Take a JR Thunderbird limited express from Kyoto to Tsuruga and transfer to the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa. The one way journey takes just under two hours, costs around 7500 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. International tourists can do the trip for only 6500 yen by purchasing a Hokuriku One-Way Ticket. Note that seat reservations are mandatory on Thunderbird limited express trains.
The one way ride between Kyoto and Kanazawa by highway bus takes about four hours and costs around 3000 to 5000 yen depending on the bus and date of travel. There are daytime and overnight buses, operated by multiple companies. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on these buses.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Kanazawa's city center is defined by Kanazawa Castle Park. All of the city's main attractions are located within a two kilometer radius of the castle park, making it possible for good walkers to explore most of the city on foot. Buses and taxis are also readily available.
Kanazawa Station is not located centrally, about two kilometers or a ten minute bus ride northwest of the city center. A dense network of buses, operated by the local Hokutetsu train and bus company, connects the station with the city center and all of Kanazawa's main tourist attractions. Regular city buses cost 220 yen per ride in central Kanazawa.
A useful bus for tourists is the Kanazawa Loop Bus, which connects Kanazawa Station with most sights of interests. There is a clockwise (Right Loop) and counter-clockwise (Left Loop) bus, covering slightly different routes They each operate every 15-20 minutes and cost 220 yen per ride. A 1-day bus pass for 800 yen allows for unlimited use of the loop buses as well as most other local buses in central Kanazawa. In addition, the day pass also provides discounted admission to several designated local tourist attractions. It can be purchased as a digital ticket or as a paper ticket at the Hokutetsu ticket offices on both sides of Kanazawa Station.
Furthermore, there are some JR buses, which connect Kanazawa Station with Kenrokuen and the Higashi Chaya District. The buses are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass and JR Hokuriku Area Pass, as well as by the above-mentioned 1-day bus pass. There are 1-3 buses per hour, and the ride costs 210 yen without a rail pass.
IC cards, including Suica, Pasmo and Icoca, can be used on the Kanazawa Loop Bus and JR buses, but they cannot be used on other city buses.
Although not valid for transportation, the Kanazawa Cultural Zone Pass (aka Bunka no Mori Odekake Pass) is worth mentioning as an exceptional deal for visitors to Kanazawa. The digital pass provides one-time admission to each of 15 of the city's most popular cultural attractions for only 1000 yen over a 2-day period. Among the attractions covered are Kenrokuen, the paid areas of the castle, the collection exhibitions at the 21st Century Museum, the D.T. Suzuki Museum, and the prefectural history and art museums.
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