Local Guide
Buses are the most economical and comfortable way to see Kanazawa! Let's know how to use it and what you need to know!

Photo courtesy of Hokuriku Railway

Kanazawa is a castle town with many narrow alleys and cul-de-sacs. While Kanazawa is an attractive place for strolling around and enjoying various discoveries, it can also be a place where first-time visitors can get lost. Major tourist attractions such as Kenrokuen Garden, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Omimachi Market, and Higashi Chaya-gai are within 3 km of Kanazawa Station, and a 15 to 30 minute walk to each attraction. If you make good use of the "Hokutetsu Bus One-Day Free Pass" (500 yen), you can visit major sightseeing spots in one day.

Kanazawa Flat Bus, a community bus often used by locals Photo courtesy of Kanazawa City
Kanazawa Flat Bus, a community bus often used by locals Photo courtesy of Kanazawa City

When getting around Kanazawa city, buses are very convenient as there are many buses in operation. The buses, which are also the legs of the citizens, cover the city, and bus routes through the city center, such as "Musashigatsuji," "Korinbo," and "Katamachi," are routed every five minutes. However, since the routes are complicated with many destination names, "sightseeing round trip buses" and "community buses" are recommended for those visiting the city for sightseeing. The Sightseeing Circulation Bus is convenient for visiting major sightseeing spots, while the Community Bus is more convenient for going to places halfway between the sightseeing spots or slightly away from the center of the city.

Convenient and economical sightseeing tour bus

Left route
Left route "Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus" photo courtesy of Kanazawa City

The Kanazawa Castle Town Kanazawa Loop Bus is a convenient way to visit tourist attractions in Kanazawa City, circulating from Kanazawa Station every 15 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each bus stop is a short walk from a sightseeing spot. Each bus stop is located within a 5-minute walk to a sightseeing spot.
The time between bus stops is approximately 3 minutes. For example, between "Higashi Chaya-gai" and "Kenrokuen," there are only two bus stops, and it takes about 6 minutes. 200 yen (100 yen for children) is the fare for one ride, but if you purchase a "Hokutetsu Bus One-Day Free Pass," you can ride all day for 500 yen (250 yen for children). With the "Hokutetsu Bus One-Day Free Pass," you can enjoy Kanazawa sightseeing in a wallet-friendly way.

Use left or right route depending on your destination

Right-turn route
Right-turn route "Kanazawa Castle Town Loop Bus" Photo courtesy of Kanazawa City

The "Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus" operates both leftward and rightward routes. The left-turn route starts from Kanazawa Station and takes you to Omimachi Market, Kenrokuen Garden, Higashi Chaya-gai, and Kanazawa Station, in that order. The rightward route is the opposite: the red bus goes in the direction of Higashi Chayamachi, then to Kenrokuen, Omimachi Market, and Kanazawa Station, visiting 15 stops in that order.
Bus maps are available at sales counters at Kanazawa Station and other locations, so it is convenient to check the route from your current location to your destination before boarding the bus.

Kanazawa Castle Town Shuttle Bus

Shorten your ride time to your destination

Photo courtesy of Hokuriku Railway
Photo courtesy of Hokuriku Railway

This shuttle bus runs from Kanazawa Station to "Kenrokuen" and back. The only bus stops along the way are "Omimachi Market, Oyama Shrine, Korinbo, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and Prefectural Museum of Art. It is recommended for those who wish to visit tourist attractions located in the center of the city from Kanazawa Station, as it shortens the ride time.
The bus runs every 20 minutes from 9:30 to 17:50, and the fare is 200 yen (100 yen for children). If you purchase a Hokutetsu Bus One-Day Free Pass (500 yen, 250 yen for children), you can ride the Kenroku Shuttle and the Kanazawa Castle Town Loop Bus as many times as you like.

Kenrokuen Shuttle

Use a bus that circulates around residential areas and public Properties for visiting hole-in-the-wall spots.

Photo courtesy of Kanazawa City
Photo courtesy of Kanazawa City

If you want to stop by stores that are some distance from tourist attractions or restaurants along the Saigawa and Asano Rivers, the Kanazawa Flat Bus, a community bus often used by locals, is recommended, as are local buses.
There are four routes: the Konohana Route, which operates around Kanazawa Station; the Nagamachi Route and Zaimoku Route, which pass by major spots such as Musashigatsuji and Omimachi Market; and the Kikugawa Route, which starts from Korinbo. There are also four transfer points to each route (see the website), so if you make the right transfer, you can visit Kanazawa's major landmarks. The buses cost 100 yen per ride and run every 15 minutes.
Please note that the "Hokutetsu Bus One-day Free Ticket" cannot be used to board the "Kanazawa Flat Bus".

Kanazawa Flat Bus
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.