Now Possible Thanks to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Extension! A Hokuriku Trip to Experience the Charm, History, and Culture of Fukui and Ishikawa

Kanazawa Station, formerly the terminal station of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, is a major station in Hokuriku located in the northern part of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The station interior, with its refined atmosphere and wood-toned Japanese design, has the distinction of being the only station in Japan selected as one of the “14 Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World.”
The station’s symbols are the Motenashi Dome, a geometric glass canopy that gently welcomes visitors, and the Tsuzumi-mon Gate, Approx. 13.7 meters tall and modeled after a hand drum used in Kanazawa’s traditional Noh performing arts.
Kanazawa once flourished as a castle town, and its appeal lies in its traditional crafts, gardens, and charming old streetscapes, where you can fully enjoy its history and culture.
Popular sightseeing spots in Kanazawa City are summarized in the table below.

Komatsu City, home to Komatsu Station, is a city that has developed through manufacturing.
Blessed with a rich natural environment, it also attracts visitors with local specialties and famous dishes made with seafood, rice, and daikon radish.
The newly built station building, designed to evoke the mountain range of sacred Mt. Hakusan, is another highlight.
Komatsu Airport is located Approx. 10 minutes by car from the station, making the area an important transportation hub with direct access to destinations such as Sapporo and Taipei.
It also has strong cultural appeal as both a “city of Kabuki,” with many spots connected to the traditional performing art, and a town where traditional craft techniques continue to thrive.
Be sure to check out the popular tourist spots listed below as well.

Kaga City is rich in tourism resources where nature, tradition, and history come together.
Crafts such as Yamanaka lacquerware and historical heritage related to the Kitamaebune trading ships also help shape Kaga’s unique character.
Kagaonsen Station, located in the center of the city, serves as the gateway to Kaga Onsenkyo and welcomes many travelers.
Kaga Onsenkyo refers to six popular sightseeing areas made up of three hot spring towns, a castle town, a post town, and a fishing port.
The surrounding area, blessed with nature, brings together a wonderful mix of different personalities that make you want to visit again and again.
A brief overview of each is summarized in the table below.

The area around Awaraonsen Station in Awara City, at the northernmost tip of Fukui Prefecture, is a place where you can enjoy a wide variety of scenery that stirs the spirit of travel.
It is full of sightseeing spots, including Kitagata Lakeside Park, where you can enjoy seasonal fruit picking such as blueberries and figs, art appreciation and creative workshops, and outdoor nature activities.
Among them, Awara Onsen, a hot spring district with as many as 74 source springs bubbling up from the central part of the city, is not to be missed.
Its atmospheric townscape and high-quality hot springs offer visitors a relaxing experience, making it perfect for a leisurely tour of public baths.
Another popular spot is Awara Onsen Yatai Village Yukemuri Yokocho, located right in the center of Awara Onsen.
Past the entrance decorated with red lanterns, you will find retro-style food stalls lined up, offering a wide variety of dishes such as ramen, seafood, and chicken wings.
Each stall typically has around 10 seats, creating a friendly atmosphere where chatting with the owners and local residents is part of the fun.

Fukui City, known for its beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons, is a nature-rich area surrounded by sea and mountains.
You can enjoy it any time of year, with cherry blossom viewing in spring, camping in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and winter sports in winter.
Fukui Prefecture is known as the “Kingdom of Dinosaurs,” and Fukui Station, lined with dinosaur monuments, is a great photo spot.
What truly stands out in Fukui City, though, is its wide variety of local gourmet food.
From Echizen crab and grated soba noodles to sauce katsudon and mizuyokan, there is no shortage of delicious specialties.
From main dishes to desserts, you can fully enjoy its unique food culture.
There are also many sightseeing spots around Fukui City where you can feel the area’s history, such as those listed below.

Echizen City is a region known for nationally designated traditional crafts, including Echizen Washi, which has been passed down for over 1,500 years, as well as forged blades and tansu chests.
Because Echizen City escaped wartime air raids, many old streets, shrines, and temples still remain today, giving the area a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Echizen-Takefu Station, newly built in Echizen City with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension, is the only stand-alone Shinkansen station on the line.
At the adjacent roadside station, Michi-no-Eki Echizen-Takefu, you will find a restaurant serving seafood bowls made with fresh seafood and shops selling traditional crafts and souvenirs.
The tourist information center regularly hosts seasonal events and also offers guidance on nearby areas, making it a great starting point for your trip. Popular sightseeing spots are listed below.

Tsuruga City, home to Tsuruga Station, is a port town that has long served as a gateway for continental culture.
Because of its history of warmly accepting foreigners who had nowhere else to go, it is also known as the “Port of Humanity.”
Today, high-speed ferries and cruise ships still call at the port, and people and goods continue to move through Tsuruga, giving the city a lively atmosphere.
Another attraction is its traditional food-processing industry, led by the production of oboro kombu, which accounts for Approx. 85% of the national market share.
The popular sightseeing spots in Tsuruga City listed below also reflect this character, and each offers a sense of peace and calm.

The first day of this model course takes you around Tsuruga City to fully enjoy its blend of nature and tradition.
Visit power spots to refresh your spirit, then explore historical landmarks and charming streetscapes.
Of course, the plan also includes time to stroll through a hot spring town, so you can relax too.

Day 2 of the model course takes you to some of Fukui Prefecture’s most representative sightseeing spots, each with very different appeal and atmosphere, from dinosaurs and Zen to spectacular views.
After enjoying the day to the fullest, travel to Ishikawa Prefecture on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and refresh yourself at Kaga Onsenkyo, where you can enjoy three distinctive hot spring areas.

On the third day of the model course, head to Kanazawa to wrap up your trip.
The itinerary is a fitting finale, letting you fully enjoy the charm of Kanazawa, which once flourished as a castle town.
Centered around Kenrokuen Garden, spend as much time as you can strolling through these charming historic spaces and enjoying local food along the way.

The Ainokaze, IR, Hapi-line Connected Hokuriku 3 Prefectures 2-Day Pass is a digital rail ticket released to commemorate the opening of the Kanazawa-Tsuruga section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
It offers unlimited rides for two days on the three lines of Ainokaze Toyama Railway, IR Ishikawa Railway, and Hapi-line Fukui, allowing unlimited travel between Etchu-Miyazaki Station and Tsuruga Station.
Another welcome feature is the included perks, such as a 20% discount on general admission to the Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum, which was also introduced in the sightseeing plan.
An overview is as follows.

The Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is a rail pass that offers unlimited rides on JR Shinkansen and conventional lines, as well as transportation buses, between Osaka and Nagoya in designated sections.
You can also use reserved seats on the Hokuriku Shinkansen up to six times.
It is highly recommended for broader sightseeing across areas such as Osaka, Nagoya, and Gifu, home to the World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go.
Please note that some sections and lines are not covered, including the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto Station and Shin-Osaka Station.
It is sold for short-term international visitors to Japan, and the price is 19,800 yen for adults and 9,900 yen for children for five consecutive days of use.
You can purchase it online or at Midori no Madoguchi ticket offices, and if available, you can also reserve it through a travel agency in your home country.

ICOCA is a transportation IC card provided by JR West and used mainly in the urban areas of Kansai and Hokuriku.
Simply tap the card at automatic ticket gates or fare adjustment machines, and the fare will be paid automatically.
In addition to trains and buses, it can also be used in many other places, such as taxis, convenience stores, and restaurants, as long as the payment function is supported.
That means you can avoid small hassles such as buying tickets and preparing or receiving coins.
It costs 2,000 yen per card, including a 500-yen deposit, and can be purchased from ticket machines and Midori no Madoguchi ticket offices, so it is recommended to get one before sightseeing.
Suica and PASMO, which are mainly used in the Tokyo metropolitan area, can also generally be used in the Hokuriku region.