Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.
Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast.
On March 1, 2005 the town of Noto and village of Yanagida from the former Fugeshi District merged with the town of Uchiura from the former Suzu District, Ishikawa forming a new town of Noto and the districts merged forming Hosu District.