Hakutaka to Kanazawa.
A third route exists by taking the Joetsu Shinkansen further to Nagaoka and changing to a limited express there. While this particular journey is also covered under the Rail Pass, express trains from Nagaoka are very sparse, whereas journeys to Kanazawa via Maibara or Echigo-Yuzawa are more frequent.
Frequent Thunderbird and Raich? limited express trains run to Kanazawa from Osaka and Kyoto in Kansai. The one-way ride from Osaka lasts around 2 1/2 hours on the fastest service and costs �7640 (No charge for Japan Rail Pass holders).
Kanazawa is a morning stop on the Twilight Express from Sapporo and Nihonkai train from Aomori.
By car
Kanazawa is served by the Hokuriku Expressway, which runs through the western edge of the city. It has three interchanges: Kanazawa East and Kanazawa West feed into National Route 8, and Kanazawa Morimoto feeds into the Mountainside Loop Road (Yamagawa kanj?-sen). The cost for a normal car from Kyoto-East via Maibara is �5500, and the distance is 245 km (to Kanazawa West). From Osaka, �6850 and 296 km; Niigata �6350 and 293 km. From the capital city, expect �11,800 and 585 km.
The national Route 8 is also a good option for those on a budget or who wish to take a leisurely trip, stopping off to see various sights along the way. It is four-lane for much of the way, and so passing those slow old farmers in their white mini-trucks is actually possible. There are other routes into the city, such as via the base of Hakusan, or over the hills from Toyama prefecture.
By bus
Several bus companies make runs from Tokyo to Kanazawa. JR Bus runs two daytime buses and two night buses run from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro (more runs added on Weekends and Holidays). One bus also runs at night from Tokyo Station. The cost for all of these buses is the same (�7840 each way) and the trip takes about 8 1/2 hours.
Discount bus operators Willer Express, Star Express
