How Do You Get to Kanazawa from Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to reach Kanazawa, on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu, from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and the mountain towns inland. It lists the routes and travel times that the Kanazawa tourism association publishes for each starting point.

We used the official English travel guide of the Kanazawa City tourism association. All pages were read on 2026-10-04. The times are the association's own estimates, so check a timetable before you book.

Why most routes end on the Hokuriku Shinkansen

The association describes Kanazawa as a transportation hub for land, air and sea routes. It says the city is easy to reach from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Gokayama, Shirakawa-go and Takayama.

Almost every rail route in its guide finishes the same way. You ride the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train into Kanazawa Station. The only things that change are where you join the line.

From Tokyo

The simplest trip is from Tokyo Station. The association lists 2 hours 30 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen straight to Kanazawa Station.

If you arrive by air, it gives two ways to reach Tokyo Station first:

• From Narita Airport: 50 minutes to 1 hour to Tokyo Station by the Keisei Skyliner, the Narita Express or an express bus. Then 2 hours 30 minutes by bullet train.
• From Haneda Airport: about 30 minutes to Tokyo Station by train, monorail or bus. Then the same 2 hours 30 minutes by bullet train.

There is also a flight option. The association lists about 1 hour by plane from Haneda Airport to Komatsu Airport, then about 40 minutes by airport express bus to Kanazawa Station.

From Osaka and Kyoto

There is no through bullet train from the Kansai area in the association's list. You change trains at Tsuruga Station instead.

• From Osaka Station: 1 hour 20 minutes on the Thunderbird limited express to Tsuruga. Then 40 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.
• From Kyoto Station: 45 minutes on the Thunderbird to Tsuruga. Then 1 hour on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.

Express buses are the other choice. The association gives about 6 hours from Osaka Station and about 4 hours 30 minutes from Kyoto Station, both straight to Kanazawa Station.

From Nagoya

From Nagoya Station, the association lists three trains. First, 30 minutes on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Maibara Station. Next, 2 hours on the Shirasagi express train to Tsuruga. Finally, 40 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.

The express bus from Nagoya Station takes about 3 hours 50 minutes.

From Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Matsumoto

Many travelers combine Kanazawa with the mountain towns of the Japan Alps. The association lists these links:

• Takayama to Kanazawa by train: 1 hour 30 minutes on the Hida express train to Toyama Station, then 20 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
• Takayama to Kanazawa by bus, via Shirakawa-go: 50 minutes by highway bus to Shirakawa-go, then 1 hour 15 minutes to Kanazawa Station.
• Via Shirakawa-go and Gokayama: 50 minutes to Shirakawa-go, 25 minutes on to Gokayama, then 1 hour to Kanazawa Station.
• Matsumoto to Kanazawa by train: 50 minutes on the Shinano express train to Nagano Station, then 1 hour on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
• Matsumoto to Kanazawa by bus: 2 hours 25 minutes by highway bus to Takayama Station, then 2 hours 15 minutes on to Kanazawa Station.

The association also links to bus tours from Kanazawa to Takayama and Shirakawa-go.

What to do when you arrive

The association says Kanazawa is a compact castle town. Most major sights sit within about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of Kanazawa Castle. Its walking guide gives about 15 minutes on foot from Kanazawa Station to Omicho Market.

Kanazawa Station has a tourist information center. The association says you can ask there about food, and that touring with a guide interpreter can make the visit deeper. See our guide to getting around Kanazawa for buses, taxis and walking times.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Ticket prices for the bullet train, express trains, buses and flights.
• How often each train, bus and flight runs today, and the first and last departures.
• Whether a rail pass covers every train named above.
• Any current delays, track work or weather disruption on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Related guides

• How do you get around Kanazawa by loop bus, on foot and by taxi?
• What is Kanazawa? The samurai castle town, its crafts and its food

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. Getting to Kanazawa: Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama to Kanazawa (Kanazawa City tourism association) — (routes and travel times)
2. Samurai Culture in Kanazawa City (Kanazawa City tourism association) — (transportation hub; tourist information center at the station)
3. Getting Around in Kanazawa: Bus, Bicycle (Kanazawa City tourism association) — (2 km radius; 15 minutes on foot to Omicho Market)