colonized in turn by the Greeks, Syrausansa, Romans, Saracens, Turks, and Aragonese; all of whom were interested in its excellent strategic position, its therapeutic hot-spring waters, and its attractive landscape. The result of all this varied history can be seen in the ruins of various outposts, towers, and "tufa" rock shelters hidden all over the island.

Ischia has become a frequent backdrop for Italian and American movies such as Vacanze ad Ischia, Appuntamento ad Ischia, and The Talented Mr.Ripley. The island has also been used as a cinematic stand-in for the Island of Capri.

Climate
The best time for the traveler to visit Ischia is from April to October, however, the weather in Ischia is always changing and visitors should expect both sunshine and rain — whatever the season. Summer, the main tourist season, combines long, hot days with lengthy evenings. Winter can be bitterly cold and wet, with short daylight hours.

Flora and fauna
Also called the "Green Island", Ischia enjoys hot and dry summers and mild winters along with a pronounced fertility which is a result of having almost an entirely volcanic soil. These factors allow Mediterranean plants to thrive all over the island, and sub-tropical and tropical species to successfully occupy niches in the warmest areas.

On the southern side of the island, the continuous exposure to direct sunlight favors tropical and desert vegetation which is mainly represented by palms, cactus' and agave plants with Mediterranean trees hiding in the shade of inlets and bends. On the northern side of the island in the shade cast by Mount Epomeo, you'll find chestnut trees, as well as typical Mediterranean trees such as the holm oak, cypress, and cork trees as well as cultivated almond trees, vines, and olive trees.

Ischia mud
Ischia mud originates from the geologic evolution of the island where, over the centuries, many hydrovolcanic eruptions and earthquakes changed the soil composition. The hot waters and muds, all “thermal” or “hypertermal”, i.e. they are at the same time hot or very hot and very rich in mineral content. In spite of their diversity, all the muds have the same standard features: sodium, chlorine, potassium, calcium and sulphur in the form of sulphates and sulphides. Because of the variety of different chemicals found in them, different waters and mud are recommended for different treatments. The Italian Ministry of Health produces a document that has updates on which waters and muds are suitable for therapeutic treatments and illness and diseases which can be treated. According to this document, disease which can be treated are: rheumatic diseases such as arthrosis; respiratory diseases; dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, atopical dermatitis, eczema (except for exudative bladdery forms), chronic seborrhea; gynecological diseases such as pelvis tissue sclerosis; diseases of the gastroenteric apparatus such as gastroenteric or bilious dyspepsia, and intestinal disorders associated with constipation.

Cavascura and Olmitello thermal water
While traveling around Sant’Angelo there are several footpaths that can take you up the hilltops. One of these is a footpath that goes to the thermal springs of Cavascura and Olmitello. To get there, take a taxi boat from the square of Sant’Angelo to the Fumarole beach. Here, with the beach behind you, take the footpath from the right side of the beach which is flanked by oleander trees. The first stretch is steep, with a few houses on both sides, then it levels out and there are Mediterranean bushes and a variety of plants such as figs, capers, prickly pears, etc. On the right, there is a view of the Maronti beach. Passing under a natural arch, turn right to reach the beach. Here is the entrance to Cavascura. There are all types of typical restaurants and at the back of the canyon are the antique thermal springs of Cavascura. Going back, climbing the steps through the vine yards, you will arrive at the antique establishment of Cava Olmitello, which sadly to say is in disuse. Here, as you make your way through the bushes, with only the croaking of frogs, you can imagine yourself traveling back in time when the world was a much simpler place.

Talk
While Italian is the native language on the island, most people working in the tourism industry speak at least one other language, with German and English being the most widely spoken second languages. It should also be noted that the island of Ischia also has its own dialect of Italian, which can make it difficult for visitors to understand at times.

Get in
Unless you are a millionaire (and order a private helicopter), you will come by ferry or hydrofoil. To reach the harbors, there are many options.

By boat
From the coast, e.g. connections from one of the Naples harbours or Pozzuoli (not really cheaper nor faster than from Naples), are available. Arriving from islands (Capri, Procida) is common too. Summarized timetables are available e.g. here, but be prepared for small delays (even 1/2 hr).

Port in is most commonly used, but  and  are also available.

By plane
The closest airport is in Naples - Naples International Airport. Easiest way to reach harbor from there is either Alibus or taxi.

By car
From Rome (A1) - From Bari (A16) - From Salerno (A30). It is better to follow the road markings for the Tangenziale (bypass) (exit No. 12) and to go on towards Pozzuoli. Then go out at the Via Campana (exit No. 12) and go on towards the Harbour of Pozzuoli (ferries only), which is about 4 km away. You can also reach the harbour of Naples Beverello (both ferries and hydrofoils). You don't have to turn into the Tangenziale, but to follow the road markings for the Zona Portuale (Harbour area) and, after the exit, to go on for the harbour, which is about 5 km from the highway.

By train
There are four railway stations that are close to one of the harbours of Naples and Pozzuoli:

 * Naples Campi Flegrei. From this station it is easy to reach the harbor of Mergellina by taxi, bus, tram or underground. Mergellina is approximately 3 km away from the railway station.
 * Naples Mergellina. This station is more or less 200 m from the harbor of Mergellina.
 * Naples Centrale or Naples Piazza Garibaldi. Both stations enable you to have an immediate access to Piazza Garibaldi, which is located around 4 km from the harbour of Naples Beverello and easily reachable by taxi, tram or bus.
 * Pozzuoli. The Cumana railline operates from Montesanto in Naples and follows the coastline for approximately 20 km before ending in Torregaveta (Bacoli). To reach the Pozzuoli harbour you get off at the stop for Pozzuoli. The harbor is a 5-minute walk away.

Taxis in Naples to the boats
It is easy to take a taxi from the rail station or airport to the harbour. In this case take a look at the "Fixed prices table" that any taxi driver must show in his car. Taxi drivers will often try to get tourists to pay more than necessary for the short ride from central station to the port, so be sure to either bargain or ask for the fixed price (prezzo fisso). For example, from the rail station Centrale to the Beverello harbour the fixed price is €13 for the taxi, not per person, nothing more (though they may not allow more than four people in a taxi at a time). From the airport to the harbour of Beverello the fixed total price is €?. Additional charge of 0.5€ per suitcase applies for large suitcases. Be aware of scammers, who offer apparent good deals (e.g. 10€ per suitcase).

Getting off the boat in Ischia
When taking many of the ferries from Naples to Ischia, pay close attention when disembarking. Many people make the mistake of getting off the boat, and disembark at the island of Procida instead of Ischia. It is recommended that visitors ask the people working on the boat if the boat stops at Procida. Also, be sure to pay attention to which port you get off at, even if you are at the island of Ischia.

The ferry from Pozzuoli directly to Ischia Porto
Boats make stops at several ports. If you do not have a specific city in mind, the largest hub of activity and the largest port is called "Ischia Porto" (this port city is often called simply "Ischia", although this can be confusing as it is also the name of the island as a whole). You can find transportation to other parts of the island, tourist information, and food and shelter there, if all else fails.

By bus
The public bus service connects the various urban centres of the island through frequent journeys, most of them having their terminus in the of Ischia Porto close to the harbour. The bus stops along the routes are every few hundred meters.

Two most important bus routes are called CD and CS, both of which start from Ischia porto, takes a circular tour around the island, and returns again to Ischia porto. Bus CD takes a clockwise route, while CS takes an anti-clockwise route. Using one of these two buses, one can get a cheap and easy trip around the island (little over 1 hour total round trip time).

Other lines share part of the CS/CD route - see e.g map here. Especially during the summer - your "ideal bus" may be delayed by the traffic (even 15-20 minutes on longer routes), or it may be fully occupied.

The fare for a single journey (valid 90 minutes) is €1.5; tickets can be bought from newsstands, bars, travel agencies and tobacconists. Tickets cannot be purchased on board from the driver. Tickets valid for longer durations (for example one or two-day tickets) are also available, usually only from the official ticket centres like in Ischia Porto bus station. All tickets must be validated on boarding the bus. Tickets are regularly checked.

 * Read about the unified public transport ticket Campania Unico.

By taxi
As with many other tourist destinations, visitors should confirm the price to their destination with the taxi driver before getting into the taxi. With most taxis not running on a meter, this is the surest way to ensure that you are not overcharged.

Sightseeing tour
There are half-day roundtrips to all six communities of Ischia with stops at the most beautiful sightseeing stops of the islands. Price is €11.

Lacco Ameno

 * Pithecusae Archaeological Museum at the main building of Villa Arbusto. In the Museum there are many archaeological findings dating from prehistory to the Romans Age. On the ground floor there is the a Geological section, which shows how the presence of the volcano affected life on the island. Some findings made of clay and stone dating to the Neolithic, have been retrieved at Cilento, nearby the Ischia cemetery; a village dating back from the middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age has been discovered on the hill of Castiglione, in Casamicciola. In the museum are also exposed series of funerary objects from the Necropolis at San Montano bay, used as burial place for about 1000 years.
 * The Angelo Rizzoli Museum contains a picture gallery about Angelo Rizzoli’s stay on the island. He used to stay in Lacco Ameno where he promoted the restructuring of the ancient Santa Restituta baths and sponsored the construction of a series of large luxury hotels which in the 1950s and 1960s were the much-loved destination for cinema stars and international jet-setters (in the 1950s and 1960s).
 * A splendid public garden
 * A splendid public garden

 * Piazza Restituta
 * Il Fungo
 * Rock shaped like a mushroom
 * Rock shaped like a mushroom

Thermal springs
Ischia's thermal springs have been renowned since ancient times and have been tested by many Italian and foreign scientists, for their therapeutic features. The thermal waters are used in baths and thermal gardens, and they can found in small springs on some beaches and streams of spouting that feature hot water gushing into the sea as well as steam spouts (fumaroles) with gases gushing from cracks in the soil. Fumaroles can also be observed on the slopes of the Mount Epomeo, particularly on cold days, or are located into small caves, called “stoves”, and idiomatically “sudatori” or “sudaturi” (from the Italian verb meaning “to perspire”) which are used as a kind of sauna in baths and thermal gardens. Springs and spouting steam can be considered as the manifest sign of Ischia's volcanic origins and of the still persisting volcanic activity. The particular features of the subsoil, due to its structure and chemical composition affect the minerals content and the degree of dilution by sea and rain water. According to many scientists, the location and features of the springs are affected by the combination of the above mentioned factors. The most ancient springs are those of Casamicciola, consecrated to the god Apollo, those of Lacco Ameno consecrated to Hercules, those of Citara in Panza consecrated to Venus Citarea, and those of Barano consecrated to Nitrodi Nymps.

Churches

As described above, there is a tiny white-washed church in a truly spectacular position: in the square on the Punta del Soccorso in Forio, that looks out onto the crystal clear sea - a typically Mediterranean site of astounding beauty.

Sorgeto
Starting from the 1300s people have come to soak in the soothing hot springs of Ischia. Streams of spouting hot water gushing into the sea as well as steamspouts with gases gushing from cracks in the soil (fumaroles) in caves which are used as a kind of sauna in baths and thermal gardens.Sorgeto Hot Spring Waters located in Forio coastline, whose thermal water gushes out into the sea. You can lounge in the natural pool made by small rocks and stones. Hot water is outpouring into the sea and bubbles can be easily observed among rocks. To get here there is a series of stone steps. The temperature quite high allows to have baths also in winter.

Poseidon Gardens and natural spas
With reference to its volcanic origins, the hydrothermal heritage of the island of Ischia is one of the richest in the world. The thermo-mineral island springs with their clearly evident "hyperthermability" captured the attention of the ancients right from the beginning. It is therefore hardly surprising that the thermal cures of Ischia date back to the 8th century AD, when the first Greek colonies, originating from Eubea, settled on the island.

The curative tradition of Ischia's springs did not pause throughout time: they passed from the Greek to the Roman period and so on, through the darkest Medieval centuries to the Renaissance period and up to a first rational approach of 18th century medical science to today.

Among the areas creating most interest, the zone of Citara, in the municipality of Forio, is undoubtedly the most important and, indeed, in the bay of Citara the famous Thermal Poseidon Gardens were established.

22 pools (thermal, Kneipp, ocean-water) have been installed according to latest technical and medical knowledge. The water - temperature varies from 28°C to 40°C (82°F to 104°F) and the abundance of water means that it is constantly renewed - a totally unique procedure. A Roman sauna and a large private beach is equipped with deck-chairs and beach - umbrellas, various restaurants of which one is situated in a beautiful grotto of local tuff stones and a boutique with a newspaper-kiosk complete this extraordinary establishment.

Visitors to the Poseidon Gardens will find a haven of peace and tranquility in a setting of 60,000 m² of ecologically intact gardens and can enjoy an ideal combination of medical cure and relaxing holidays by the sea.

This is also a reason why perfectly healthy people who have no need for treatment in the classical sense, benefit greatly from spending some time at the Poseidon Gardens. If you are extremely involved in your work and have hardly any time for compensatory sport or other activities, or if you simply want to prevent future health - problems nothing can be better than the combination of a mild climate, the warming sun, mountains and beaches, thermal springs and the sea. Nothing is better than the mosaic of natural healing as provided in the Poseidon Gardens.

Events
One of the many things that make Ischia such a great place to visit is the variety of events from musical events and festivals to the handicrafts markets in the historical center and sports events. In spring and summer, the various villages organize several events: many of them religious festivals, which are an important part of the island’s tradition and cultural identity.
 * Festa della Ndrezzata – April: Easter Monday - The Festa della Ndrezzata is held in the village of Buonopane, near Barano every Easter Monday. The Ndrezzata is a typical island dance. It is a kind of rhythmic, violent and picturesque fight where the dancers are dressed in traditional island costumes and fight each other with wooden swords;
 * International Festival of Classic Music - May - October Forio: The first edition of the festival International of "Classic" music: a series of concerts that were held in the churches and the basilicas of Forio;
 * Ischia Global Film & Music Fest – mid-July: A cinema festival with premieres and retrospective themes dedicated to European films, especially Italian. Ischia, for example, has used as a location of Italian films since the 1950s. These include the films Vacanze a Ischia with Vittorio De Sica, the colossal Cleopatra with Richard Burton and Liz Taylor and the 1999 film The Talented Mr Ripley with Matt Damon and Jude Law;
 * Vinischia - July: An event that is entirely dedicated to food and wine and Campania regional crafts. It has been organized each summer since 1999 at Torre Guevara at Ischia Ponte. Shows, concerts and dances are organized around the exhibitions and the food and wine tasting;
 * Festa di Sant’Anna – 26 July; The Festa di Sant’Anna in Ischia Porto is held each year in the borough of Ischia. On that occasion, there is a sea parade of figurative boats from the island’s various boroughs and also from Procida, under the Castello Aragonese. The parade ends with a prize-giving ceremony and fireworks. The festival is watched by an enthusiastic public;
 * Sant'Alessandro celebration - 26 August. Patronal feast and celebration.
 * Settembre sul Sagarato – August and September; This is a festival held every year since 1988 in the village of Piazzale Battistessa, opposite the Church of San Pietro. The festival lasts for two weeks and is filled with painting exhibitions, parades of traditional costumes, wine tasting, fagiolate (bean stew tasting), concerts and shows; and
 * Ischia White Night (La notte Bianca a Forio d' Ischia) 24 December; Museums, churches, shops and restaurant stay open while the Ischia Notte Bianca stages music, dance and theater events.

Island trips by boat
An trip around the island of Ischia by boat allows you to see the coast-line that otherwise is not visible. Boat tours leave from Forio, Ischia, Sant'Angelo, Lacco Ameno and Casamicciola. If leaving from the port of Sant’Angelo, sailing westwards you can see the Elephants Grotto then in front of you there is a deep inlet which is low and sandy in one part and in others high and rocky which continue until you reach Punto Chiarito, passing the beaches of Cava Ruffano, Cava Grado and the Green Grotto.

At Punto Chiarito there is the Bay of Sorgeto with its hot water and muds. Then the coast-line becomes very high, deeply articulated, with rockfaces, precipices, recesses and promontories of: Capo Negro, Punta Pilaro, and Chianare Spadaia with its rocks like the Boat Rock, until you reach Capo Imperatore with its lighthouse. At first the coast-line is high and steep, then it drops and there is the long and winding beach of Citara. Then it rises softly towards Punta Soccorso and Forio. Passing the coast-line is low and sandy opening onto the beach of San Francesco, which laps the offshoots of Monte Caruso. Here the coast-line is high bare rockfaced, jutting out, then curving inwards before arriving at Punta Caruso and Punta Cornacchia.

Between Punta Cornacchia and the offshoots of Monte Vico, with its point of the same name, there is the delightful Beach of San Montano, and Lacco Ameno. Lacco Ameno is noted for its characteristic rock of tufo, shaped like a mushroom.

Along the coast there are the houses of Casamicciola Terme. A little farther along there is Punta Scrofa with the English beach, then the bay of Ischia Porto. Past Punto Molino formed from the lava flow of the Arso, there is the Pescatori beach, from here you can admire the island with its castle and the Aragonese bridge. After the bridge there is an inlet for the Cartaromana beach.

In the middle of the sea the rocks of Sant’Anna emerge, and going southwards is Punta Pisciazza. The section of the coast that concludes the southern side of the island is high, rocky and marked by the promontory jutting out of Punta Lume, Punta Parate and Punta San Pancrazio. On this side of the island there is the Mago grotto and other grottos. From Punta San Pancrazio the coast-line continues for a few kilometers until Capo Grosso: This stretch of coast-line is commonly known as The Scarrupata. After another small stretch of coast-line there is the beach of Maronti, where the small island of Sant’Angelo can be seen, which was the starting point of the round trip of the island.

Monte Epomeo
Arriving at Fontana by foot or by riding a mule you can reach the peak, which is about 800 metres above sea level. is an enormous rock of tufa, in which rooms of an ex hermit and a church which is dedicated to San Nicola (which has been restored) have been carved into its sides. During the day the view is marvellous, you can see the whole island of Ischia, Capri and the bay of Naples. At night you can see the town of Forio in a candid light, like an oriental city with the stars slowly fading into the sea, and dawn slowly breaking with its famous green ray.

A small restaurant La Grotta da Fiore is available near the summit.

Nightlife
Many of Ischia's best dance clubs are in Forio and Ischia Porto:

Buy
In every village there are streets where you can go exciting shopping for craftsman ships, agricultural local products. The boutiques that sell famous brand clothes, mark the shopping route:

 * In Ischia you can go to Via Roma, Corso Vittoria Colonna, or to Borgo di Ischia Ponte, a very nice place full of artisans, shops, restaurants and jewelers;
 * In Casamicciola, the main streets for shopping are the Seafront and the adjoining Marina Square;
 * In Lacco Ameno the seafront (nowadays called Corso Rizzolihas) been very famous since the 1950s. It starts at Piazza Santa Restituta where the locals like to gather;
 * In Forio, thanks to the large size of the town, there are a lot of possibilities for shopping. Probably the best town on Ischia to get good deals, from the best Italian brands to the lower end. Take a look right the center of town where the shopping street is, but don't miss the market stalls, where you can find bargains.
 * In Serrara Fontana, do not miss Sant’Angelo, the coastal area of the town, for shopping and social life;
 * In Barano which is also the commercial centre, is the square that faces the wonderful beach of Maronti.

Handicrafts
Ceramics making and decorating is an ancient art. This tradition has been handed down through the centuries, developing new techniques and producing a wide variety of different objects. Ceramics include objects dedicated to two main categories: objects for domestic use, such as dishes, pots, small decorative sculptures, and objects for the building industry such as tiles for paving, roofing tiles, pipes, bath tubs and so on. Terracotta is made of common clay and contains many iron impurities. Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians used to dry products of this kind in the sun. If it is baked in an oven, it will become dark red, assuming the particular colour known as terra-cotta - varying in intensity as in relation to its chemical composition. It is suitable to be covered by transparent glazes which seal the pot and make it bright and smooth. Usually it will then be painted and decorated in many different ways.

On the island the main example of ceramics production is represented by the old workshop Mennella in Casamicciola or Taki in Forio: the workshop as well as a large exhibition of products are accessible to visitors. All around there are small pottery workshops.

Eat
It is not possible to know if it is because of that mountain that climbs towards the sky giving the idea of an island-not-island, or because of the mixture of land and sea that Ischia has kept that primitive and wild feeling that now meets modernity. For all this reasons this island is a priceless place, especially for the taste. It is a land island. Starting from the rabbit, always cooked in terracotta baking-pan with a clove of garlic, wine, little tomatoes, lard and local spices: poor ingredients for an old and very savoury dish.

Indivisible from the Ischitanian rabbit is this very savoury main course that is served with the very simple but very rich rabbit sauce. In latest years the pit rabbit became like a totem for the island. The rabbit is bred after the old manner. It lives its natural state: wild, in woods and mountains, and grows up (as for many centuries) in pits and only feeds on wild grass.

Snails are picked along the dry walls (parracine) and in woods. They are cooked in the traditional way with wild grass, especially in the internal part of the island.

An appetizer or main course (if served with mozzarella cheese), Ischitanian Caponata directly originates from the typical insalata cafona (peasant salad). The peasant used to eat it for lunch, in the countryside, during the working time. Nowadays there are many recipes, the oldest one combines little tomatoes, onion, stale bread or freselle, salad and wild grass.

Fish in Ischia does not disappoint. There are many ways to buy it fresh, directly in fish-shops or at the paranza(trawler) when fishermen come back from the sea. Typical of the island are macaroni with sea food, linguine with sea-urchins and different species of local fish served in many ways: marinated, cooked in the oven, with spaghetti. The paranza fry is very famous: a lot of fried little fish of different species depending on what fishermen found. Usually they bring basses white breams, giltheads, little tuna, crayfish, calamari, squids and langoustes that enrich the menu of restaurants and agritourisms.

Some passionately fond, produce honey made from bees wax, citrus fruits or flowers. The local honey has a consistency and a taste very different from the others.

There is a town between Barano and Serrara Fontana called buonopane (good bread). Here they have been making bread for centuries. Cooked only in wood ovens it is kneaded with the crisc’to a natural yeast of acid mother paste. The bread is still kneaded by hand, and its smell in the morning is stirring. All over the island. All over the island there are ovens making bread.

The rural culture is confirmed by the cultivation of many kinds of vegetables, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, courgettes, artichokes and garden rockets.

The legume are very good: lentils, chicklings, beans (they have curious and unusual varieties called pipers –purple red colored- and fascists - with black nuances).

The volcanic soil favours the growth of tomatoes. They are picked up in clusters and twisted to create the typical pendolikept in dry and fresh place.

Of course you'll also find all of the regional specialties (such as the original Mozzarella cheese) from Campania served on the island.

Restaurants and wine bars

 * Emiddio's Ischia Porto, lungomare. Right down the street from the ferries imbarcations. Excellent food, generous portions, rapid service, reasonable prices.
 * Ristorante Alberto, Via C. Colombo, 8 Ischia. The list of celebrities that have dined at the Ristorante Alberto includes names like Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Kate Moss and Natasha Stefanenko. The restaurant's walls are simply huge windows, which emphasizes its location - directly on the beach. From indoors, the restaurant seems to be floating. Since 1950, the Ristorante Alberto has served the finest quality of seafood dishes, concentrating on flavour, freshness and appearance.
 * Ristorante La Casereccia, Via Baiola, 193, Borbonica, Ischia. At the foot of Mount Epomeo, it has a sea view from above, this hidden gem is a true family restaurant. Each night Mamma Tina cooks up the best in Ischitan and Southern Italian. Standout menu items include the Grilled Swordfish, Stewed Rabbit, and Gnocchi Sorrentina. One of the cons of the family also bakes delicious pizzas using the freshest ingredients. Most ingredients, in fact, come from the family's own gardens. Wine and limoncello are homemade and delicious. Attire is casual, families and groups are welcome, and prices are reasonable. The family also runs a hotel and hostel.
 * Ristorante Giardini Eden, Via Nuova Cartaromana 68 Ischia. The lure of the sea-side location and garden setting is nothing compared to the draw of the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen at the Ristorante Giardini Eden. Choices include fresh pasta and seafood, and delicately spiced risotto. Expect everything to look as good as it tastes.
 * Ristorante Umberto a Mare, Via Soccorso, 2 Forio. This tiny restaurant has only ten tables. Its popularity stems from its view of the sea and the menu consisting of the local fishermen's daily catch.
 * Ristorante Mamma Mia, Via S. Angelo 48 Serrara, Sant'Angelo. This family-owned establishment has been a local favourite for years. The atmosphere is warm and lively, and Mamma ensures only the highest quality of ingredients go into her cooking. The restaurant is located in the sea-side community of Sant' Angelo.
 * Bar Ristorante Il Fortino Via Fortino, 37 Forio, Forio. The terrace of this fine restaurant opens up onto the sea for a lovely view during the day and at night. Some of their specialties include bruschetta and their filling salad Il Fortino.

Drink
On the Island of Ischia, the viticulture has millenarian origins. The cultivation technique is like the Greek traditional one. In fact, it is different from that one used in the middle of Italy and in the rest of the Campania province. From the coasts to the steep mountain slopes is where the vine is cultivated on proper terraced fields. Here is a list of the most famous and diffused kinds of grapes, all cultivated in the island from about 300 years ago: White Grapes - Biancolella, Forastera, and Arilla S. Lunardo; Red Grapes – Guarnaccia and Pedirosso o Pere e Palummo.

 * Limoncello After a traditional meal mainly based on fish, it is very common in the Campania region to drink limoncello, usually after coffee. Limoncello is a traditional spirit distilled from lemon rinds, typical of Naples, Caserta and Ischia. It is a natural product, usually home-made from rinds of local lemons which are characterised by their large size and thick peel. Limoncello is made by steeping lemon rinds in alcohol and by adding water and sugar. It is usually served chilled as an appetizer or digestif. It is also mixed with champagne and white wine to prepare cocktails.
 * Ischia Bianco Doc The soul of Ischia soul is not the sea, but farming and wine growing; once in fact an area of 3,000 hectares (now 800) was devoted to this main activity. Thanks to its commerce in wine, Casa d'Ambra was founded, with its premises at the port, making history in wine on the island and in southern Italy. DOC Ischia is among the oldest in Italy : it goes back in fact to the mid 1870s and covers the whole island. The vine heritage is quite varied and includes grapes such as Biancolella, Forastera, Grape Rilla, San Lunardo, Coglionara and Falanghina.The tendency has always been for table wines to accompany either seafood or land-produce dishes. The result is a particularly elegant wine, due mostly to the volcanic terrain and dry microclimate with good thermal conditions.

Budget

 * Albergo Hotel Villa- [tel:+39 081 994631 +39 081 994631] in Lacco Ameno has direct access to the town centre and the sea promenade through a private drive and is contiguous to thermal spas. It is only about 50 m to the sea and 20 m to the bus stop. It is a typical Mediterranean villa, encircled by lush orange and lemon trees, in a garden that offers cosy angles inviting to relaxation and to the sense of nature. There you can also enjoy a little swimming pool. In the evenings you can taste the typical Ischia dishes prepared by the owners and served under the arches of the porch.
 * La Beccacia Ischia, Via Cava Scialicco, [tel:+39 081994510 +39 081994510], Email: ristorlabeccaccia@libero.it. Family-run hotel with delicious traditional traditional Italian food. This rustic, modern albergo is perched on a mountain with a breathtaking view of the beach. The Ristorante La Beccacia is a safe environment for children, and a welcoming home for all ages.
 * La Beccacia Ischia, Via Cava Scialicco, [tel:+39 081994510 +39 081994510], Email: ristorlabeccaccia@libero.it. Family-run hotel with delicious traditional traditional Italian food. This rustic, modern albergo is perched on a mountain with a breathtaking view of the beach. The Ristorante La Beccacia is a safe environment for children, and a welcoming home for all ages.

 * Pietradonica, Via San Vito 1, Forio d'Ischia, [tel:+39 3460870005 +39 3460870005]. Old farmhouse of 1700, offers double rooms faced a garden of spices, citrus plantations and banana-trees. The rooms, are furnished with bathrooms, bed-linen, bar fridge, coffee pot and tea-pot, heating and ventilation, colonial furnishing of the nineteenth-century. A common kitchen is located in the garden pavilion.
 * Pensione Mena about 1 km east of Forio, near Campo Sportivo. Lovely room (53) overlooking the sea. Cost €35 pp B&B (€10 extra for half-board). Very welcoming. Small swimming pool. All other guests were Italian. Not much English or German spoken. Very helpful Romanian waitress.
 * Pensione Mena about 1 km east of Forio, near Campo Sportivo. Lovely room (53) overlooking the sea. Cost €35 pp B&B (€10 extra for half-board). Very welcoming. Small swimming pool. All other guests were Italian. Not much English or German spoken. Very helpful Romanian waitress.

Mid-range

 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.
 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.
 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.
 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.
 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.
 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.
 * Ring Hostel, Via Gaetano Morgera n. 72, [tel:+39 339 470 2996 +39 339 470 2996], Fax. [tel:+39 081 987942 +39 081 987942] - In an old monastery, where it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The hostel is 5 minutes by foot from both the town center of Forio and the closest beach. The hostel has free internet for all guests, as well as wireless capabilities for laptops. The common room has a big screen TV with lots of DVDs to rent, comfy couches, common kitchen, instruments to play, and a book exchange. Above it all, there is a comfortable terrace for watching sunsets and making friends. The hostel has one big dorm room, and then smaller rooms that can be single-sex, as well as doubles.

Stay safe
Ischia is generally a safe destination, even for women travelling alone. The local Police are also generally friendly if not always helpful. There are four main police forces in Italy: the Carabinieri (black uniform),military corp belong to the Ministry of Defence and perform a number of different duties; the Polizia di Stato (blue tunics and grey pants), civil corp, are part of the Ministry of Interior and perform general police duties such patrolling the highways; Polizia Municipale (city police) responsible for parking tickets, directing traffic, etc.; and Guardia di Finanza (grey uniforms) do customs work, but also check vehicles to make sure owners have paid proper car taxes. If you are robbed, try to find a police station and report it. This is essential to establishing a secure travel insurance claim.

Emergencies
In an emergency, call 113 (police) or 118 (medical first aid). Carry the address of your embassy or consulate.

Go next
From the ports of Forio and Ischia there are daily trips to the following destinations:

 * Naples
 * Capri, Procida - neighboring islands
 * Pompeii and Ercolano, Vesuvius
 * Caserta - Royal Palace north of Naples

During the summer months (May to October) excursions to the cities of Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi, as well as the islands of Ventotene and Ponza are also offered.

title: Ischia


text:
Ischigualasto Provincial Park

Ischigualasto Provincial Park is in the Cuyo region of Argentina. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Talampaya National Park in La Rioja.

History
The park shows layers of ground that the Andes Cordillera pushed so that it is now horizontal and in the surface. The rocks are from the Triassic era (240-195 million years ago) which is the beginning of the dinausors era.

Climate
The park can close some days in February and March due to rain but the sky is rather clear the rest of the year.

The temperatures can be as high as 60ºC during summer afternoons and as low as -15ºC during winter nights.

Get in
The nearest place to get in from is Valle Fértil (45 minutes), either with your own car or bus travel agencies in Valle Fértil. As many people go with their car, another option is to hitchhike. You can also get in the park from San Juan (around 4 hours).

Fees and permits
the park entrance costs AR$70 (AR$35 for Argentinians). It is open from 09:00 till 16:00 during winter and 08:00 till 17:00 during summer. It can also be visited during full-moon nights.

See
There are 5 main view points in the park:
 * El Gusano, rock formations that look like a worm
 * Valle Pintado where you can see the different parts of the Triassic based on the landscape colors
 * Cancha de Bochas, rocks shaped as balls that formed by adherence in a river
 * El Submarino, rocks that look like a submarine viewed from a certain angle
 * El Hongo, a single rock that looks like a mushroom

Do
A bike tour and a trek to a mountain that offer a panoramic view of the park.

Buy
There is an artesanal shop at the entrance of the park.

Drink
Even though the tour through the provincial park doesn't last longer than 2½ hours, bring at least a 1.5 liter bottle of water as the climate is characterised by dazzlingly dry warmth. There is a kiosco at the entrance of the park where you can buy snacks and drinks.

Sleep
There are no hostels or camp sites at the provincial park. The best thing to do is to stay at a hostel in Valle Fértil and go to Ischigualasto by car or book an organised excursion from there to Ischigualasto.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ischigualasto Provincial Park


text:
Ise

Ise (伊勢市 Ise-shi) is a city in Mie prefecture, Japan. Ise is primarily known for the eponymous Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror.

Understand
According to the official chronology, Ise Shrine (伊勢神宮 Ise-jingū) was constructed in the year 4 BC. Most historians date the shrines from several hundred years later, with 690 AD widely considered the date when the shrines were first built in their current form. They are mentioned in the annals of the Kojiki and Nihonshoki, dating from 712. Sacred objects of the royal family reside within, including a covered mirror which has reportedly not been looked into for over a thousand years. The shrines are famously dismantled and rebuilt to exacting specifications every 20 years at exorbitant expense.

The present buildings, dating from 2013, are the 62nd iteration to date and are scheduled for rebuilding in 2033. Many festivals will precede the next rebuilding; the most impressive of these, the "tree-pulling" festival Okihiki (御木曳) in which lumber is ceremoniously carted to the shrine, is next anticipated in 2026-2027.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
The closest international airport to Ise is Chubu Centrair International Airport south of Nagoya. High-speed ferries run hourly from the airport's dock across Ise Bay to Tsu (津) in 45 minutes (¥2470). From the port, a local bus travels to Tsu train station (¥200) from which Ise can be reached in 35 minutes by Kintetsu Railway (¥620; transfer may be necessary). A small number of ferries continue to Matsusaka, which is slightly closer to Ise.

The alternative is to simply take the Meitetsu μ-SKY train from the airport to Nagoya, and continue to Ise using one of the options below.

By train
Ise's main train station is Iseshi (伊勢市), which is served by Japan Railways and the private Kintetsu Railway. Another useful station is Uji-Yamada (宇治山田), which is served by Kintetsu and is the next station after Iseshi.

Kintetsu offers access to Ise through their direct limited express services from Nagoya (85 minutes, ¥2770), Kyoto (2 hours, ¥3620) and Namba in Osaka (1 hour 50 minutes, ¥3120). Some trains have a premium Deluxe Car which requires an additional surcharge for seating. One service, the Shimakaze (しまかぜ), operates with all-premium seating, also requiring an additional surcharge.

Tourists who wish to use Kintetsu can purchase the Kintetsu Rail Pass which includes unlimited local trips on the network for 5 days. The pass costs ¥3800 (¥3600 if you buy it outside Japan before your trip). You must purchase a separate ticket to ride on the limited express, though Kintetsu has now made these purchases possible in English on their website. The one-way surcharges to Ise are ¥1320 from Nagoya or Osaka, and ¥1610 from Kyoto. Deluxe Car seats and Shimakaze seats require an extra surcharge. An enhanced version of the pass, called the Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus, costs ¥5000 (¥4800 purchased in advance) and adds unlimited trips on select buses in the area.

JR trains run hourly rapid services to Iseshi from Nagoya (90 minutes, ¥2000 unreserved seat, ¥2520 reserved seat). The fastest option by JR from the Shinkansen is to change to the rapid train in Nagoya, as a trip around the Kii peninsula on other JR services will take much longer.

Holders of the Japan Rail Pass must pay a small ¥510 surcharge, since trains partially use the private Ise Railway on the journey. The surcharge can be avoided by taking the less-frequent Nanki (南紀) limited express from Nagoya to Taki (多気) and changing to a local train to Iseshi, though this will extend the travel time to 2 hours.

By bus
Willer Express operates overnight bus service from Tokyo to Ise. Buses leave from the Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal (Basta Shinjuku), as well as from nearby Kawasaki. Weekday, non-peak fares start at around ¥4700, and the trip is valid with Willer's Japan Bus Pass.

Seibu and Mie Kotsu operate two overnight bus services to Ise - one departs from Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, and the other leaves from Ikebukuro and Yokohama. Weekday, non-peak fares start at around ¥7200.

Get around
A regular bus service operates between Ise Station and Naiku. Another option for those who want to explore the area further is the CAN Bus day pass. This provides unlimited travel around the Ise, the Futami area, and Toba. A 1-day pass is ¥1000 for adults, ¥500 for children. A 2-day pass is ¥1600 and ¥800. Mie Kotsu multilingual website has more bus information.

See

Eat
The local specialty is Japanese spiny lobster, known as Ise-ebi (伊勢海老, lit. "Ise shrimp") in Japanese. Fresh lobster sashimi in particular is sublime, but as you might expect such pleasures don't come cheap. Other local specialities include Ise udon, a very simple dish of thick noodles in a strong flavored sauce, garnished with spring onion. It can be ordered from the restaurants around Naiku for ¥300-400. The noodles are made intentionally soft for tired pilgrims and very different from chewy ones typical in Shikoku.

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy akafuku (赤福), a mochi rice cake wrapped in red bean jam. With complimentary green tea, akafuku costs ¥280 (for three) at stalls around Naiku. You can also buy it boxed at Iseshi Station and Ujiyamada Station.

Go next

 * Toba
 * Shima
 * Matsusaka
 * Tsu
 * Minamiise
 * Iga
 * Nabari
 * Kumano
 * Nagoya

title: Ise


text:
Iserlohn

Iserlohn is a city in the Sauerland-Siegerland region in Germany.

By plane
The closest airport is in Dortmund, about 25 km away.

By train
Iserlohn has a train station that is the terminus of two railway lines. One goes to Dortmund via Schwerte, the other one goes to Essen via Hagen and Bochum. However, it is one of the bigger German cities without any ICE service.

By car
If you are travelling by car, Iserlohn can be reached by using the motorway (Autobahn) A 46.

Get around
The local transport system is mainly operated by buses of the regional transportation company MVG. Buses not only operate different routes within the city, but also go to neighbouring towns.

A city map for cyclists is available in the tourist office or can be downloaded here. There is a bike rental for e-bikes at the train station (ask in the bookstore, phone +49 (0)2371-22189). Other bike rentals are: Bike Man Schluckert, Theodor-Heuss-Ring 7, phone +49 (0)2371-20657; Rolf Navel, Hohler Weg 13, phone +49 (0)2371-12966.

See
Iserlohn offers various different things to see and do:

Do

 * Take a walk on the old town wall. The narrow path is now called Gosengasse and can be entered from either Hans-Böckler-Straße or Westergraben.
 * Go for a hike in the woods and mountains surrounding the city centre.
 * Celebrate the Schützenfest on Alexanderhöhe and watch the riflemen's parade passing by. The Iserlohn Schützenfest is the biggest folk festival in the region and usually takes place in July, shortly before the school summer holidays start.

Buy
Most shops are located in the pedestrian precinct which is mainly formed by the streets Unnaer Straße, Wermingser Straße and Laarstraße. Here, you will find department stores like C&A or local stores such as B&U. On Wednesdays and Fridays, a farmer's market opens its booths around the fountain on the new market square and on Schillerplatz.

Drink

 * Café Fuchs und Hase: coffee place that also offers brunch and small snacks. Wasserstr. 9. Customers can also get things like deodorant, skin cream and sanitary pads.
 * Bar El Ambiente: Tapas bar located in the vaults of one of the oldest buildings of the city. Theodor-Heuss-Ring 24.

Go next

 * Altena, Altena Castle is a huge impressive landmark, also home of the worlds first youth hostel
 * Dortmund, one of the largest cities of the Ruhr
 * Hagen, somewhat gritty former industrial city, gateway between the Ruhr and Sauerland
 * Hemer,
 * Lüdenscheid shopping and administrative center for the surrounding towns, pitstop before heading further to the rural areas beyond

title: Iserlohn


text:
Isesaki

Isesaki (伊勢崎) is a city in Gunma prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local Tourism & Products Association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By train
Isesaki is a stop on the JR Ryomo Line, and is the terminating station on the Tobu Isesaki Line.

From Tokyo, Tobu trains depart from Asakusa Station. The fastest ride on Tobu is to take the all-reserved Ryomo limited express train, changing at Ota station to a local service for the run to Isesaki. With a good connection the trip takes approximately two hours and costs ¥2160. Taking regular Tobu commuter services decreases the fare to ¥1160, but increases the trip to approximately three hours and requires more station transfers.

Using JR, commuter trains from Ueno station take approximately 2 1/2 hours at a cost of ¥2210. Take the JR Takasaki Line and change at Takasaki to the JR Ryomo Line. It is also possible to use the Joetsu or Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo to Takasaki and then change to the Ryomo Line; this takes about 1 hour 50 minutes at a cost of ¥4900. JR trips are fully covered if you have a Japan Rail Pass or JR East Rail Pass.

By bus
JR Bus Kanto operates a daytime bus service from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, with multiple departures every day (2 hours, ¥1500).

About one kilometer away from Isesaki station is the Machikado Station Hirose, Isesaki's major highway bus stop. Nippon Chuo Bus runs a daily nighttime bus service from Kyoto and Osaka, and another from Sendai, stopping here.

Go next

 * Maebashi
 * Kiryu
 * Ota
 * Tamamura
 * Midori
 * Honjo
 * Ashikaga
 * Oizumi
 * Oura

title: Isesaki


text:
Isfahan

Isfahan (Persian: اصفهان, also known as Esfahan) is a city in central Iran, south of Tehran and is the capital of Isfahan Province. Due to its beautiful hand-painted tiling and magnificent public square, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. "Isfahan nesf-e jahan, Isfahan is half the world"

- Persian saying

An ancient town and capital of Persia from 1598 to 1722, it has long been noted for carpets and for fine metal work. Today, textile and steel mills are also important. Its architecture, tree-lined boulevards and relaxed pace make it one of the highlights of Iran.

Understand
The city is 430 km south of Tehran at the foothills of the Zagros mountain range, and enjoys a temperate climate and regular seasons. Isfahan sits on the main north–south and east–west routes crossing Iran.

Much of the splendor of the city, including most of its finest monuments, date back to the Safavid era (1501-1736), for most of which the city was the imperial capital of Iran.

The city has an Armenian quarter called New Jolfa established by Shah Abbas I in the 1600s. The district is named after the town of Julfa, still existing along the Aras river, from where Armenians were forcefully relocated during the development of Isfahan. They were allocated land south of the Zayandeh river, and built a prosperous community thanks to international trade networks. Today the quarter still has many Armenian churches and institutions.

Get in
Isfahan is well-connected by all modes of transport.

By plane

Getting there: From the airport taxi costs 350,000 rials to the city centre (as of 2016).

Besides, there are direct buses to Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport leave from Terminal-e Kaveh at 13:00, 18:00, 20:30 (and possibly other times as well). A trip costs 275,000 rials and takes under 6 hours (as of Sep 2016).

By train
There is a night-train to Tehran and a daily train to Mashhad. There are no trains to Shiraz. The night train from Tehran to Isfahan costs 240,000 rials for sleeping in a comfortable 6-bed compartment.

Getting there: take bus #37 from the train station to Soffe Bus Terminal (ترمینال صفه;), where you can change for bus #91 to old town. The best place to get off is Chaharbaq street, where there are many hostels, hotels, cafés and things to see.

By car
Isfahan is well-served by highways. There are good routes to the capital Tehran, Kashan, Shiraz, Yazd and Ahvaz.

By bus
Isfahan is well connected to most parts of Iran by bus. There are several bus terminals in Isfahan and you should note which one is more suitable for you.

From Tehran the busiest and most comfortable bus terminal to get to Isfahan is Beyhaghi terminal (known also as Argentina terminal) and Southern Terminal. Also there are a few luxury buses with a so-called "European standard" (very comfortable seats, open mini-bar, etc.)

 * Royal Safar Iranian is one a few luxury bus operators. Seats are extremely comfortable with lots of leg room. Water and snacks are provided and movies are shown. The ticket to Tehran costs 300,000 rials, and takes around 5 hours.

By metro
A metro opened in October 2015

By bus
The easiest and the cheapest way of traveling inside of Isfahan is buying Isfahan card which is a multi-journey contactless card sold at certain bus stop booths. A single journey costs 5,000 rials when using Isfahan card or 10,000 rials if paid directly to a bus driver (as of 2017). There are separate sections in a bus: front - for men and rear - for women.

By taxi
Short rides cost 50,000 rials, longer ones to Soffeh mountain and bus terminals - 100,000 rials (as of 2007). Taxi drivers will try to demand at least double of those prices at the beginning.

Squares and streets

Mosques

The stunning mosques of Isfahan are among the most beautiful and interesting in the world. see Islam for background.

Palaces

Schools

 * Madreseye Madar Shah (Imam Jafar Sadegh after revolution). The compound was built during Soltan Hossein, a Safavid king, to serve as a theological and clerical school to train those who were interested in such sciences.The dome and the greater part of the walls are covered in bright yellow bricks which give a feeling of lightness. The entrance gate decorated with gold façade and silver, and the tile-works inside the building are masterpieces of fine art and industry. The central court, with its pool and garden, are surrounded by arcades on two levels, each giving access to a student's room.
 * Madreseye Khajoo

Bridges
Walk along the Zayanderud River beside the ancient bridges. You see many locals doing this everyday. However, as a result of a drought and badly planned dam, there is usually no water in the river.

Jolfa
Jolfa - The Armenian Quarter, it includes one of the most beautiful churches in Iran.

Others

 * Buqe'h-ye Ibn-Sina (Avicenna's Dome) - 12th century.
 * The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah - 12th & 18th century.
 * Pigeon Towers - Built in the 17th century to attract pigeons, whose feces were then used as fertilizer.
 * Pigeon Towers - Built in the 17th century to attract pigeons, whose feces were then used as fertilizer.

Learn
Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani University - Foreign students can learn Persian here as part of tailor-made courses to suit their needs. Contact: Foreign Student Coordinator Ghaem Blv., Sepahan Shahr, Tel: 98-311-6502820-28

Buy
Shops in the main square must pay an additional 8% tax on sales, which is passed on to the customer. Unless the item that you are purchasing is unique or inexpensive, you may be better off shopping outside of the main square.

For a real treasure trove, visit the famous bazaar. As for many things in Iran, you usually have to haggle for a reasonable price.

 * Isfahan carpets are world-famous, being among the most finely woven of the Persian carpets; they are also often extremely expensive. Carpets from the nearby town of Na'in are similar in style, also well-known, and are expensive too. Top-grade Isfahan or Na'in carpets have over 600 knots per square inch, about one knot per square mm.
 * The carpet shops in the bazaar have a fine selection of other carpets as well, including moderately-priced lower-grade Isfahans and carpets from all over Iran. These include all the other major Persian carpet-weaving cities, plus some fine rugs from minority ethnic groups such as Turkomans in the north and Baluchis in the east. Rugs from outside Iran are less common.
 * For those who are interested, it is possible to buy the highly decorative and brightly coloured traditional dress of Isfahan, but such clothing can be expensive.
 * Miniatures These exquisite miniature paintings are painted on camel bone. Most of them are sold framed, and prices start from about 15,000 rials. It can be more costly if the artwork is done by a miniature master. Shop and look at various shops before making your decision.
 * Isfahan cloth is hand-printed with elaborate designs, usually on a beige background.
 * Isfahan cloth is hand-printed with elaborate designs, usually on a beige background.

Eat
In some parks, you can simply obtain a carpet and tea from the park warden, and have a picnic on the grass! You will find families gather in these parks, and bring barbecues and cook freshly made kebabs, which smell (and taste) delicious.

Na'an is Persian for bread and the word is used in various Indian languages for their version of Persian-style bread. That can be excellent, but some prefer the Persian original. Arguably the best of the lot is found in Isfahan's Armenian quarter, Jolfa.

Local foods

 * Chelo kebab (kebab with rice) is a must; there are regional variations in Isfahan.
 * Beryani is a popular lunch dish in Isfahan. It is made with sheep meat and lung. Although Iranians love this meal, it is very fatty. Therefore, some westerners may dislike Beryani.
 * Fereni (a concoction of rice flour, water and milk) at Fereni Hafez, which is along Hafez Street near Imam Square. It costs 3,000 rials for a small bowl or 5,000 rials for a bigger one.
 * Safran ice cream

Drink
Visit one of the tea-houses in the bazaar or under one of the bridges.

Coffee
There are lots of coffee shops in Isfahan.

Sleep

Budget

Connect
There are various Internet cafés in Isfahan. The best place which has the fastest connection and also cheapest in the city is the Central Library of Esfahan. It is accessible from Naghshe-Jahan Square by five minutes walk.

Stay safe

 * See the warnings at Iran.

Go next

 * Dasht-e-Kavir (central desert of Iran) is reached by a 6-hour bus journey from Isfahan. You'll find oases, salt lakes, etc.
 * Kashan is famous for its beautiful mansions from the 1800s and its gardens. Also carpets.
 * Na’in is the first desert town toward the east, a small and quiet town at the edge of the desert. A perfect pattern of a desert town. It is famous for carpets; the style and quality are similar to those of Isfahan.
 * Qom is a holy city on the highway north toward Tehran.
 * Shiraz is around 6 hours south of Isfahan by bus.
 * Toudeshk-Cho is 100 km from Isfahan, on the way to Yazd. It is a quaint traditional desert village and it is easy to get to from the Jey Minibus terminal. It is well known among backpackers as the location of the Tak-Taku Homestay.

title: Isfahan


text:
Isfahan (province)

Isfahan is a province in Central Iran.

Cities

 * — due to its beautiful mosques, palace, and magnificent public square, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world

 * — visitors are drawn here for its desert landsccaoes, rich desert flora and fauna, and the Maranjab caravansary
 * — a green oasis perched on the edge of the parched desert, with many historical sites
 * — the burial site of Sultan Ali (the son of the fifth Imam Muhammad al-Baqir) and the notable modern Persian poet and painter Sohrab Sepehri, it is known for its annual Carpet Washing Ceremony
 * — a aer visiting the historic Abyaneh city and nearby villages
 * — a 2,000-year-old village, on the edge of the Central Desert of Iran, known for extremely fine carpets
 * — famous for its spectacular desert, which is one of the most accessible deserts of Iran

Understand
Human habitation in Isfahan province dates back to more than 42,000 years ago.

Isfahan province is one of the largest centers of production of various types of handicrafts in Iran. This province has been the cradle of fine arts and handicrafts for a long time. Brick decorations, tiling, plastering and all kinds of calligraphy in the historical works of Isfahan, from centuries ago to the contemporary period, on the sides and sides of minarets and inside and outside mosques, palaces and the arts of gold embroidery and calligraphy, cashmere and silver work, gold engraving and transcription. All kinds of books, Quran, paintings, and drawings testify to the importance of Isfahan in Iran's cultural heritage.

Climate
The rainfall of the province is lower than the average of Iran.

The difference in altitude of different regions of the province from the sea level causes the variety of weather (rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, etc.) in the province. In general, the province has three types of weather:
 * Very dry to hot dry weather in most of the province, including the eastern lowlands and the central and northeastern plains of the province.
 * Semi-humid to humid and cold in the western and southern highlands of the province.
 * Semi-arid in the central and northern highlands of the province.

Get in
Isfahan International Airport

See
The UNESCO World Heritage List has 4 sites in Isfahan: Naqsh Jahan Square, Iranian Garden (Chelston Garden and Fin Kashan Garden), Isfahan Grand Mosque, and Aqueducts (Mezdabad Mimeh, Wazwan in Mimeh section and Ardestan Double Aqueduct). In Isfahan province, there are 24 museums, including local, provincial, state or cooperative museums. In Isfahan province, there are 548 ancient sites and areas with different sizes and ages.

title: Isfahan (province)


text:
Ishigaki

Ishigaki (石垣) is the second-largest and the most populated island of the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa, Japan. The whole island belongs to the City of Ishigaki, which also includes the deserted Senkaku islands.

Understand
Ishigaki has 45,000 of Yaeyama's 50,000 people and is thus the political, economic and transport hub of the islands. Most of these live in central Ishigaki, known for lack of a better name in Japanese as shigaichi (市街地 "city streets"), chūshin (中心 "center") or just machi (町 "town"). The town's focal point is the rather sad 730 Monument (730交差点), where main roads Sanbashi-dōri (桟橋通り), running eastwards from the ferry terminal, and Shiyakusho-dōri (市役所通り), running north-south, meet.

Other population centers on Ishigaki are Kabira (川平), by the bay of the same name on the northwest coast, and Shiraho (白保), at the southeast corner. Much of the island, particularly the central mountains and the scenic northeastern peninsula, is quite sparsely settled.

Tourist Information Sites
OoriToori is the city's partly multilingual official guide site.

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By plane
Azuma Bus lines #4 and #10 serve the airport every 20 minutes or so. The lines take different routes, but both take around 45 minutes, end up at the bus terminal and cost ¥520. You can also use the Free Passes for this (see Get around). A taxi to central Ishigaki costs around ¥2,500 and take 30 minutes.

By boat
Ishigaki Port (石垣港) is in the center of the city near the bus terminal. There are two parts: the central Ritō-sanbashi (離島さんばし), for services to nearby islands, and a second unnamed pier at the southeast corner of the port for long-distance services to Yonaguni and slow boats to Hateruma. The port information office is next to Ritō-sanbashi pier 1.

There are no scheduled services to Taiwan, mainland Japan or islands outside the Yaeyama group.

There are extensive services (daytime only) to the other islands in the Yaeyama group:
 * Taketomi (¥690, 15 min), departures every 30 minutes or so
 * Iriomote Ōhara Port (¥1,800, 35 min) and Uehara Port (¥2,000, 40 min; summer months only), departures roughly hourly
 * Hatoma island north of Iriomote (¥2,360, 40 min), 3 departures daily, one stopping at Uehara first and therefore taking longer
 * Kohama (¥1,220, 25 min), departures roughly hourly
 * Kuroshima (Kuro) (¥1,320, 25 min), 5 departures daily, 6 in summer months
 * Hateruma (¥3,550, 70 min), 2-5 departures daily

Prices and times above are one-ways on fast ferries. Return fares are usually slightly cheaper. The schedules seem to now be unified, so that you can buy a ticket for any of the above routes from any company's desk for the same price, and round-trip tickets will be honored by all operators.

The ticket desks in Ishigaki accept credit cards, but the ones on other islands generally do not. If taking a ferry to another island without a round-trip ticket, make sure to bring enough cash for your expenses plus your ticket back, or be sure you're able to withdraw money from post office ATMs, since there are no other brands of ATMs outside of Ishigaki.

Slower service with regular ships is somewhat cheaper but connections are less frequent:

 * Hateruma (¥3,000, about 2 hours), 1 departure per day (weekdays only)
 * Yonaguni (¥3,500, 4–5 hours), 2 departures weekly

The major operators are Anei Kankō and Yaeyama Kankō Ferry. There are free courtesy buses from the larger resorts to some ferries; inquire locally.

To get to some smaller and uninhabited islands, it may be possible to charter a boat or water taxi service, or else you can join a snorkeling or diving tour. Inquire at the ferry ticket desks.

By bus
Azuma Bus operates services throughout the island radiating from the bus terminal on Sanbashi-dōri, just across the street from the port. The most useful services connect to the airport (¥520) and Kabira (¥700).

The best deal for transport on the island is the Michikusa Free Pass (みちくさフリーパス). It's not quite free, but ¥2,000 gets you unlimited trips around the island for 5 days. This isn't great if you're only getting a bus between the airport and the port (and are planning on spending your time visiting other islands or the beach), but given that a single trip from the airport to Kabira and back would cost you ¥2,440, if you're exploring Ishigaki (or are staying outside the city) this pays off pretty much instantly. There is also a "One-Day Free Pass" (1日フリーパス), which is just that, for ¥1,000.

While service between the city center and the airport are quite frequent, the same is not true for the Kabira Resort Line. There are a few buses in the morning, none at midday and a couple more in the late afternoon, with the last departing Ishigaki at about 18:00. This means that you should only stay outside Ishigaki city if these time constraints work for you, or better yet if you have a car.

By taxi
Taxis are the only other form of transport and it's common to see them slowly cruising the streets waiting for passengers. Flag fall is ¥390 and the meter ticks at alarming speed after 2 km.

By car
There are many car rental companies in the island and many hotels offer car rental for ¥2,000–4,000 per day. A drive between the city and the farthest point of the island is about an hour and a half.

By bicycle
Yaeyama Visitors Bureau publishes a free small guide about Yaeyama Islands cycling routes, including Ishigaki, with distances and gradients. If you start from downtown (southwest of the island), visiting the different parts of the island will mean some long rides, especially if you return to your accommodation every evening.
 * The route from downtown Ishigaki to Kabira is the flattest on the island (only 50 m altitude gain in the end) and offers beautiful seaside landscapes. Allow 1½ hours and 21 km. Starting from downtown, if you make a slight detour along the seaside instead of following Highway 79 as proposed by the guide, you will see the Tōjin Grave, a small temple and a lighthouse. Unless you're cycling athletically, it's better to ride on the sidewalk, which is widely used for this purpose (as is often the case in Japan).
 * The portion from the southern part of Kabira Bay and following the north coast is more hilly. Going from the intersection south of Kabira Bay to Yohenara Beach requires a positive difference in altitude of 85 m and 6.5 km both ways.
 * If you plan to travel to the northwestern part, the route will also be hilly and the distances quite long. Allow 30 km and 2 hours to go from downtown to the beginning of the northwestern peninsula, then one more hour to reach the tip of the peninsula.

Many hotels offer bicycle rental at about ¥500 per day. Bicycles can be taken in most ferries to the islands at an additional price (may not be possible during peak periods).

On foot
Central Ishigaki can be comfortably covered on foot, but you'll almost certainly need another means of transport for the rest of the island.

By thumb
Many backpackers hitchhike between different parts of the island. As hitchhiking goes, this is an easy place to get rides, sometimes even from within the city, but be prepared to be picked up by someone who speaks extremely little English.

See
Ishigaki is a little low on must-see attractions and somewhat tamer in terms of scenery than Iriomote. Most visitors hit the beaches of the northern coast and stay there.

 * Nearby is also a bilingual monument of angular concrete, built in 2001, dedicated to three Americans shot down over Ishigaki in April 1945, during the closing days of World War II. After being captured and tortured, two were beheaded and one was used for bayonet practice, and monument duly notes that such things are not fair play according to the Geneva Convention.
 * Nearby is also a bilingual monument of angular concrete, built in 2001, dedicated to three Americans shot down over Ishigaki in April 1945, during the closing days of World War II. After being captured and tortured, two were beheaded and one was used for bayonet practice, and monument duly notes that such things are not fair play according to the Geneva Convention.

Do

The transparent waters around the island are full of coral reefs, making scuba diving the number one activity on Ishigaki. In particular, Manta Scramble (マンタスクランブル), just off the island's north coast, is a legendary spot for manta ray spotting where groups of manta rays are almost guaranteed during Autumn. There are a large number of dive operators and rates are more or less standardized at around ¥12,000 for two boat dives (not including gear rental).

Snorkeling is also excellent at Yonehara Beach. There are many hidden and beautiful beaches and snorkeling spots throughout the island where you can observe a large variety of hard corals and various tropical fish and marine creatures. Occasionally, you may even encounter sea turtles and ｍanta rays. Except for beaches with lifeguards, some caution is required if you decide to go Snorkeling by yourself as there are some danger from rip currents and jellyfish (Normally there are signs warning you around the beach entrance). There are many guided snorkeling tour companies available, but not many with English speaking staff. Among the popular snorkeling tour you can find the Ishigaki Blue Cave snorkeling tour which is one of the famous tours in the island.

Beaches
Ishigaki's beaches are among the most spectacular in Japan.

Buy
Souvenir shops abound, particularly around the port. The closest thing to a dedicated shopping area are the two streets of the covered Ayapani Mall (あやぱにモール) arcade just west of the post office.

Eat
There are plenty of eating options in central Ishigaki, although many of the fancier places are open only for dinner. The stretch of Sanbashi-dori between the piers and the bus terminal has a good selection of reasonably priced Okinawan places, most of which offer affordable set lunches.

Mid-range

 * St, Elmo.jpg

Splurge
Ishigaki's beef (石垣牛 Ishigaki-gyū) is meltingly smooth and well worth the splurge for meat lovers, although you'll generally be looking at around ¥5000 for something approximating a decent-sized steak. Sampling strips served as yakiniku or even raw sashimi is somewhat more affordable, but if the price seems too good, double-check that it's real Ishigaki beef, not a cheaper import.

Drink
Ishigaki has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife, mostly centered around izakayas offering the ubiquitous local firewater awamori. Also be sure to sample the local Ishigakijima Beer (石垣島地ビール) microbrew, now available in "marine" (lager), "kuro" (dark) and three other versions.

Misakichō Center-Dōri (美崎町センター通り) and nearby streets, just north and west of the 730 Crossing, have a range of izakayas, karaoke lounges and nightclubs of varying degrees of respectability. Outside the city, however, there is little to no nightlife of any kind and you'll be hard pressed to find even a restaurant open after 18:00.

Sleep
Ishigaki has a wide range of accommodation, ranging from expensive resorts for ¥10000+ to backpacker-oriented minshukus that can go as low as ¥3000 for your own room or ¥1000 for dormitory-type "guest house" accommodation.

Mid-range
A number of largely identical highrise hotels have sprouted up around Ishigaki's harbor. This is hardly the most scenic area to stay, but it is undeniably convenient, both for day trips to the islands and for eating and shopping in the city center.

Connect
There is free Wi-Fi access at the ferry terminal and in Euglena Mall, the covered arcade a few blocks away from the bus terminal. There is also free WiFi at the bus station, and a leaflet with the password is on the wall next to the ticket window.

There's an internet cafe in Ayapani Mall, the arcade that's farther from the port.

There is also free internet in the public library, though its only available from one terminal.

Vanilla Deli, directly across from City Hall also has free internet for patrons.

The FamilyMart convenience store on 730 Crossing has a cafe area with seats, free WiFi, and electric plugs for your charging needs.

Cope
The Ishigaki City Hall Tourism Division (市役所観光課) and the Ishigaki City Hall International Section (国際交流係) have good information in English for tourists. The International Section also employs a coordinator of international relations, fluent in both Japanese and English, who is available to assist non-Japanese tourists in local knowledge and hotel reservations. The hours for the city hall international section are (excepting holidays) M-F 08:30-16:30. Both the tourism division and the international section are located on the second floor. The Hirata tourist company near the ferry terminal also has English information. Try to pick up copies of the free Ishigaki Town Guide or Yaeyama Navi pamphlets, which are useful packs of information with lots of maps to show you around. They are in Japanese only and any listings inside are essentially paid ads, so not everything is listed. City Hall and many restaurants, shops and lodgings usually have one or both available.

Finding ATMs that work with foreign cards is no longer a big problem in Ishigaki city. You can find them in the ferry terminal, Family Marts, and post offices. The Family Mart ATMs are owned by Bank of the Ryukyus, so you might be able to go that bank's branch as well. If you're going to other islands, the only foreign-friendly ATMs are at the post offices (better be sure your card will work there, or bring a lot of cash!)

Go next

 * Iriomote — an hour away by boat, offers mangrove jungles and the elusive Iriomote wildcat
 * Taketomi — 10 minutes by boat, known for its well-preserved Ryukyu village
 * Yonaguni — 30 minutes by plane or 4 hours by boat, the westernmost point of Japan offers mysterious ruins and diving with hammerhead sharks

title: Ishigaki


text:
Ishikawa

Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県 Ishikawa-ken) is in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand
Ishikawa Prefecture is a peninsula in the center of the western coast of Japan. Its 581-km coastline is bordered by the Sea of Japan. Ishikawa Prefecture has a rich history and beautiful scenery, which makes it a shame that it isn't visited more often. Perhaps the most well-known city in Ishikawa is Kanazawa, its capital, which boasts Japan's best-preserved samurai districts and one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan. Ishikawa has an enormous rice yield (annually, approximately 15 million metric tons or 100 million koku) and is noted for its traditional handicrafts, including gold leaf, lacquerware, and silk dyeing.

Ishikawa is also the home of Mount Hakusan, a sacred mountain. The foot of Mount Hakusan is surrounded by villages influenced by traditional Japanese lifestyles. The most northern region of Ishikawa is the Noto Peninsula, where you can find an incredible number of festivals, in addition to extensive distances of natural beauty. This region also bodes well for those interested in outdoor sports and relaxation. The Noto region has extensive sky and water sports available. Ishikawa is also well known for its number of ski resorts and hot springs.

Tourist Information
The prefecture has an Official Travel Guide site in English.

Cities

 * - the prefectural capital and one of Japan's best-preserved samurai towns. It also has the largest gold leaf production in Japan and boasts one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan.
 * - Near Mount Hakusan, this city founded in 2005 boasts some of the best Taiko drumming in Japan, with the internationally acclaimed Asano Taiko group.
 * - the southern-most city in Ishikawa. Well-known for its hot spring resorts and exquisite natural beauty.
 * - the second largest city in Ishikawa. Location of the Komatsu Airport, which connects to a variety of locations across Japan, as well as a few international airports.
 * - the largest oyster cultivation district on the Sea of Japan. The town is becoming a town known for its theater due to its annual Noto Nakajima Drama Festival.
 * - a city of 40,000 south of Kanazawa. It features an archeological site from the late Jomon period and is facing a rapid increase in population.
 * - features an excavated archaeological site of the early to late Jomon period (Mawaki Ruins Park). The town is also noted for its unique traditional festivals.
 * - near Gifu Prefecture and surrounded by a mountain range, Oguchi features rich nature and traditional culture, such as a kind of classical puppet theater (Bunya Ningyo Joruri). It is also noted for its two ski resorts.
 * - at the northern most tip of the Noto Peninsula. It features sandy beaches and rocky shorelines.  The city is best known for its scenic beauty, historic lighthouses, and Mitsuke-jima Island, off shore from the city.
 * - the town boasts a panoramic view of the Kaga plain and the Sea of Japan and offers the opportunity to do various sky sports. It is also known for its traditional wood carvings of the head of a lion-like imaginary beast (shishi-gashira).

Other destinations

 * — hot springs and rugged scenery
 * — the largest island in Ishikawa, located in Nanao Bay. It features a bathing area, campground, aquarium, glass art museum, and other facilities.
 * — the largest island in Ishikawa, located in Nanao Bay. It features a bathing area, campground, aquarium, glass art museum, and other facilities.

By train
Kanazawa Station — Ishikawa's largest train station. The train station was rebuilt in 2005, and is a sight to see in itself, with its large wooden Japanese gate, glass, and steel. It is on the West Japan Railway's Hokuriku Line. Although the Kanazawa Station is not the only train station in Ishikawa, it is the hub from which the smaller cities can be reached.

From Tokyo Station (Direct) — This takes 2½ hours Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki (かがやき) and a regular ticket costs ¥14,120. All seats are reserved.

From Tokyo Station (via Maibara) — there are two routes that can be used to reach the Kanazawa Station from Tokyo. This route takes the hourly Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari train and transfers at Maibara (米原) to the Shirasagi (しらさぎ) limited express. This takes a little over 4 hours and a regular ticket costs approximately ¥15000. The journey is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

From Osaka Station — this route takes approximately 2½ hours.

From Nagoya Station (via Maibara) — this route takes approximately 2½ hours.

From Kansai International Airport (via Kyoto) — this requires taking one of the frequent Thunderbird (サンダーバード) limited express trains. The route takes approximately 3½ hours.

By bus
From Tokyo — There is an overnight bus from Tokyo that costs a very reasonable ¥4000.

By car
From Tokyo (via Fujioka) — From Tokyo take the Kan-etsu Expressway to Fujioka. Then take the Joetsu Expressway to Joetsu. From there, take the Hokuriku Expressway to Kanazawa Morimoto (452 km). From Kanazawa Morimoto go to Kanazawa West (463 km).

From Tokyo (via Maibara) — From Tokyo take either the Tomei Expressway or the Meishin Expressway to Maibara. Then, get on the Hokuriku Expressway until you get to Komatsu (555 km). From Komatsu go to Tokumitsu PA (570 km). Then, go to Kanazawa West (578 km). Finally, go to Kanazawa Morimoto (589 km).

From Osaka — From Suita take the Meishin Expressway to Maibara. Get on the Hokuriku Expressway and head towards Komatsu (259 km). Once in Komatsu, go toward Tokumitsu PA (274 km). From there, go to Kanazawa West (282 km) and then go to Kanazawa Morimoto (293 km).

From Nagoya — From Nagoya take either the Tomei Expressway or the Meishin Expressway. Head toward Maibara. Once in Maibara, take the Hokuriku Expressway to Komatsu (229 km). Then, go to Tokumitsu PA (244 km). Go to Kanazawa West (252 km) and finally to Kanazawa Morimoto (263 km).

Get around
For most tourists, traveling around Ishikawa will not be a problem. Kanazawa, the single most important destination for tourists is near the Komatsu airport, and is easily reachable by bus or train.

By train
Travelling by train in Ishikawa is not a problem. There are local trains which go to a number of destinations in Ishikawa for a small cost. Once you're in Ishikawa, the easiest way to find out where to go is to head over to the Kanazawa Train Station where you can see the costs to go to a number of cities.

By bus
This is another option for traveling within Ishikawa. A large number of buses leave from the Kanazawa Station to go to various destinations in Ishikawa. This makes travel particularly convenient within Ishikawa. There are also inter-city bus systems, which allow you to travel from one town to another nearby town. You take a ticket when you get on and pay when you get off. Depending on the city, it may even have its own inner-city bus system or bus system aimed at tourists.

By car
Car rentals are available at a variety of locations. If you're coming into Ishikawa by other means, you can rent cars easily in downtown Kanazawa, by the train station. However, be aware that there are tolls on the roads in Japan, and parking can sometimes be a problem.

By bike
Biking is an option if you will only be traveling between one or two cities, but unless you're a serious biker, you won't be able to do much serious traveling on a bike. Ishikawa is a long prefecture, and it has distinctive seasons.

See
Ishikawa is known for its historical interest and natural beauty. If you're only in Ishikawa for a short amount of time, you won't be disappointed by going to Kanazawa. It is a beautiful city with a balance of modern society and historical interest.

There are a number of historical sites, museums, and festivals in Ishikawa to see as well.

Kahoku — Nishida Kitaro Museum of Philosophy, Nanatsuka Shichifukujin Center, Umikko-land Marine Museum

Tsubata — Kurikara Fudo Temple Phoenix Hall, Waku-waku Forest House, Kurikara Genpei-no-sato Take-bashi Entrance, Kawai-dani Fureai Center Saiji-no-yakata Festival Hall

Kanazawa — The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Yuwaku Yumeji Museum, Izumi Kyoka Kinenkan Museum, Kanazawa Old Merchant House, Kanazawa Phonograph Museum, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishikawa Historical Museum, Muro Saisei Kinenkan Museum, Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan Museum, Historical Residence of Mr. Kurando Terashima, Seison-kaku, Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum, Kanazawa Noh Museum

Nonoichi — Kita Family Historical House, Furusato Historical Museum, Folk Culture Museum

Hakusan — Hakusan City Matto Furusato-kan Folk Museum, Park Shishiku, Hakusan Torigoe Ikko-Ikki Museum, Kuretake-bunko Private Library, Hakusan City Matto Museum, Nakagawa Kazumasa Memorial Museum of Art, Hakusan City Tsurugi Museum, Hakusan Folk Museum, Hakusan Sabo Science Center, Museum of Farming Culture, Yoshino Kogei-no-sato Craft Center, Chiyo-jo Haiku Museum, Niwaka-kobo, Matto Shayu-kan, Mikawa Community Plaza, Tsurugi Yokomachi Urara-kan, Kawachi Local Product Center

Noto Peninsula — Wajima Morning Market, Wajima Lacquerware Museum, Kiriko Museum, Yanagida Bontanical Gardens, Ganmon Cliffs, Hutago-iwa (one of many "married rocks"), Noto Glass Museum, Nanao Art Museum, Sosoji-dera, Abare Festival (July), Okuma Kabuto Festival (Sep 20)

Do

 * Go to festivals — Just because Ishikawa is rural, doesn't mean it doesn't have festivals. In fact, it means that you might just stumble upon a festival and get a front row seat.  If you're really lucky, you might just be invited into it.  Now that's an opportunity you can't get in a bigger area!  Festivals happen year-round and all over in Ishikawa, so check out the list below, or see if you can find one happening as you wander around.

Late January - Snowmen (Yukidaruma) Week - takes place throughout Shiramine.

February 10 - Gogan-shinji - Takewari Festival - at Sugou-isobe Shrine in Kaga.

March 18-23 - Heikoku-sai Shinto Festival (also known as "Oide Matsuri") - at Keta Shrine and other locations in Hakui.

April 3 - Janome Shinji/Yabusame Shinji - at the Keta Shrine in Hakui.

April (2nd Saturday/Sunday) - Asanogawa Riverside Garden Party - on the Asanogawa Riverside in Kanazawa.

May 2-3 - Tomobata Festival - in the Kogi district of Uchiura.

May 3-5 - Ceramic Bowl (Kutani Chawan) Festival - in and around Wadayama/Matsujiyama Shiseki Park in Terai

May 3-5 - Seihaku Festival - in Nanao

May 22-23 - Okaeri Festival - in the central area of Mikawa

Mid-May - Otabi Matsuri - at the Uhashi Shrine, Motoori Hiyoshi Shrine, and other areas in Komatsu.

June 3-5 - Yamashiro Spa Sweet Flag (Shobu) Bath - in Yamashiro Hot Springs in Kaga

June (2nd Saturday) - Kanazawa Hyakuman-goku Festival - in the central area of Kanazawa.

July 7-8 - Abare Festival - at the yasaka Shrine, Sakatari Shrine, Hakusan Shrine, and nearby areas in Noto

July 20 - Hasebe Festival - in Anamizu

July 20-22 - Yosakoi Soran Noto Festival - in the Oshimizu Town Baseball Stadium, Oshimizu Town Imahama Coast in Oshimizu

July 31 - Notojima Koda Fire Festival - in Notojima

Late July - at the square in front of Unoke Town Hall and other locations in Unoke.

Late July - Kawachi Senjo Hot Spring Heian Festival - in Kawachi Senjo-onsen Kanazawa Seymore Ski Resort in Kawachi

July (last Saturday/Sunday) or August (1st Saturday/Sunday) - Nonoichi Jonkara Festival - near the Nonoichi Town Cultural Hall, "Forte".

Early August - Matto Festival

August 7 - Houryu Tanabata Kiriko Matsuri

August 17-18 - Okinami Tairyo (large catch) Festival

Mid-August - Gozare Festival

Mid-August - Ikko Ikki Festival

August 23-25 - Wajima-taisai (big festival)

August 24-25 - Niwaka Festival

September 20 - Okuma Kabuto Festival (Notonakajima)

Early October - Hourai Festival

October 17 - Rengeyama O-zumo (grand sumo)

Early November - Tedori River Festa

Mid November - Wajima Crab Festival

Early December - Ae no Koto (Thanksgiving Festival, Yanagida)

Year-Round - Anamizu Maimon Festival

 * Visit Hot Springs — If you love hot springs, go to Ishikawa in autumn. There's nothing more relaxing than soaking in the warm water while surrounded by natural beauty and crisp air.  Ishikawa is known for its hot springs, which can be found without trouble in the rural areas or more industrialized places.  You might be surprised with how easily a ¥300 bus ticket can take you out of the city and to a beautiful river-side onsen, surrounded by colors.
 * Go Skiing — The seasons in Ishikawa are truly distinctive.    Mount Hakusan, one of the tallest mountains in Japan, is located right in the south of Ishikawa, and is surrounded by villages influenced by traditional lifestyles.  Catch up on culture and get some great snow in a number of places in Ishikawa.  (If you get too cold, you can always hop into a hot spring to heat up again).
 * Take some time off — Ishikawa is known for its natural beauty, so while you're budgeting all the things you can do, remember to budget yourself a bit of down time as well. Ishikawa is full of leisure spots, which is all the more wonderful in autumn or spring (think "fall foliage" and "cherry blossom" viewing).  You don't need to go to follow the crowds and go to Kyoto for beautiful views.  Take a breath while you're in Ishikawa.  You get bonus points because that breath is going to be much fresher than one in Tokyo.
 * Try local foods — Every city in Japan has its specialty food, and Ishikawa is also particularly well known for its seafood and sake. While you're in the area, do yourself a favor and try it.
 * Go to the beach — There are 581 km of beach to choose from in Ishikawa. Whether you like rocky shores or sandy beaches, take your pick when you're in Ishikawa.  If you're not interested in spending your time with only nature, head out to a popular beach spot, like the beaches in Uchinada (just a quick train trip away from Kanazawa) and hang out with your friends, music, and food.  Just remember to check when the last train leaves, or you may spend your night sleeping in a hammock!
 * Go shopping — Ishikawa is known for its traditional crafts, such as gold leaf, lacquerware, pottery, and silk dyeing. Scores of shops sell these traditional products, making great souvenirs.  You can also get your shopping fill by going to a big city (like Kanazawa) and spending hours in the towering shopping malls located within walking distance of the station.

Eat
Food in Ishikawa is a big deal! Local specialties rule the roost here. A few years ago the "Noto-don" became very popular. "Don" or "donburi" are dishes served in a bowl over rice. Noto-don are donburi created by local restaurants only of local ingredients. You can follow a "donburi trail" when you travel around the Noto Peninsula.

Ishikawa is also well known for its fish. People in Japan say that the freshest, most delicious fish can be eaten in the Ishikawa area. One of the country's largest fisheries is in the Noto. Make sure to eat plenty of sushi and sashimi while you visit. Availability changes with the seasons. Make sure to try buri (yellowtail), katsuo, saba (horse mackerel), ika (squid), tako (octopus), ama-ebi (sweet shrimp), maguro (tuna), crab and the other 200 varieties available in this area.

Ishikawa is also famous for its traditional sweets called "wagashi." Many old family businesses still produce them the old fashioned way, carefully crafted from sweet bean paste and rice. A fresh, green, healthy treat with a cup of hot green tea.

title: Ishikawa


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Ishinomaki

Ishinomaki (石巻市; ishinomaki-shi) is a city in Miyagi. It has a population of around 165,000 people. Its islands, Kinkasan and Tashirojima have separate articles.

Understand

Ishinomaki was one of the towns hardest hit by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, with the tsunami reaching up to 5 km inland and some 3,400 people killed.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a partly bilingual guide site.

See

 * The replica of the Japanese-built galleon San Juan Batista
 * Mount Kinka
 * Ojika Whale Park
 * Ishinomaki St. John the Apostle Orthodox Church
 * Kadanowaki area, once a sandy beach that completely disappeared after the tsunami.
 * Kadanowaki area, once a sandy beach that completely disappeared after the tsunami.

Eat

The fishing port of Ayukawa (鮎川) is one of the homes of Japan's controversial whaling fleet, and whale (鯨 or くじら, kujira) is a local speciality served in many restaurants. Ethics aside, few locals are enamored with the stuff: in addition to tasting like fishy meat, it's commonly associated with wartime deprivation and school lunches.

Go next

 * Ishinomaki is a 30-minute drive from Matsushima, a beautiful bay with tree-covered islands.
 * Ferries run from Ishinomaki to Tashirojima, Tohoku's Cat Island.
 * Sendai, the biggest city in Tohoku, is less than an hour away, by train or car.
 * Onagawa
 * Minamisanriku
 * Tome
 * Wakuya
 * Misato
 * Higashimatsushima

title: Ishinomaki


text:
Ishpeming

Ishpeming is a town in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan.

title: Ishpeming


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Isili

Isili is a town in South Sardinia.

Do
Rock Climbing —

title: Isili