The Komatsu Airport is located in Komatsu city, which is situated halfway between Kanazawa and Fukui City. The airport is 2.6 miles away from the city center of Kanazawa. This is an international airport and the largest airport in the Hokuriku region, it takes around 40 minutes by bus to reach the city and the train station is located close to the city center.

If you have not booked a private transfer through us you have a few options. Buses, taxis, and rental cars are available at the airport to transfer you to your hotel.

There are direct airport buses available from the airport to the city of Kanazawa and the journey takes around 40 minutes costing around 1130 yen. The buses operate hourly between the airport and Komatsu Station, where either a bus or train connects to the city center. The bus stop is situated outside the arrivals lobby and directly in front of the rental car desk.

There are airport buses that operate each hour and travel from the airport to Komatsu Station from where buses or trains can be taken to connect to the Kaga Onsen area. It is a 15-minute ride from Kaga Onsen Station to the Komatsu Station. Two to four buses operate each hour.

A taxi is the quickest way to reach the city center from the airport, taxi stands are located outside of the arrivals hall across the street. Prices can range from $90-$100 and the ride takes about 25 minutes.

There are several rental car companies found at the airport including Avis, Hertz, and Budget. The rental car desk is found outside the arrivals hall.

The Kanazawa Station is the main train station located in Kanazawa, a major railway station operated by JR West on the Hokuriku Line. The building the station is in is amongst one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, a large structure shaped like a torii gate also featuring glass and steel features that reflect the city`s passion for art and design. There is a Tourist Information Center located inside the station where visitors can pick up free maps and timetables for the bus.

The station is located on the outskirts of the city center. There are buses available from outside the train station at the East Gate Bus Terminal where visitors can take the Kenrokuen Shuttle Bus from stop #6 or the Kanazawa Right Loop Bus from bus #7 to Kenrokuen Garden. These trips take around 15 minutes and cost around 200 yen.

There are taxis available outside of the train station to connect you to the city center. There are also Toyota and Nissan offices located close to the West Gate of Kanazawa Station where you can rent a car.

Renting a car while visiting Kanazawa is possible at the airport and locations around the city. The city of Kanazawa is served by the Hokuriku Expressway that runs through the western edge of the city with three interchanges; Kanzawa East, Kanazawa West feed into the National Route 8, and Kanazawa Morimoto which feeds into the Mountainside Loop Road. There are great areas to visit surrounding Kanazawa and various stops along the way, many can be reached via the National Route 8.

The downtown area of Kanazawa is filled with a labyrinth of narrow winding streets which can be a challenge to navigate. Parking in the city is very expensive, so it is best to stick to the outskirts of the city which are more vehicle-friendly with plentiful parking options.

The city of Kanazawa is small but offers a decent bus system which is helpful to reach different places in the city. Three types of buses operate in the city and include city buses, tourist buses, and community buses.

The Kanazawa Loop Bus runs clockwise and counterclockwise around the main sights of the city including the castle. The trips take about 15 minutes and cost about 200 yen, or 500 yen daily. The Loop Bus runs every 15 minutes from 8:35 am until 6:05 pm

The community buses offer three routes and take 15-minute loops through different districts costing around 100 yen. A Hokutetsu One Day Pass is good for multiple rides on the buses and cost around 500 yen.

The Kenrokuen Shuttle operates between Kanazawa Station and Kenrokuen Garden traveling through Omi-Cho Market and the 21st Century Museum. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes starting from 9:30 am until 5:50 pm and tickets cost around 100 yen. A one-day bus pass is valid on the shuttle. The Hokutetsu One Day Pass can be purchased from the Hokutetsu Bus Ticket Center which is located opposite stop 1 of East Gate Bus Terminal at Kanazawa Station.

Taxis are plentiful in the city of Kanazawa and easy to hail along the streets, they are predominant outside Kanazawa Station and major tourist attractions in the city. A base fare in the city costs about 700 yen and a ride to mostly anywhere can run about 1,000 yen. Taxi ranks are located outside of Kanazawa Station.

The city center of Kanazawa is a fairly compact area and walking around on foot is one of the best ways to explore. The central city is filled with narrow, winding streets that are great to wander around and discover restaurants and shops. Many of the city attractions can be found in a concentrated area spread over a 1-mile square section of the city, including where the old castle town is found in a historical atmosphere. The terrain in the city is pretty flat making it ideal to walk around, some of the further out areas to reach such as Higashi Chaya District and Kanazawa Castle are still only around a 30-minute walk.

The city center of Kanazawa is a fairly compact area and walking around on foot is one of the best ways to explore. The central city is filled with narrow, winding streets that are great to wander around and discover restaurants and shops. Many of the city attractions can be found in a concentrated area spread over a 1-mile square section of the city, including where the old castle town is found in a historical atmosphere. The terrain in the city is pretty flat making it ideal to walk around, some of the further out areas to reach such as Higashi Chaya District and Kanazawa Castle are still only around a 30-minute walk.

Kanazawa is remarkably safe and Japan has long been known as one of the world`s most crime-free countries. Crimes against visitors are practically unheard of and lost belongings are generally turned into local police. Keep your wits about you and practice street smarts when out sightseeing.

The city of Kanazawa is recognized in 2009 as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Art. Gold Leaf decorations are one of the many craft specialties found in the city, and Kanazawa is said to be responsible for 99% of Japan`s golf leaf production. The Hakuza Shop in the Eastern Tea District is the place to visit to pick up your golf leaf items, it is housed in a traditional warehouse which is completely covered with gold!

There are shopping streets found in the Kakinokibatake and Musashigatsuji areas of the city with shops selling interesting trinkets and knick-knacks to bring home. Vintage shops are present in Kakinokibatake and Musashigatsuji is home to the famous Omicho Market and the Meitetsu M`za department store. Visit Tatemachi shopping street which is full of plenty of stores that offer great prices on a plethora of items.

The Omicho Market has been operating for over 280 years, it is known as `Kanazawas`s Kitchen` boasting over 185 stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, locally caught seafood and other Japanese food. There are also several restaurants in the market including sushi restaurants. The market is located in the center of the city near the main train station. The market is open from 8 am until 6 pm daily.

Kanazawa has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. There can be a lot of rain in Kanazawa, with 193 rainy days a year and 73% average humidity, but it is a beautiful city to visit during all seasons. Average daily temperatures throughout the year look like; 39 degrees in January, 54 degrees in April, 81 degrees in August, 63 degrees in October, and 45 degrees in December. Kanazawa is in snow country, so the winters are cold and the land is blanketed by snow with the cold Siberian winds.

Japanese is the language spoken in Kanazawa, but English is widely spoken throughout the country with announcements on public transportation frequently made in Japanese and English, most signs include roman characters or an English explanation. Most Japanese people study English in junior high and high school so you are best seeking out younger people who may be able to help and translate for you.

It is best to have your destination written down in Japanese so you can show this to your taxi driver or people on the street. People are always willing to help whether they can speak English or not.

We recommend that you get a good English - Japanese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1 - 10.

The currency in Japan is the yen symbolized by ¥. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand and be prepared to exchange your dollars to yen upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and bank locations throughout the city, ATM`s are widespread. ATM`s are located at Post office`s all over the city, look for a symbol that indicates `International ATM Service` or `Authorized Foreign Exchange` (a green clover) and stickers indicating which cards are accepted.

Kanazawa is a `seafood heaven` with some of the best seafood on offer from the Omicho fish market, the famous marketplace in the city. One of the best dishes to try here is `Kaiseidon` a large portion of raw fish served over hot rice, it`s a specialty in the city. High-quality sake is made in the city from the abundantly fresh water which is gathered from the melted snow from the mountains and consistent rainfall, which is used to produce the finest rice, which equals sake. Jibuni is another local dish that is made with boiled and seasoned duck with a variety of vegetables. Crab is a popular menu item served during the winter months in hot pots. Sushi is very popular and `amaebi` sweet shrimp are delicious in this region. `Gori` is a tiny gray river fish available in the spring another delicacy, which can be served deep fried with salt or in miso soup.

The Forus shopping complex is situated right by the Kanazawa train station and the 6th floor is decked out with restaurants with a conveyor style sushi restaurant. Chinese, Indonesian, Italian and Korean restaurants are amongst the other options found here, and all of them offer great lunch specials.

Nightlife in Kanazawa can mainly be found in the Katamachi district of Kanazawa is the most popular nightlife area found in the central portion of the city, where the streets are filled with many different restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. InFusion is a good bar located by the train station, this is a popular spot for residents and travelers with a fun atmosphere.

Kanazawa is a charming place in the evening time lit up by twinkling lights along the labyrinthine of streets, making it the perfect location for a romantic evening stroll. The streets are dotted with well-preserved tea houses originally known for their nighttime scene. The Higashi Chaya District also offers traditional bars that are popular with the locals. The Asano river is lined by several bars and nightlife spots that are especially beautiful during cherry blossom season when the trees are in full bloom.

If you need emergency services while in Japan dial 110 for the police or 119 to call an ambulance or report a fire.

Hospitals:

Kanazawa University Hospital tel. 81-76-265-2000

General Hospital tel. 81-76-231-1295

Kanazawa City Hospital tel. 81-76-245-2600