A powerful symbol of recovery after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake — and of travel that gives back
KANAZAWA, Japan, Jan. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In December 2025, BBC Travel released its much-anticipated list of "The 20 Best Places to Travel in 2026." Representing Japan on this global list is Ishikawa Prefecture — a region now gaining recognition not just for its scenic and cultural appeal, but for how travel there can directly support communities rebuilding after disaster.
Local media outlet Kanazawa Biyori, which covers the Kanazawa, Noto, and Kaga areas, sees this selection as much more than a popularity contest. Instead, it views the recognition as a meaningful nod to the role of tourism in sustaining communities, culture, and traditions — and is eager to share the story behind the spotlight.
A Destination Where Every Visit Makes a Difference
This year's picks focused on places where tourism can do real good — helping preserve cultural heritage, protect the environment, and strengthen communities.
In Ishikawa's case, the article highlighted the region's recovery from the devastating Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1, 2024, and included voices from locals who hope to welcome visitors back as part of rebuilding efforts.
Kanazawa in the south is featured for its rich experiences in traditional crafts like gold leaf art and Kaga Yuzen dyeing, as well as its iconic attractions like Kenrokuen Garden and historic castle townscapes.
In the north, Noto offers travelers a chance to stay in farmhouse inns, try their hand at seasonal farming such as rice planting, and contribute to the preservation of beautiful terraced rice fields like Shiroyone Senmaida simply by visiting.
The article also spotlights Wajima lacquerware and sake-making by Noto's master brewers as core cultural draws. International coverage has picked up on community-led projects like "Don't Stop Noto Sake!", which supports earthquake-hit breweries — many of which are now back in operation.
Stay with a local family, eat at a reopened restaurant, get hands-on in a workshop or rice field, sip sake brewed with heart — these aren't just tourist experiences. They're acts of solidarity and support, helping culture and communities thrive.
What Stands Out to Kanazawa Biyori
The Power of Recognition — Travel That Gives Back, Acknowledged Globally
Ishikawa has been steadily building systems where travel becomes a form of support. The fact that this effort is now being recognized on the world stage through a respected outlet like BBC Travel gives that work a powerful new level of visibility.
Experiences with Deeper Meaning
From gold leaf workshops and Kaga Yuzen dyeing in Kanazawa to rural homestays and rice planting in Noto, many experiences Kanazawa Biyori has long introduced are now being seen internationally as vital to preserving local heritage.
The Role of Local Media — Turning Interest into Action
While global features provide inspiration and context, travelers still need practical details to plan their trips — where to go, what to see, when to visit.
Kanazawa Biyori will continue to provide that crucial on-the-ground information, helping travelers take meaningful journeys to Kanazawa, Noto, and Kaga — trips that support recovery and honor tradition.
Media Contact for This Release
Kanazawa Biyori Co., Ltd.
255 Fushimishinmachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Sunpia Izumigaoka 511
Email: info@kanazawabiyori.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Ishikawa Named One of BBC Travel's "20 Best Places to Travel in 2026"
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NOR or NAND Flash? License AND! Arasan announces xSPI NOR AND eMMC NAND Combo PHY IP integrated seamlessly with its xSPI + eMMC Combo Controller IP
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arasan Chip Systems, a leading provider of semiconductor IP for mobile and automobile SoCs, today announced the immediate availability of its xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP. This IP integrates both xSPI and eMMC 5.1 PHY into a single unified solution, enabling support for two distinct memory protocols within the same IP. The xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP is targeted at mission critical applications in defense and aerospace industries for SoC's that require the reliability of the NOR Flash and bulk data storage capabilities and cost advantages of the NAND Flash. This IP can also be used by for life endangering applications like medical devices wherein reliability is paramount.
The xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP is engineered to address the growing demand for high-performance, area-efficient storage solutions in embedded and boot applications. By leveraging a shared I/O and analog front-end architecture, the design significantly reduces pin count and silicon footprint, delivering a cost-effective and power-optimized implementation for SoC and MCU platforms.
"This dual-mode PHY allows customers to seamlessly support both eMMC and next-generation xSPI devices with a single low pin count IP, lowering system cost and accelerating time to market. With the launch of our xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP , Arasan continues to push the boundaries of storage interface IP innovation," said Ron Mabry, VP of Sales at Arasan.
Arasan offers a comprehensive suite of mobile storage IP for solid state storage interfaces like UFS, eMMC, xSPI, NAND Flash and I2C Controller IP. Arasan has sold over 200 licenses of its eMMC IP and is also the leading provider xSPI IP thereby addressing the NOR and NAND Flash markets individually or how with this product, providing a combined solution.
The xSPI and eMMC Combo PHY IP is available to license immediately on leading foundries in nodes from 28nm to 3nm.
About Arasan:
Arasan Chip Systems is a leading provider of IP for mobile storage and mobile connectivity interfaces, with over a billion chips shipped with our IP. Our high-quality, silicon-proven Total IP Solutions encompass digital IP, Analog Mixed Signal PHY IP, Verification IP, HDK, and Software. With a strong focus on mobile SoCs, we have been at the forefront of the Mobile evolution since the mid-90s, supporting various mobile devices, including smartphones, automobiles, drones, and IoT devices, with our standards-based IP.
NOR or NAND Flash? License AND! Arasan announces xSPI NOR AND eMMC NAND Combo PHY IP integrated seamlessly with its xSPI + eMMC Combo Controller IP
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arasan Chip Systems, a leading provider of semiconductor IP for mobile and automobile SoCs, today announced the immediate availability of its xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP. This IP integrates both xSPI and eMMC 5.1 PHY into a single unified solution, enabling support for two distinct memory protocols within the same IP. The xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP is targeted at mission critical applications in defense and aerospace industries for SoC's that require the reliability of the NOR Flash and bulk data storage capabilities and cost advantages of the NAND Flash. This IP can also be used by for life endangering applications like medical devices wherein reliability is paramount.
The xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP is engineered to address the growing demand for high-performance, area-efficient storage solutions in embedded and boot applications. By leveraging a shared I/O and analog front-end architecture, the design significantly reduces pin count and silicon footprint, delivering a cost-effective and power-optimized implementation for SoC and MCU platforms.
"This dual-mode PHY allows customers to seamlessly support both eMMC and next-generation xSPI devices with a single low pin count IP, lowering system cost and accelerating time to market. With the launch of our xSPI + eMMC Combo PHY IP , Arasan continues to push the boundaries of storage interface IP innovation," said Ron Mabry, VP of Sales at Arasan.
Arasan offers a comprehensive suite of mobile storage IP for solid state storage interfaces like UFS, eMMC, xSPI, NAND Flash and I2C Controller IP. Arasan has sold over 200 licenses of its eMMC IP and is also the leading provider xSPI IP thereby addressing the NOR and NAND Flash markets individually or how with this product, providing a combined solution.
The xSPI and eMMC Combo PHY IP is available to license immediately on leading foundries in nodes from 28nm to 3nm.
About Arasan:
Arasan Chip Systems is a leading provider of IP for mobile storage and mobile connectivity interfaces, with over a billion chips shipped with our IP. Our high-quality, silicon-proven Total IP Solutions encompass digital IP, Analog Mixed Signal PHY IP, Verification IP, HDK, and Software. With a strong focus on mobile SoCs, we have been at the forefront of the Mobile evolution since the mid-90s, supporting various mobile devices, including smartphones, automobiles, drones, and IoT devices, with our standards-based IP.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Arasan announces the immediate availability of the industries first xSPI NOR + eMMC NAND Combo PHY IP
