Four nights in Ishikawa: how should I divide my stay?
Stay two nights each in Kanazawa and Yamanaka for Kenrokuen, Nagamachi and an extra onsen rest day. With three Kanazawa nights and one onsen night, give the market, Kenrokuen and Higashi Chaya a day each, then spend the final night at the onsen. This latter course excludes Nagamachi. Transport and admission costs below exclude accommodation and food. Allow separate time for airport travel and procedures.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
Two city nights and two onsen nights
Stay two nights each in Kanazawa and Yamanaka for garden and samurai-district walks plus an extra onsen rest day. Move to the onsen after city sightseeing, then walk the nearby riverside or rest at your hotel between nights.
Two city nights and two onsen nights →5 days / 4 nights BThree city nights and one onsen night
A four-night trip giving market, garden and traditional teahouse streets a day each, then spending a night at an onsen. Spend three Kanazawa nights with a separate Higashi Chaya day. To add Nagamachi, see the optional route on garden day below.
Three city nights and one onsen night →Two city nights and two onsen nights
Stay two nights each in Kanazawa and Yamanaka for garden and samurai-district walks plus an extra onsen rest day. Move to the onsen after city sightseeing, then walk the nearby riverside or rest at your hotel between nights.
Day 1: Omicho Market and a Kanazawa stay
On arrival day, choose a seafood lunch and browse fish, vegetable and fruit stalls at Omicho Market. Stay near Kanazawa Station afterwards.
- Kanazawa Station east-side plaza → Omicho Market: walk or Left Loop
Walk about 12 minutes from the east-side plaza to Omicho Market. Alternatively, take the Left Loop from east-side stand 7 to Musashigatsuji/Omicho Market, outside Ichibakan. Adults pay 220 yen one way. The subtotal below assumes walking, so add fares if you take buses.
Official Omicho Market tourism guidanceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresHotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQ
- Omicho Market → Open restaurants and market stalls
General market guidance lists roughly 09:00–16:00, but restaurants and shops vary. Have lunch at an open restaurant, then browse the market in the afternoon. Food and shopping are extra. More stalls tend to close on Wednesdays.
- Omicho Market: outside M’ZA Kuromon Koji → Kanazawa Station and nearby accommodation
Retrace your walk to the east-side plaza, or take a station-bound Right Loop from Musashigatsuji/Omicho Market outside M’ZA Kuromon Koji. There are several Right Loop stops near the market; distinguish this one from your Left Loop arrival stop. Choose an open restaurant near the station for dinner.
Hotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and fares
Shop days and closing times vary. If arriving late, eat dinner near the station. You can visit the market the next day, but then adjust Kenrokuen and station departure times. Walking both ways costs no market transport fare; one Left Loop and one Right Loop ride cost 440 yen per adult. Meals and accommodation are extra.
Day 2: Kenrokuen, Nagamachi and hotel return
Walk among Kenrokuen’s ponds and trees, then explore Nagamachi’s earthen-walled lanes. Return to the same Kanazawa hotel after both visits.
- East-side stand 7: Right Loop → Kenrokuen-shita RL6
Take the Kanazawa Loop Bus Right Loop from east-side stand 7 to Kenrokuen-shita/Kanazawa Castle, opposite Ishikawa Gate. Check that you are using the Right Loop stop.
Hokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresHotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQ
- Kenrokuen-shita RL6 → Katsurazaka entrance and garden
Walk about five minutes to Katsurazaka entrance and enter for 320 yen per ordinary adult. After a morning visit and break, return to the same RL6 stop.
Access by Kenrokuen entranceOfficial Kenrokuen visiting guidance
- Right Loop RL6 after the garden → Korinbo outside former Bank of Japan, then Nagamachi
Continue on the same Right Loop to Korinbo outside the former Bank of Japan. Tourism association guidance gives about five minutes on foot to Nagamachi and suggests about 60 minutes for the lanes. Lunch and indoor residence visits are extra.
Hokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresOfficial Nagamachi tourism guidance
- Korinbo outside former Bank of Japan → Right Loop to Kanazawa Station
Return to the Right Loop stop outside the former Bank of Japan, then ride via Minamicho and Omicho Market to Kanazawa Station. Day 2 uses three rides, costing 660 yen per ordinary adult, less than the 800-yen day pass.
- Kanazawa Station bus arrival → Same hotel
Cross the station’s east-side plaza to return to Hotel Kanazawa.
Outdoor walks and paid residence admission are separate. Add both cost and time if visiting indoors.
Day 3: via Kaga Onsen Station to your hotel
Move from Kanazawa to your onsen hotel for rest. Connect an IR local train with prebooked hotel pickup.
- Kanazawa Station: IR local train → Kaga Onsen Station
Take an IR Ishikawa Railway local train to Kaga Onsen. Ordinary adult fare is 880 yen one way; distinguish it from the Shinkansen. Choose a travel-date train to match your hotel pickup booking.
Current official IR timetable and station checksOfficial IR ordinary fare table
- Kaga Onsen Station south exit → Hotel pickup point to Ohanami Kyubei
From the south gates, go to the hotel pickup point rather than local-bus stand 2. Give your name to the driver with Ohanami Kyubei’s pink flag. Book free pickup separately by the previous day; it does not run without reservations.
- Onsen hotel → Onsen and hotel rest
Spend the afternoon resting at your onsen hotel. Use baths and meals according to your booked accommodation plan.
Hotel facilities and luggage FAQHotel access and pickup point
Book hotel pickup separately from your room. If changing hotels, adjust access and pickup to that hotel’s conditions.
Day 4: another onsen night and a walk near Korogi Bridge
Rest at the same onsen hotel and spend your second night. For river scenery, walk near Korogi Bridge in daylight. Stay at the hotel if rain, snow or access restrictions prevent the walk.
- Ohanami Kyubei → Korogi Bridge and nearby riverside
Ohanami Kyubei’s official guide to nearby sights gives about seven minutes on foot to Korogi Bridge (こおろぎ橋). Before setting out in daylight, ask reception about the current route and access, then follow path signs for a short nearby walk. The full path via Korogi, Ayatori and Kurotani bridges is 1.3 km. Today uses a nearby section and returns the same way; choose a turning point based on stairs, path conditions and your party’s stamina.
Ohanami Kyubei nearby sights and Korogi Bridge accessOfficial Yamanaka Onsen sights and paths
- Retrace your Kakusenkei walk → Korogi Bridge to Ohanami Kyubei
Retrace your walk from the chosen turning point via Korogi Bridge to the same hotel. Allow for the seven-minute outward walk, your riverside visit and the return when planning meals and baths. Tea seating, cafés and paid facilities cost extra.
Ohanami Kyubei nearby sights and Korogi Bridge accessOfficial Yamanaka Onsen sights and paths
Ask whether daytime room use, baths and meals are included during consecutive nights. Rest at the hotel if riverside access is restricted or rain and wind are strong. Today has no bus or rail excursion.
Day 5: onsen hotel to Kanazawa
Leave the onsen hotel and return to Kanazawa using the hotel shuttle and IR local train.
- Prebooked hotel shuttle → Kaga Onsen Station south exit
Take your booked free hotel shuttle to Kaga Onsen Station. Official guidance accepts return bookings from check-in until breakfast the next morning. For a two-night stay, confirm the shuttle on your actual check-out day and its booking deadline at check-in. Local buses are separate.
- Kaga Onsen Station: IR local train → Kanazawa Station
Take a Kanazawa-bound IR local train to Kanazawa Station for 880 yen per ordinary adult. Choose a travel-date service allowing time for tickets and platform access after hotel shuttle arrival.
Current official IR timetable and station checksOfficial IR ordinary fare table
- Kanazawa Station → Onward train gates and platform
Walk to your onward train’s gates and platform. Allow time inside the station between return transport and departure.
Choose your return shuttle and onward train together. To add city sightseeing, compare its return bus time with your onward departure too.
Included: Kenrokuen 320 yen + city buses 220 yen × 3 + IR 880 yen × 2. Day 1 market and nearby riverside walks on foot; free hotel pickup for guests who book ahead.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, separate hotel luggage storage fees, paid residences, riverside facilities, long-distance departure and extra buses.
For one ordinary adult: Kenrokuen 320 yen + three Loop Bus rides 660 yen + Kanazawa–Kaga Onsen IR return 1,760 yen = 2,740 yen. Day 1 market access assumes walking both ways; hotel pickup assumes free use by guests who book ahead. Accommodation, meals, separate hotel luggage storage, paid residences, riverside facilities and long-distance departure are extra. Add costs for local buses to/from your hotel or extra facilities.
Official Kenrokuen visiting guidanceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresOfficial IR ordinary fare tableHotel access and pickup point
Three city nights and one onsen night
A four-night trip giving market, garden and traditional teahouse streets a day each, then spending a night at an onsen. Spend three Kanazawa nights with a separate Higashi Chaya day. To add Nagamachi, see the optional route on garden day below.
Day 1: Omicho Market and a Kanazawa stay
On arrival day, choose a seafood lunch and browse fish, vegetable and fruit stalls at Omicho Market. Stay near Kanazawa Station afterwards.
- Kanazawa Station east-side plaza → Omicho Market: walk or Left Loop
Walk about 12 minutes from the east-side plaza to Omicho Market. Alternatively, take the Left Loop from east-side stand 7 to Musashigatsuji/Omicho Market, outside Ichibakan. Adults pay 220 yen one way. The subtotal below assumes walking, so add fares if you take buses.
Official Omicho Market tourism guidanceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresHotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQ
- Omicho Market → Open restaurants and market stalls
General market guidance lists roughly 09:00–16:00, but restaurants and shops vary. Have lunch at an open restaurant, then browse the market in the afternoon. Food and shopping are extra. More stalls tend to close on Wednesdays.
- Omicho Market: outside M’ZA Kuromon Koji → Kanazawa Station and nearby accommodation
Retrace your walk to the east-side plaza, or take a station-bound Right Loop from Musashigatsuji/Omicho Market outside M’ZA Kuromon Koji. There are several Right Loop stops near the market; distinguish this one from your Left Loop arrival stop. Choose an open restaurant near the station for dinner.
Hotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and fares
Shop days and closing times vary. If arriving late, eat dinner near the station. You can visit the market the next day, but then adjust Kenrokuen and station departure times. Walking both ways costs no market transport fare; one Left Loop and one Right Loop ride cost 440 yen per adult. Meals and accommodation are extra.
Day 2: Kenrokuen and the city return
Walk Kenrokuen’s paths linking ponds and pavilions today. After the garden and lunch, return to the same station-area hotel to rest. Visit Higashi Chaya tomorrow.
- Hotel to east-side stand 7 → Right Loop: Kenrokuen-shita RL6
Take the Kanazawa Loop Bus Right Loop from east-side stand 7 to Kenrokuen-shita/Kanazawa Castle, opposite Ishikawa Gate. Check that you are using the Right Loop stop.
Hotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and fares
- RL6 stop opposite Ishikawa Gate → Katsurazaka entrance and garden ticket office
Get off the Right Loop at Kenrokuen-shita/Kanazawa Castle (兼六園下・金沢城), opposite Ishikawa Gate. Official guidance gives about five minutes on foot to Katsurazaka entrance (桂坂口). Distinguish the castle’s Ishikawa Gate entrance from the garden entrance and follow garden ticket signs.
Access by Kenrokuen entranceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and fares
- Kenrokuen entrance → Garden visit, lunch and breaks
Ordinary adult admission costs 320 yen. Explore the garden, allowing time for lunch and breaks. Hours are 07:00–18:00, last admission 17:30, from 1 March to 15 October; 08:00–17:00, last admission 16:30, from 16 October to the end of February. Teahouses and meals are extra.
- Katsurazaka to Right Loop RL6 → Kanazawa Station to hotel
Return from Katsurazaka to the same RL6 stop and continue on the Right Loop via Korinbo and Omicho Market to Kanazawa Station. Distinguish it from the opposite-side Left Loop. For Hotel Kanazawa, cross the east-side plaza. Allow separate time for visiting, food and bus waits. To add Nagamachi today, get off the Right Loop at Korinbo outside the former Bank of Japan, walk about five minutes to the district, then return to that stop for the station-bound loop. Three rides cost 660 yen per adult, or 980 including garden admission, rather than the two-ride subtotal below.
Hokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresHotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQOfficial Nagamachi tourism guidance
Choose a bus arriving before last garden admission. Adding Nagamachi requires one extra bus ride and visiting time.
Day 3: Higashi Chaya walk
Get off at Hashibacho for Higashi Chaya’s teahouses and lanes. Browse cafés or craft shops, then return to your hotel near Kanazawa Station.
- East-side stand 7: Right Loop → Hashibacho, outside Kinjoro
Take the Kanazawa Loop Bus Right Loop from east-side stand 7 to Hashibacho outside Kinjoro. The bus ride takes about 13 minutes; allow extra time to wait and walk from the stop to the district.
Hokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresOfficial Higashi Chaya tourism guidance
- Hashibacho, outside Kinjoro → Higashi Chaya District
Official tourism guidance gives about a five-minute walk to Higashi Chaya after getting off the bus.
- Higashi Chaya District → Lanes and chosen shops
Walk the outdoor streets in the afternoon. For tea or indoor residence visits, check each facility’s hours and fees. Outdoor walks and admission inside teahouses or residences have different costs.
- Hashibacho outside Kinjoro: Right Loop → Kanazawa Station to hotel
Retrace your walk to Hashibacho outside Kinjoro and continue on the Right Loop via Kenrokuen, Korinbo and Omicho Market to Kanazawa Station. The return loop is longer than the outward journey, so check it first. Return to the same hotel to rest.
Hokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresHotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQ
Outdoor walks, tea and indoor residence admission are separate. The Right Loop return from Hashibacho to the station is longer than the outward journey.
Day 4: via Kaga Onsen Station to your hotel
Move from Kanazawa to your onsen hotel for rest. Connect an IR local train with prebooked hotel pickup.
- Kanazawa Station: IR local train → Kaga Onsen Station
Take an IR Ishikawa Railway local train to Kaga Onsen. Ordinary adult fare is 880 yen one way; distinguish it from the Shinkansen. Choose a travel-date train to match your hotel pickup booking.
Current official IR timetable and station checksOfficial IR ordinary fare table
- Kaga Onsen Station south exit → Hotel pickup point to Ohanami Kyubei
From the south gates, go to the hotel pickup point rather than local-bus stand 2. Give your name to the driver with Ohanami Kyubei’s pink flag. Book free pickup separately by the previous day; it does not run without reservations.
- Onsen hotel → Onsen and hotel rest
Spend the afternoon resting at your onsen hotel. Use baths and meals according to your booked accommodation plan.
Hotel facilities and luggage FAQHotel access and pickup point
Book hotel pickup separately from your room. If changing hotels, adjust access and pickup to that hotel’s conditions.
Day 5: onsen hotel to Kanazawa
Leave the onsen hotel and return to Kanazawa using the hotel shuttle and IR local train.
- Prebooked hotel shuttle → Kaga Onsen Station south exit
Take your booked free hotel shuttle to Kaga Onsen Station. Official guidance accepts return bookings from check-in until breakfast the next morning. For a two-night stay, confirm the shuttle on your actual check-out day and its booking deadline at check-in. Local buses are separate.
- Kaga Onsen Station: IR local train → Kanazawa Station
Take a Kanazawa-bound IR local train to Kanazawa Station for 880 yen per ordinary adult. Choose a travel-date service allowing time for tickets and platform access after hotel shuttle arrival.
Current official IR timetable and station checksOfficial IR ordinary fare table
- Kanazawa Station → Onward train gates and platform
Walk to your onward train’s gates and platform. Allow time inside the station between return transport and departure.
Choose your return shuttle and onward train together. To add city sightseeing, compare its return bus time with your onward departure too.
Included: Kenrokuen 320 yen + city buses 220 yen × 4 + IR 880 yen × 2. Day 1 market access on foot; free hotel pickup for guests who book ahead.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, separate hotel luggage storage fees, paid residences, riverside facilities, long-distance departure and extra buses.
For one ordinary adult: Kenrokuen 320 yen + four Loop Bus rides 880 yen + Kanazawa–Kaga Onsen IR return 1,760 yen = 2,960 yen. Day 1 market access assumes walking both ways; garden day uses two bus rides. Assumes free hotel pickup for guests who book ahead. Accommodation, meals, separate hotel luggage storage, paid residences, riverside facilities, long-distance departure and extra buses are separate.
Official Kenrokuen visiting guidanceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresOfficial IR ordinary fare tableHotel access and pickup point
Frequently asked questions
What are transport/admission costs for two nights each in Kanazawa and the onsen?
The subtotal is 2,740 yen per adult: Kenrokuen 320 yen, three Loop Bus rides 660 yen and Kanazawa–Kaga Onsen IR local return 1,760 yen. Walk to the Day 1 market and nearby riverside on the onsen rest day. Hotel pickup at the example Ohanami Kyubei assumes free use by guests who book ahead. Accommodation, food, paid residences, riverside tea seating and long-distance Kanazawa travel are extra. Add local-bus fares if replacing pickup, or costs for extra sights.
Official Kenrokuen visiting guidanceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and faresOfficial IR ordinary fare tableHotel access and pickup point
Does the three-Kanazawa-night course visit Nagamachi?
This course gives market, Kenrokuen and Higashi Chaya a day each, then spends one night at the onsen. To add Nagamachi, see the optional route in the garden-day return step. For Nagamachi after the garden and two onsen nights, compare the two-city/two-onsen course. Extra visits require revised bus counts and visiting time.
Official Nagamachi tourism guidanceOfficial Higashi Chaya tourism guidanceHokutetsu Loop Bus stops and fares
Sources and check dates
- Access by Kenrokuen entrance ·
- Official Kenrokuen visiting guidance ·
- Official Higashi Chaya tourism guidance ·
- Official Nagamachi tourism guidance ·
- Official IR ordinary fare table ·
- Hotel Kanazawa access and luggage FAQ ·
- Official Omicho Market tourism guidance ·
- Hokutetsu Loop Bus stops and fares ·
- Hotel access and pickup point ·
- Hotel facilities and luggage FAQ ·
- Official Yamanaka Onsen sights and paths ·
- Ohanami Kyubei nearby sights and Korogi Bridge access ·
- JR West Hokuriku pass coverage ·
- JR West Hokuriku Arch Pass coverage ·
- JR West Kansai–Hokuriku pass coverage ·
- Current official IR timetable and station checks ·