Noto Peninsula Travel: Access, Transportation and Orientation

How to travel between the Noto Peninsula and Tokyo

By air

ANA operates two flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Noto Airport. Flight duration is about one hour, and the regular one way fare is around 22,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for between 13,000 and 17,500 yen. With an air pass you can fly for even less.

Buses connect Noto Airport to surrounding towns, such as Wajima and Anamizu. Wakura can be reached by Noto Railway trains from Anamizu. Note that not all flights have bus connections.

The Furusato Taxi service serves the entire Noto Peninsula with rides to/from the airport and charges between 700 and 1800 yen one way per person depending on the destination. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. Last but not least, rental car outlets are also found at the airport.

By train via Echigo Yuzawa

Take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa Station (75-90 minutes, at least 2 trains per hour) and then the JR Hakutaka limited express to Kanazawa (2 hours 40 minutes, 1 train per hour). Finally, take a limited express train (55 minutes, 6 trains per day) from Kanazawa to Wakura Onsen Station. Note that one Hakutaka train per day continues all the way to Wakura Onsen.

The entire one way trip takes around 5.5 hours and costs about 13,500 yen. If there is no connecting limited express train at Kanazawa, take a local train along the JR Nanao Line to Nanao Station (30 minutes longer, 1000 yen less, 1 train per hour).

Japan Rail Pass holders have to pay a supplement fee of 1,450 yen on board of the Hakutaka limited express trains, because the train partially runs on non-JR railway tracks.

By train via Maibara

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara (2 hours 20 minutes by direct Hikari train) and then the JR Shirasagi limited express train to Kanazawa (110 minutes, 1 train per hour). Finally, take a limited express train (55 minutes, 6 trains per day) from Kanazawa to Wakura Onsen. Note that one Shirasagi train per day continues all the way to Wakura Onsen.

The entire one way trip takes around six hours and costs about 12,500 yen. If there is no connecting limited express train at Kanazawa, take a local train along the JR Nanao Line to Nanao Station (30 minutes longer, 1000 yen less, one train per hour). In contrast to access via Echigo Yuzawa, access via Maibara is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using a Hikari train between Tokyo and Maibara.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.

The Noto Peninsula juts out roughly 100 kilometers from Japan's main island of Honshu into the Sea of Japan. The cities of Kanazawa and Toyama are located within 20 kilometers of the peninsula's base.

Public transportation on the Noto Peninsula tends to be infrequent and inconvenient. Consequently, a rental car is the recommended means of getting around, as it allows you to explore the scenic coastlines and towns at your own pace. Rental car outlets are located in Kanazawa, Toyama, Takaoka and Wakura Onsen, as well as at Noto, Komatsu and Toyama Airports.

Another method of exploring the Noto Peninsula is by bicycle, although this is recommended only to experienced touring cyclists. Note also that good rental bicycles are difficult to find, and it is probably easier to bring your own bicycle to Japan. The peninsula is popular enough as a cycling destination that the "Tour de Noto" attracts hundreds of participants every year.

Japan Railways (JR) operates trains as far as Wakura Onsen, from where the Noto Railway leads further to Anamizu Station halfway up the peninsula. Railway lines, further extending to Wajima and Suzu near the peninsula's tip, were unfortunately discontinued in 2005.

Buses, operated by Hokutetsu, serve the rest of the peninsula with a relatively dense network of lines that connects all major tourist attractions. However, buses do not run very frequently, and a number of transfers may be required to travel between two places. A map of the most important bus lines is located above, with the approximate number of buses per day written between major bus stops.

There are three airports that are convenient for accessing the Noto Peninsula: Noto Airport, Toyama Airport and Komatsu Airport. Noto Airport is located right in the center of the peninsula but connects only Tokyo's Haneda Airport twice per day. Toyama Airport and especially Komatsu Airport have more flights to more destinations, including some international destinations on the Asian mainland.