Are you planning a trip from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the beautifully preserved heritage of Ishikawa Prefecture? Kanazawa is a brilliant destination for history lovers, boasting stunning Edo-period wooden architecture, an imposing castle park, and one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens. Thanks to the seamless Hokuriku Shinkansen line, you can trade the capital for this cultural gem in just two and a half hours.
To help you plan your own journey, this detailed Tokyo to Kanazawa Shinkansen & Walking Tour Guide shares everything you need to know about the train trip, ticket costs, and how to explore the city’s highlights entirely on foot. We break down the top 5 places to visit—from the bustling stalls of Omicho Market to the serene pathways of Kenrokuen—alongside practical, firsthand tips on budget-friendly station hotels and catching a highway bus to your next destination.
Shinkansen Quick Facts:
- Route: Tokyo Station ➔ Kanazawa Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen Line)
- Duration: Approx. 2.5 hours
- Transport Type: High-speed bullet train
Travelling from Tokyo to Kanazawa via Hokuriku Shinkansen
We took a Shinkansen train from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa. It’s not cheap, costing 14,380 yen each(about $140 CAD), but is very fast!
This was my first ever Shinkansen journey. The train was beautiful, comfortable and smooth! It goes without saying that it was also clean, like everything else in Japan.
Must-Visit Places on a Kanazawa Walking Tour
Kenrokuen Gardens: One of Japan’s Top Three Landscape Gardens
These are a delight to walk around and apparently rate as the third best gardens in Japan. The Gardens are in the middle of the City and as with everything else in Kanazawa can be reached on foot.
There are several sections to the gardens, as well as ponds to visit. Essential elements of a Japanese garden include; water, trees, flowers, bridges, lanterns, fences and fish.
Kanazawa Castle Park: Historic Moats and Massive Stone Walls
The Park is adjacent to the Kenrokuen Gardens and contain the reconstructed 16th century Castle, with different entrance gates and moats. Japanese castles are impressive structures and in my experience are built with huge rocks and very thick walls.
It was great to wander around the Park before heading down to see some of the wooden Edo period buildings.
Historic Edo-Period Wooden Buildings (Chaya Districts)
There are in fact two areas where these buildings are found – one which contains lots of buildings and lots of people and a smaller area which is more peaceful. This is located behind the Toyoko Inn (where we stayed).
The small streets which contain these houses make for a good stroll. Whilst most of these buildings now contain restaurants or shops they have been very discretely designed and so the facades still look authentic, on the whole.
Oyama Shrine: A Delightful Gateway to the Castle
We wandered through the delightful shrine area to get to the Castle Park the second day we were in Kanazawa.
Omicho Market: Fresh Seafood and Local Sake Tasting
I love wandering through markets and this is a good one! Lots of seafood around and lots of restaurants to eat all that fresh seafood. We had a wonderful sashimi lunch with a set of three sakes to try. So good!
Onward Journey: Taking the Highway Bus from Kanazawa to Toyama
We were lucky that the bus to Toyama stopped outside the hotel that we had stayed in. We’d left our bags at the hotel when we checked out and collected them just before taking the bus to Toyama which took about two hours.
Travelling is pretty easy in Japan with long distance buses stopping near the train station and there are also normally lots of hotels there too. Unlike many countries, the hotels around the railway station are not seedy at all. We stayed again at a Toyoku Inn which are reasonably priced business hotels.
Next Trip: Ready to explore more of the Hokuriku region? Check out our next post:
➡ We Took a Bus from Kanazawa to Toyama and Walked Around in Toyoma: Local Specialities
➡ Back to Japan Transport & Rail Guide
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