What is the best way to travel between Tokyo and Kanazawa? by Shinkansen, Air or bus?

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 Kanazawa is getting more and more popular tourist site since Shinkansen has expanded to Kanazawa on March, 2015. However, the fee of Shinkansen is not big difference of a plane and many tourist still hesitate to visit there.

So, I will introduce you that what is the best way to go to Kanazawa in this article, which include a comparison of Shinkansen, a plane and a bus respectively.

 

by Shinkansen

Departure time:

The first train departs from Tokyo station at 6:16 a.m. and last one departs at 21:04 p.m.. It runs every 30 min to 1 hour everyday.

The types of train and arrival time: The fastest train is “Kagayaki” （a type/name of Shinkansen ）which takes you to get there two and half hours, and other one is “Hakutaka”（another type of Shinkansen）which takes approximately three hours.

The big difference between “Kagayaki” and “Hakutaka” is seats. “Hakutaka” has unreserved seats though “Kagayaki” does not. You must reserve seats when you ride on Kagayaki. However, when all seats are booked out, standing tickets can be purchased. Also. if you hold “JR Pass”  you can ride “Hakutaka” as  the ticket valid only unreserved seats.

The fee:

『Hakutaka』: Single ticket+unreserved seat for adult is 13,600 yen.

『Kagayaki』: Single ticket+reserved seat for adult is 14,300 yen.

 

 

by Bus

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 If you are a budget traveller, bus is the cheapest option to travel. There are many buses run between Tokyo and Kanazawa. Also each buses have a lot of different features and survises like wide seats, female seats, WiFi and toilet…etc

Departure time:

It depends on the bus company though all most all bus companies depart from Tokyo station at 11:00p.m. and arrive in Kanazawa at 7:30a.m.

Length of time:

Approximately 8 hours

The fee:

Depending on the bus companies and date. It costs about 3000 yen to 5000 yen.

 

by Air

There are two airports in Ishikawa prefecture, Komatsu airport and Noto airport. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) operate between Haneda airport and Komatsu airport. Travel by air is the fastest transport however, there are only one flight in the morning and one in the afternoon operates between Haneda airport and Noto airport by ANA. Although Komatsu has more fights and international flights from Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei too.

Length of time:

1 hour *for both airports, Komatsu and Noto

The fee:

Regular single ticket to Komatsu for adult is about 25,000 to 32,000 yen. If you book in advance 28 days before you travel, it can be discounted maximum 78%* . Also, from Komatsu to Kanazawa by shuttle bus costs 1,130 yen and it takes 40 minutes.

＊78％of discount tickets are offered by both JAL/ANA airlines. So you can directly inquiry/book from their websites.

Regular single ticket to Noto for adult is 22,000 to 47,000 yen It also can be discounted if you book in advance. The shuttle bus  between Noto and Kanazawa is 2,160 yen for adult and it takes 2 hours.

<Map of Komatsu airport＞

<Map of Not Airport >

Summary

If you are budget traveller and do not have JR pass, bus is the cheapest option. However, it way longer than other transports and bus might be very narrow seats so it is better to check the type of the bus before you book.

Airplane could be cheap too if you book 28 days prior in advance and also they do promotion sometime so it could be even cheaper if you can get it but remember, it takes 40 min and 2 hours from Komatsu and Noto respectively to Kanazawa is might be wasting your time. Although you should stay at least one night in Noto as it is worth to visit “Noto-peninsula”.  You can see more untouched nature, sea animals and traditional life in Japan. Also local food like rice, salt, water, Noto-beef, seasonal seafoods…etc in Noto are SUPER delicious !!

Overall, I would suggest Shinkansen is the best way to go to Kanazawa in terms of comfortableness and quickness.

 

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