Which Japanese peninsula is home to the city of Wajima?

Which Japanese peninsula is home to the city of Wajima? The answer is the Noto Peninsula.

The Noto Peninsula projects northward into the Sea of Japan from Ishikawa Prefecture on Honshu, Japan’s largest main island. Wajima occupies its northwestern coast and is part of Oku-Noto, the peninsula’s northern or “deep Noto” region. The area is known for fishing, agriculture, tourism, coastal scenery, and Wajima lacquerware.

Noto has long had a distinct regional identity. Before the Meiji period, the peninsula belonged to the historical province of Noto. Its exposed coastline faces the Sea of Japan, while the inner coast is more sheltered toward the mainland. Wajima’s traditional morning market and lacquer craftsmanship are among its best-known cultural features.

The peninsula also became internationally prominent after the magnitude 7.6 Noto earthquake struck on January 1, 2024. That event caused severe damage in Wajima and nearby communities. The Kii Peninsula is farther southwest around Wakayama and Mie, while Boso and Izu are on the Pacific side of Japan.