PLAN YOUR TRIP
Getting to Ishikawa
Ishikawa Prefecture is accessible by bullet train (shinkansen) from Tokyo and Tsuruga in southern Fukui Prefecture. JR limited express trains operate from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya, stopping at Tsuruga for onward shinkansen connections to destinations in Ishikawa. The main gateway to Ishikawa is its capital, Kanazawa. Two airports serve the prefecture, Komatsu Airport and Noto Satoyama Airport. Shirakawa-go, a village in Gifu famous for its thatched roof architecture, is a short bus ride or drive from parts of Ishikawa.
Ishikawa Prefecture is a part of Honshu, Japan’s largest and most populated island. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north, Toyama to the east, Gifu to the south, and Fukui to the west. It is part of the Hokuriku region, which also includes Toyama and Fukui prefectures.
By train
Kanazawa Station is the main train hub of Ishikawa. The Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo terminates here. The fastest service, Kagayaki, takes about 2.5 hours from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station. Trains on this route offer three classes of service, including the luxury Gran Class.
The Thunderbird is a limited express train that connects Osaka and Kyoto to Kaga Onsen and Kanazawa. The trip to Kanazawa takes between 2 and 2.5 hours. One service each day travels as far as Wakura Onsen, a hot-spring resort town at the base of the Noto Peninsula. Wakura Onsen is about one hour past Kanazawa.
These routes are operated by Japan Railways (JR) and are covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The Japan Rail Pass covers unlimited use of trains in the JR system around the country. For those planning to cover less ground, consider an area-specific pass such as the Takayama-Hokuriku Pass, the Kansai-Hokuriku Pass, and the Hokuriku Area Pass. These lower-priced passes include travel to, from, and around Ishikawa and surrounding prefectures.
The Hokuriku Arch Pass includes travel between Osaka and Tokyo via Ishikawa and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Passholders can stop at Kyoto, Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama, and Nagano along their route.
By plane
Komatsu Airport is a mid-sized international airport in the city of Komatsu, about 40 minutes by bus from Kanazawa. Buses are available to and from downtown Komatsu, Kanazawa, and Kaga Onsen Station. Komatsu Airport serves domestic routes from Tokyo (Haneda and Narita airports), Sapporo, Sendai, Fukuoka, and Okinawa (Naha). There are year-round international flights to Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei.
Noto Satoyama Airport is located in the city of Wajima on the Noto Peninsula. The airport serves two daily flights to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, with a travel time of about one hour.
By bus
Highway buses to and from Kanazawa operate in most major cities on Honshu, Japan’s main island. They can be an affordable, convenient alternative to train travel.
Closer by, there are multiple daily buses from popular tourist spots Shirakawa-go and Hida-Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. The ride to Kanazawa takes a little over two hours. The buses are operated by Hokutetsu Bus and Nohi Bus.
The Shoryudo Bus Pass allows three or five days of unlimited bus travel around Ishikawa, Nagoya, Gifu, Takayama, Toyama, and Shirakawa-go. Routes in Ishikawa go up the Noto Peninsula to points such as Wajima and Suzu. The pass also includes routes to Central Japan International Airport, Komatsu Airport, and Toyama Airport.
By cruise
Many domestic and international cruise lines stop at Kanazawa. The port is a 20-minute bus ride to Kanazawa Station. From there, tourist loop buses operate to sites like Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, and Omicho Market.
