When mentioning the Kanazawa Shinkansen, travelers often mistakenly think it's enough to just get off at Kanazawa Station. But if you only stay in Kanazawa when visiting Hokuriku, it's like buying a Shinkansen ticket but only watching the scenery outside the window for a short while—what a pity. The Hokuriku Shinkansen has been operating since 2015, transforming the transportation landscape in western Japan. The train departs from Nagano, passing through Toyama, Kanazawa, and Kaga Onsen—each stop is an independent food and cultural destination. With proper planning, you can connect multiple cities using the same Shinkansen line within 3 days, experiencing the complete Hokuriku journey from the freshness of the Sea of Japan, traditional crafts to onsen healing.
What Makes the Hokuriku Shinkansen Different from Other Japanese High-Speed Rail
The E7 and W7 series trains operate on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, with a maximum speed of 320 km/h. Unlike the busy business style of the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen route retains more of the natural scenery of the Sea of Japan region—watching snow-melt valleys in spring, and the horizon of the Sea of Japan in winter. The train interiors are also intentionally designed with spacious windows and comfortable seat spacing, allowing passengers to relax and enjoy the scenery along the way. The bento boxes and drinks sold on the train also feature local Hokuriku ingredients, and many travelers pre-book seats to grab the limitededition bento.
5 Must-Experience Spots Along the Route
1. Toyama Bay Sashimi Don——Around Toyama Station (〒930-0001 Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Meirincho 1-210)
After getting off at Toyama Station, it's a 5-minute walk. The food street and commercial facilities in front of the station gather the freshest seafood in Hokuriku. Toyama Bay is famous for "shiro ebi" (transparent shrimp), and locals often say "if you haven't eaten Toyama Bay sashimi, you haven't really been to Hokuriku." A premium sashimi don set costs approximately ¥2,500-4,500, featuring shiro ebi, firefly squid, and red brown hair crab—a bite full of the Sea of Japan's freshness. If you arrive at Toyama on a midday Shinkansen, it's recommended to have lunch in front of the station before heading to Kanazawa, so you can avoid the extra cost of dining twice in Kanazawa.
2. Kenroku-en and Kanazawa Castle Park——Transfer from Kanazawa Station
From Kanazawa Station, take a bus for about 15 minutes. One of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kenroku-en offers vastly different scenery throughout the four seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, fresh green in early summer, maple leaves in autumn, and snow scenes in winter. The garden features classic scenery like "Kotozu toropin" (Stringed Instrument Lanterns) and "Kotsuzutsu toropin" (Comb-shaped Lanterns), with many travelers visiting specifically in winter just to photograph the garden covered in white snow. Admission fee ¥700. The adjacent Kanazawa Castle Park showcases the grandeur of the Kaga han lords during the Sengoku period. The restored 50-ken long row of buildings makes you feel like you've traveled back to the Edo period. Visiting both attractions takes approximately 3-4 hours, best安排 in the afternoon after arriving by Shinkansen.
3. Kaga Onsenkyo——Kaga Onsen Station (Shinkansen Direct Station)
If Kanazawa Station is the final impression of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Kaga Onsen Station is its healing conclusion. From Kanazawa Station, it's only 15 minutes by Shinkansen. Kaga Onsenkyo includes three onsen areas: Yamashiro, Yamanaka, and Katayatsu, with Yamashiro Onsen known for its rustic hot spring ryokan. Local onsen ryokan prices range from ¥15,000-35,000 per person (including two meals), which is much more affordable compared to high-end onsen ryokan in Tokyo or Kyoto. Winter is the best season for Kaga Onsen—soaking in the open-air onsen in the early morning while gazing at snow-covered mountains, many Japanese specifically take the Shinkansen down from Tokyo on winter weekends just for these few hours of onsen healing.
4. Kurobe Gorge and Takayama Area——Transfer from Toyama
The Hokuriku Shinkansen is just the beginning. After getting off at Toyama Station, transfer to the JR Takayama Main Line, about 90 minutes to the Kurobe Gorge entrance. The Kurobe Gorge Railway operates from April to November each year, traveling along the valley with cliffs dropping thousands of feet outside the window and water that is sometimes turbulent, sometimes calm. Regular tickets cost approximately ¥7,800, making it a must-do itinerary for mountain climbers and nature enthusiasts. If time permits, stop at Takayama Station to appreciate the gassho-zukuri villages and traditional machiya buildings of the Hida region.
5. Kanazawa Craft Art and Kutani Ware——Accessible from Kanazawa Station
Kanazawa is famous for Kutani ware (ceramics) and gold leaf craft. The 21st Century Museum (〒920-0962 Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Hirozaka 1-2-1) showcases the fusion of contemporary art and traditional crafts, with admission fee ¥1,200. If you want a hands-on experience, the Kutani ware workshop in front of Kanazawa Station offers glazing, pottery-making, and other courses (approximately ¥3,000-8,000 per person, advance reservation required). Many travelers, after seeing the scenery from the Shinkansen, will stay in Kanazawa for 1-2 days to create their own crafts as a souvenir of this Hokuriku journey.
Practical Information
Fares and Routes:
- Tokyo → Kanazawa: ¥13,320 (Shinkansen Limited Express Fee ¥8,000)
- Tanami → Kanazawa: ¥7,560
- Kanazawa → Kaga Onsen: ¥4,680
- Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days) ¥34,000, covers Hokuriku Shinkansen, JR West Japan local lines, and private railways, suitable for multi-city itineraries
Last Train Notice: The last Hokuriku Shinkansen departs from Kanazawa Station around 21:40 (toward Tokyo). Japanese Shinkansen last trains are much earlier than expected—many travelers are used to Tokyo subway operations running until midnight, but miss the Shinkansen departure in Hokuriku. It's recommended to confirm the schedule in advance, or consider staying one night in Kanazawa and taking the first morning train the next day.
Season Choice: Spring (mid-April to May) and autumn (mid-September to October) are the most suitable seasons, with sunny weather and comfortable temperatures. While winter offers unique scenery (especially onsen with snow scenes), Hokuriku has insufficient sunlight with many cloudy and rainy days.
Travel Tips
Luggage storage services along the Hokuriku Shinkansen route are well-equipped—every major station has luggage lockers (large ¥700-900). If planning itineraries covering 3 or more cities, it's recommended to bring only carry-on sized luggage, and store the rest at Kanazawa Station to reduce burden during transfers.
The standard consumption tax in the Hokuriku region is 10% (same as nationwide), but many traditional crafts and onsen ryokan offer tax refunds if paying with overseas credit cards. Remember to keep your receipts.
If your itinerary covers three or more locations including Toyama, Kanazawa, and Kaga Onsen, purchasing the Hokuriku Arch Pass saves ¥3,000-5,000 compared to buying individual tickets. However, if you're only staying in Kanazawa for 1 day, there's no need to purchase the pass.
While the Hokuriku Shinkansen has less crowds than the Tokaido Shinkansen, advance seat reservation is still required during spring and winter holiday periods. It's recommended to confirm seats 1-2 weeks before departure on JR Tokai or JR West Japan websites.
