VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

Kanazawa is famous for its sudden coastal showers. If you are traveling with large suitcases, moving in a group, or caught in the rain, taking a taxi is incredibly cost-effective due to the short travel distances.

●Estimated Taxi Fares & Travel Times from Kanazawa Station

・Omicho Market   approx.7min.  800yen -  

・Kenrokuen Garden    approx. 15min.  1,800yen -

・Higashi Chaya District    approx. 11min.   1,600yen -

・21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art    approx. 14min.   1,600yen -

・Nagamachi Samurai District  approx. 11min.   1,400yen -

・Nishi chaya District approx. 13min.  1,900yen -

※Late-night and early-morning rides are subject to additional surcharges.

※Fares are for standard-sized taxis and may vary depending on traffic and route conditions.

●Taxi Stands at Kanazawa Station

Kenrokuen Exit (East Exit) Taxi Stand

Located under a covered roof to the right as you exit. Use this stand for all major historic areas.

Kanazawa Port Exit (West Exit) Taxi Stand

Best for the Ishikawa Prefectural Government Office, Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal, Ikiiki Fish Market, and the Ono and Kanaiwa districts.

●Taxi Apps Available in Kanazawa

Ride-hailing services such as Uber and GO Taxi are available in Kanazawa, offering:

・Easy ride requests via smartphone apps with real-time driver tracking

・Cashless payment linked directly through the app

・Convenient for late-night or busy travel hours

Because Kanazawa is so compact, walking between attractions is a scenic delight. It allows you to stumble upon hidden local crafts shops, traditional cafes, and beautiful side streets.

Walking Time Examples in Kanazawa

・Kanazawa Station ⇄ Omicho Market　Approx. 15 minutes

・Omicho Market ⇄ Kanazawa Castle（Otemon Gate)　Approx. 9 minutes

・Kenrokuen Garden（Mayumizaka Gate)  ⇄ 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art   Approx. 3 minutes

・Kenrokuen Garden（Katsurazaka Gate） ⇄ Higashi Chaya District　　Approx. 20 minutes

・Kenrokuen Garden（Mayumizaka Gate)   ⇄  Nishi Chaya District　　Approx. 20 minutes

・Kenrokuen Garden（Mayumizaka Gate)　 ⇄ Nagamachi Samurai District　　Approx. 15 minutes

For first-time visitors, the Kanazawa Loop Bus is the easiest and most affordable way to get around. It departs directly from Kanazawa Station and stops at all the iconic districts.

【Fare】Flat rate of 220 yen for adults / 110 yen for children per ride

【Departure】major sightseeing spots

【Accepted Payments】

・Cash

・Nationwide Transportation IC Cards（Suica, PASMO,ICOCA, etc) 

・Contactless Credit Cardscredit cards by touch

・One Day Pass（please refer below for details)

【Route Options】

◆Right Loop Bus（LR） : Runs every 15 minutes from 8:30AM to 6:00 PM

　Kanazawa Station East Gate  → Omicho Market → Higashi Chaya District → Kenrokuen Garden/Kanazawa Castle → 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa → Nagamachi Samurai District → Oyama Jinja Shrine → Omicho Market → Kanazawa Station East Gate

◆Left Loop Bus（LL） : Runs every 20 minutes from 8:38AM to 5:58PM

　Kanazawa Station East Gate → Omicho Market → Oyama Jinja Shrine → Nagamachi Samurai District → Katamachi → Nishi Chaya District → 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa → Kenrokuen Garden/Kanazawa Castle → Higashi Chaya District → Omicho Market → Kanazawa Station East Gate

For details, please check the Hokuriku Railroad website.

If you plan to ride the bus 4 or more times, the One-Day Pass is highly recommended.
What’s more, you’ll get discounted admission to 27 popular tourist attractions, including the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa!
The timetable and route map you receive upon purchase is especially handy, showing both bus stop locations and nearby sightseeing spots clearly.

[Price]　00 yen for adults / 400 yen for children (Valid only on the day of use).

[Where to Buy]

・Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center

・Hokutetsu Group Information & Service Centers

・Major hotels in the city

・Hokutetsu Ekimae Center (Kanazawa Station West Exit Bus Terminal)

★Note: Tickets are not sold on board the buses, so be sure to purchase in advance.

[Web Ticket]

You can also register, buy via credit card on the official portal [Norimasshi Kanazawa], and show your phone screen to the driver when getting off.

1. Register your information (place of residence, age, etc.) on the official site [Norimasshi Kanazawa].

2. Purchase via credit card.

3. When getting off the bus, simply show the ticket screen to the driver.

[Covered Transportaion]

・Kanazawa Loop Bus

・Local route buses within the designated downtown area (operated by Hokuriku Railroad Group and West Japan JR Bus)

・Kanazawa Shopping Bus

・Kanazawa Flat Bus

・Designated sections of the Hokuriku Railroad Asanogawa Line and Ishikawa Line

Here are a few tips to make using the buses in Kanazawa a smoother and more pleasant experience.

All buses are entered from the rear door and exited at the front after paying the fare. 

【Use CASH】

 1. Enter the bus from the REAR door. Pay the fare when you get off.

 2. Take a numbered ticket from the machine when getting on the bus.

 3. After your stop is annouced press the Request Stop Button.

 4. Confirm the fare shown on the display at the front of the bus. Put both the exact fare and your numbered ticket in the fare box by the driver.

   ※You can change 1,000 yen bill. 5,000 yen bill and 10,000 yen bill cannot be changed on the bus.

【Contactless Credit Card : Tap to Ride】  

1. Enter the bus from the REAR door. 

2. Tap on the reader by the rear door.

3. After your stop is annouced press the Request Stop Button.

4. Tap off at the reader by the front foor.

●Buses Accepting Contactless Credit Card Payment : 

   　・Kanazawa Loop Bus, 

　　・Hokutetsu Local-Line Bus, 

　　・Kanazawa Shopping Bus（runs on weekends & holidays only）　

●Credit Cards Accepted (contactless credit or debit card)

      ・Visa ・Mastercard・JCB ・AMERICAN EXPRESS ・Diners Club ・DISCOVER ・Union Pay      

If the weather is clear and you want total freedom over your itinerary, Kanazawa’s public bike-sharing service, Machi-nori, is a fantastic option.

【Fleet & Network】The system operates with a large fleet of approx. 700 bicycles and approx. 100 docking stations ("Cycle Ports") spread across the city, making it incredibly easy to find or return a bike anywhere.

【The Bikes】Every single bicycle is electrically power-assisted, making it effortless to breeze up the city’s sloped terraces.

【How it Works】You can pick up and drop off a bike at any of the 100+ cycle ports. please download the App and resister first

      Download & Register　→　 Reserve a Bike　→　Unlock Within 30 Minutes　→Ride & Return

【Pricing】165 yen for the first 30 minutes. (An additional 110 yen is charged per 30 minutes if you don't dock it).

【One Day Pass】Available for 1,650 yen at the Machi-nori Main Office (a 4-minute walk from Kanazawa Station, Live 1 Building (1F)  3-2 Konohana-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa)