How to travel from Niigata to Kanazawa, Japan

The distance between Niigata and Kanazawa is around 302km (188 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Niigata to Kanazawa by bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out KanazawaNiigata if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Joetsumyoko and then to Kanazawa.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    ¥12,595($90)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Ekinishi Godochosha-mae.

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥7,530($55)
Operated by

Hokutetsu Transportation

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Kanazawa.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Distance302km (188 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Niigata and Kanazawa

There are several options for getting from Niigata to Kanazawa by bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥7,530 ($55) and will take around 4h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥12,595 ($90).

The distance between Niigata and Kanazawa is around 302km (188 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 259km (161 miles)

It takes around 4h 30m to get from Niigata and Kanazawa by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Niigata to Kanazawa is to take the train which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx ¥12,595 ($90).

The cheapest way to travel between Niigata and Kanazawa, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥7,530 ($55) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Niigata and Kanazawa. It typically takes around 3h 15m and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct train services that runs from Niigata to Kanazawa. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Niigata and Joetsumyoko. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 3h 15m.

Japan Railways Limited Express, Japan Railways (JR) and Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Niigata and Kanazawa. Trains depart 5 times a day and will take around 3h 15m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Niigata and Kanazawa. It typically takes around 4h 30m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Niigata and Kanazawa with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 4h 30m.

Hokutetsu Transportation run regular bus services between Niigata and Kanazawa. Buses run twice daily and take around 4h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Niigata to Kanazawa. We recommend that you take the bus to Ekinishi Godochosha-mae. instead which will take 4h 30m.

The closest major airport to Kanazawa is Komatsu Airport (KMQ) (KMQ) which is approximately 29km (18 miles) from Kanazawa. Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) (NGO) and Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Niigata and Kanazawa. The distance is around 302km (188 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Niigata to Kanazawa is to take the bus which takes, on average, 4h 30m and will usually cost around ¥7,530 ($55).

How do I get from Niigata to Kanazawa

Compare travel optionsbetween Niigata and Kanazawa

Transport options from Niigata to Kanazawa
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 15m
¥12,595($90)
5 times a day322km (200 miles)
Bus
4h 30m
¥7,530($55)
twice daily438km (272 miles)
Drive
3h 15m
¥4,380($32)
on demand302km (188 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Niigata and Kanazawa

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Kanazawa

The following major airports near Kanazawa offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.

KMQ
Komatsu Airport (KMQ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
29km (18 miles) from Kanazawa
NGO
Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO)
International Airport
Distance
192km (119 miles) from Kanazawa
KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
270km (168 miles) from Kanazawa