Kaga Onsen: Getting there and around

Kaga Onsen consists of four hot spring towns, spread out over the plain and hills near the Sea of Japan coast.

The transportation hub is Kaga Onsen Station on the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from where buses provide connections to many of the area's attractions. Among the buses is the Can Bus (キャン・バス), a loop bus for tourists, which connects the station with the four hot spring towns and most other sights in the area. A 1-day pass for one calendar day of unlimited use of the Can Bus costs 1100 yen. A 2-day pass costs 1300 yen. Three lines can be of interest:

• Sea Course (海まわり, Umimawari): serves the Kutaniyaki Museum in Daishoji, the Kitamae Ships Museum in Hashidate and Katayamazu Onsen. There is one bus every 1-2 hours.
• Mountain Course (山まわり, Yamamawari): serves Yamashiro Onsen, Yamanaka Onsen, Natadera and Awazu Onsen. There is one bus every 2 hours.
• Komatsu Airport Course (小松空港線): serves Katayamazu Onsen and Komatsu Airport. There is one bus every 3 hours.

Most attractions of Hakusan City lie in the mountains to the east of Kaga Onsen. There are no direct bus or train connections between Hakusan and Kaga Onsen, and travel usually leads via Kanazawa or Matto stations. Hokutetsu trains in the direction of Mount Hakusan go as far as Tsurugi Station from where there are infrequent buses further into the mountains.

A rental car can be convenient for exploring Kaga Onsen and Hakusan. Rental car outlets can be found in Kanazawa, at Kaga Onsen Station, Matto Station and Komatsu Airport.