Kanazawa Station

Kanazawa Station (金沢駅, Kanazawa-eki) is a major railway station in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), the private railway operator Hokuriku Railroad, and the third-sector operator IR Ishikawa Railway.

Kanazawa Station 金沢駅
The Tsuzumi ("drum") Gate at JR Kanazawa Station East entrance
General information
Location	1-1 Kinoshimbo-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0858 Japan
Coordinates	36.578269°N 136.647762°E / 36.578269; 136.647762
Operated by	JR West IR Ishikawa Railway Hokuriku Railroad
Line(s)	Hokuriku Shinkansen ■ Nanao Line IR Ishikawa Railway Line ■ Hokutetsu Asanogawa Line (Hokutetsu-Kanazawa)
Distance	450.5 km from Tokyo
Platforms	5 island platforms
Tracks	7
Connections	Bus terminal
Other information
Status	Staffed (Midori no Madoguchi)
Website	Official website
History
Opened	1 April 1898; 126 years ago (1898-04-01)
Passengers
FY2016	22,668 daily (JR West)
Services
Preceding station JR West Following station Komatsu towards Tsuruga Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki Toyama towards Nagano Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka Shin-Takaoka towards Jōetsumyōkō Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsurugi Shin-Takaoka towards Toyama
Location Kanazawa Station Location within Ishikawa Prefecture Show map of Ishikawa Prefecture Kanazawa Station Kanazawa Station (Central Japan) Show map of Central Japan Kanazawa Station Kanazawa Station (Japan) Show map of Japan

Beneath a square in front of the JR station is Hokutetsu-Kanazawa Station, the terminal of the Hokuriku Railroad Asanogawa Line.

Lines

• West Japan Railway Company (JR West):
  • Hokuriku Shinkansen
• IR Ishikawa Railway
  • IR Ishikawa Railway Line (including JR West's Nanao Line through trains)
• Hokuriku Railroad (Hokutetsu):
  • Asanogawa Line (Hokutetsu-Kanazawa Station)

Station layout

Platform 3 and 5, July 2022

Platforms 13 and 14, July 2022

Hokutetsu platforms, April 2022

IR Ishikawa Railway platforms

IR Ishikawa Railway platforms are elevated above street level, featuring three island platforms with one cut-out platform (for Track 4) on the Up (Toyama) side of the middle island platform, serving seven tracks in total. A large roof covers the station building, in order to prevent train stoppages due to accumulated snow within the station.

1-2	■ IR Ishikawa Railway Line	for Komatsu, Fukui
3	■ IR Ishikawa Railway Line	for Komatsu, Fukui
	■ Nanao Line	for Hakui, Nanao, Wakuraonsen
4	■ IR Ishikawa Railway Line	for Takaoka, Toyama
	■ Nanao Line	for Hakui, Nanao, Wakuraonsen
5	■ IR Ishikawa Railway Line	for Komatsu, Fukui
	■ IR Ishikawa Railway Line	for Takaoka, Toyama
	■ Nanao Line	for Hakui, Nanao, Wakuraonsen
6-7	■ IR Ishikawa Railway Line	for Takaoka, Toyama
	■ Nanao Line	for Hakui, Nanao, Wakuraonsen

JR (Hokuriku Shinkansen) platforms

The Hokuriku Shinkansen platforms are adjacent to the east exit, between the Motenashi Dome and the IR Ishikawa Railway tracks. The Shinkansen station has two island platforms serving four tracks.

11-12	■ Hokuriku Shinkansen	for Toyama, Nagano, Tokyo
13-14	■ Hokuriku Shinkansen	for Fukui, Tsuruga

The departure melody used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen platforms was composed by songwriter and producer Yasutaka Nakata, who was born in Kanazawa.^[1]

Hokutetsu platforms

The platforms for the Hokutetsu Asanogawa Line are located underground, below the JR West platforms.

1-2

■ Hokutetsu Asanogawa Line

for Uchinada

Adjacent stations

«		Service	»
IR Ishikawa Railway Line
Nishi-Kanazawa		Local	Higashi-Kanazawa
Hokutetsu Asanogawa Line
Terminus		Local	Nanatsuya

History

The station opened on 1 April 1898.^[2] With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, the station came under the control of JR West.^[3] The platforms for the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened on 14 March 2015.^[4]

From 14 March 2015, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano, local passenger operations over sections of the Hokuriku Main Line running roughly parallel to the new shinkansen line were reassigned to different third-sector railway operating companies.^[5] From this date, Kanazawa Station became the western terminus of the IR Ishikawa Railway Line of Ishikawa Prefecture.^[5]

At the timetable revision effective 16 March 2024, the Hokuriku Shinkansen extended between Kanazawa and Tsuruga. All Thunderbird and Shirasagi limited express services were discontinued between Tsuruga and Kanazawa Stations.^[6] From the same date, the Hokuriku Main Line between Daishoji Station and Kanazawa Station was reorganized as the IR Ishikawa Railway Line, thus the former Hokuriku Main Line section of the station became exclusively used for the IR Ishikawa Railway Line including some through trains to the Nanao Line.^[7]

Passenger statistics

In fiscal 2016, the JR West portion of the station (including the conventional line section later removed from the JR West operation) was used by an average of 22,668 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).^[8]

Surrounding area

JR Kanazawa Station East entrance

East exit

• Kanazawa Station Bus Terminal
• Kanazawa Miyako Hotel
• Hotel Nikko Kanazawa
• Kanazawa Art Hall
• ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa
• Ishikawa Ongakudō

West exit

• JR Kanazawa Station West Building
  • Via Inn Kanazawa
• Kanazawa Manten Hotel
• Kanazawa Water and Energy Center

Bus services

The bus terminals are located in both east exit(Kenrokuen exit) exit and west exit (Kanazawa Port exit). Almost all buses to central Kanazawa including Kanazawa Loop Bus depart from east gate, however some lines such as City Liner depart from west exit. Most expressway bus stop was in east terminal but moved to west terminal in July 2023.

The gates and lines shown below are as of July 2023.^[9]

East Exit

Transportation Information Center

West Japan JR Bus departs from gate 4 and 5 in east gate terminal. The local buses from other gates are operated by Hokuriku Railroad (Hokutetsu Bus.)

There is a departure information board in front of the station exit which shows the timetable of Kanazawa Loop Bus and Machi-bus and also the first two buses to Kenrokuen Garden, Higashi Chaya District, Nishi Chaya District, Omi-cho Market, Korinbo and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. The transportation information center (Hokutetsu Bus ticket counter and West Japan JR Bus ticket center) is located near gate 7.

Gate 1

• Hokutetsu Bus
  • Route 82 for Yanagibashi via Jinguji-machi
• Kaetsuno Bus
  • For Mitsui Outlet Park Hokuriku Oyabe and Tonami City Hall
• Kanazawa Furatto Bus Konohana route

Gate 2

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market and Korinbo
  • Route 51 for Midori 2-chome
  • Route 54 for Kamiyasuhara
  • Route 56 for Saiseikai Hospital
• Hokutetsu Bus for Sanja
  • Route 82 for Nishi-Kanazawa Station

Gate 3

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Korinbo; Hirosaka, 21st Century Museum and Honda-machi
  • Route 18 for Kanazawa Gakuin University

Gate 4

• West Japan JR Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Korinbo; Hirosaka, 21st Century Museum; Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park and Hashiba-cho, Higashi Chaya District^[10]
  • Higashi Chaya District Liner for Yamanoue
• West Japan JR Bus
  • Sightseeing Bus

Gate 5

• West Japan JR Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market and Hashiba-cho, Higashi-Chaya District^[10]
  • For Morimoto Station / Fudoji
  • For Fukatani Onsen
  • For Saida
  • For Higashinagae
• Kanazawa Town Management Organization (Japan Rail Pass not accepted.)
  • Machi Bus (Kanazawa Shopping Liner)

Gate 6

Gate 6

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Hashiba-cho and Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park
  • Route 11 for Ishikawa Prefectural Library / Kanazawa Gakuin University
  • Route 12 for Hokuriku University / Yuwaku Onsen
  • Route 16 for Kamitatsumi
• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market and Hashiba-cho
  • Route 88 for Yanagibashi via Hashiba-cho

Gate 7

• Hokutetsu Bus
  • Route RL "Kanazawa Loop Bus (Right Loop)" for Higashi Chaya District and Kenrokuen Garden^[11]
  • Route LL "Kanazawa Loop Bus (Left Loop)" for Omicho Market, Oyama Shrine, Korinbo, Nishi Chaya District and Ninja Temple
• Kanazawa Light-up Bus Execution Committee
  • Kanazawa Light-up Bus

Gate 8

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Korinbo; Hirosaka, 21st Century Museum and Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park
  • Route 13 for Iozen Sports Center via Asahi-machi
  • Route 14 for Iozen Sports Center via Kinsho High School
  • Route 90 for Utatsuyama Senjukaku
  • Route 92 for Asagiridai
  • Route 93 for Kanazawa University via Suzumidai 2-chome
  • Route 94 for Kanazawa University via Asahi-machi
  • Route 95 for Hokuriku University via Asahi-machi
  • Route 97 for Kanazawa University via Suzumi-machi

Gate 9

A route 20 bus

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Korinbo; Kata-machi and Hirokoji
  • Route 20 for Heiwa-machi / Kindai Fuzoku Gakko, Jieitai-mae
  • Route 21 for Hokuriku Gakuin University
  • Route 22 for Okuwa Town
  • Route 25 for Uchikawa Elementary School
  • Route 26 for Izuminode-machi

Gate 10

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Korinbo; Kata-machi and Hirokoji
  • Route 30 for Hikarigaoka jutaku / Ishikawa Prefectural University
  • Route 31 for Nukajutaku Station / Shimomorijima
  • Route 33 for Kanazawa Institute of Technology / Shijima
  • Route 33 for Ishikawa Zoo / Tatsunokuchi Wakodai
  • Route 34 for Kanazawa Institute of Technology / Takao
  • Route 39 for Minamigaoka Hospital / Taheiji

Gate 11

• Hokutetsu Bus for Musashigatsuji, Omicho Market; Korinbo; Kata-machi and Hirokoji
  • Route 40 for Hakusan City Hall / Kinjo University
  • Route 41 for Chiyono New Town
  • Route 42 for Terai Chuo
  • Route 44 for Nonoichi City Hall
  • Route 45 for Nonoichi Station
  • Route 48 for Matto Station North Gate
  • Route 49 for Chiyono New Town via Enkoji
  • Route 55 for AEON Mall Hakusan
  • For Kamino
  • For Shiramine and Hakusan Taikenmura

Kanazawa Eki-mae Stop

The stop is located in front of the former Kanazawa Miyako Hotel.

• Expressway Bus
  • For Tokyo "Kimasshi-go" (Operated by Kitanippon Kanko Bus)
  • For Kyoto and Osaka (Jointly operated by Kitanippon Kanko Bus and Kintetsu Bus)

Kanazawa Eki Higashi Stop

The stop is located in front of the former Kanazawa Miyako Hotel.

• Kanazawa Furatto Bus Konohana route

West Exit

West Japan JR Bus departs from gate 7 and 8 in west gate terminal. Hokutetsu Bus departs from gate 2-6 and also gate 7 and 8.

There is Hokutetsu Bus ticket center located near gate 3.

Gate 1

• Expressway Bus
  • For Kantō region

Gate 2

• Expressway Bus
  • For Toyama (Operated by Hokutetsu Bus and Chitetsu Bus)
  • For Kansai region
• Kaetsuno Bus
  • For Inami via Fukumitsu Station
• Hokutetsu Sightseeing Bus

Gate 3

• Hokutetsu Bus
  • For Komatsu Airport^[12]
  • For Mount Hakusan (Seasonal)

Gate 4

• Expressway Bus
  • For Nagoya (Jointly operated by Hokutetsu Bus, Meitetsu Bus, West Japan JR Bus and JR Tokai Bus)
  • For Nagoya via Shirakawa-go (Jointly operated by Hokutetsu Bus and Meitetsu Bus)
  • For Niigata (Jointly operated by Hokutetsu Bus and Niigata Kotsu)
  • For Shirakawa-go and Takayama (Jointly operated by Hokutetsu Bus and Nohi Bus)^[13]
  • For Shibuya and Hachioji (Jointly Operated by Nishi Tokyo Bus and Alpico Kotsu)
  • For Kyoto and Osaka (Operated by West Japan JR Bus)
  • For Sendai (Operated by JR Bus Tohoku)

Gate 5

• Hokutetsu Bus for Korinbo
  • Route 01, 02, 03 "City Liner" for Nomachi Station
  • Route 10 for Kanazawa Gakuin University
  • Route 19 for Okuwahon-cho

Gate 6

• Hokutetsu Bus "City Liner" for Ishikawa Prefectural Office
  • Route 01 for Ishikawa Prefectural Office
  • Route 02 for Chuo Hospital
  • Route 03 for Uneda Jutaku / Ono Port
  • Route 04 for Industrial Research Institute / Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal
  • Route 05 for Tomizu
  • Route 08 for Uchinada Station
• Hokutetsu Bus
  • Route 60 for Kanaiwa
  • Route 64 for Industrial Research Institute

Gate 7

• West Japan JR Bus^[10]
  • For Higashinagae
• Hokutetsu Bus
  • Route 52 for Shimoyasuhara via Shimeno Shopping Center
  • Route 57 for Kamiaraya Nishi / Shin-kanazawa Post Office via Mameda
  • For Kindai Fuzoku Gakko, Jieitai-mae via Shinkanda
• Hokutetsu Express Bus
  • For Wajima
  • For Suzu
  • For Takahama

Gate 8

• West Japan JR Bus^[10]
  • For Johoku Municipal Sports Park
• Hokutetsu Bus
  • Route 70 For Awagasaki / Uchinada Station via Kamimoroe
  • Route 86 For Mizuki 4-chome via Johoku Municipal Sports Park

Gallery

• 
  Station entrance exterior
• 
  Drum gate, July 2022
• 
  Kanazawa Port Exit, July 2022
• 
  Shinkansen concourse, July 2022
• 
  Waiting rooms, July 2022
• 
  Shinkansen station fare gates, April 2022
• 
  Station concourse, April 2022
• 
  Fare gates, April 2022
• 
  Motenashi Dome, January 2014
• 
  Construction of the Hokuriku Shinkansen platforms, March 2008

References

1. 北陸新幹線、金沢駅に中田ヤスタカ氏の発車メロディー採用 [Departure melody by Yasutaka Nakata to be used for Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa Station]. Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
2. 日本国有鉄道停車場一覧 [JNR Station Directory]. Japan: Japanese National Railways. 1985. p. 44. ISBN 4-533-00503-9.
3. Ishino, Tetsu, ed. (1998). 停車場変遷大辞典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR]. Vol. II. Japan: JTB. p. 137. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
4. "データで見るJR西日本 2022" [JR West Japan 2022 in Data] (PDF). westjr.co.jp (in Japanese). 2022. pp. 88–90. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
5. しなの鉄道（株）、えちごトキめき鉄道（株）、あいの風とやま鉄道（株）及びIRいしかわ鉄道（株）申請の第一種鉄道事業許可について [Details of railway business approval for Shinano Railway, Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company, Ainokaze Toyama Railway, and IR Ishikawa Railway]. News release (in Japanese). Japan: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
6. "「サンダーバード」「しらさぎ」JR北陸本線敦賀～金沢間ラストラン" [Last run of the "Thunderbird" and "Shirasagi" on the JR Hokuriku Main Line between Tsuruga and Kanazawa]. MyNavi Corporation (in Japanese). 16 March 2024. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
7. "福井駅で北陸線ありがとうセレモニー 敦賀～大聖寺、「ハピラインふくい」へ" [Hokuriku Line Thank You Ceremony at Fukui Station, Transfer of track Tsuruga and Daishoji to "Hapi Line Fukui"]. Fukui Keizai Shimbun. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
8. 駅 別 運 輸 実 績 [Station passenger figures (Fiscal 2016)] (in Japanese). Japan: Ishikawa Prefectural Government. 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
9. "バスのりば運行系統図" (PDF) (in Japanese). 石川県バス協会. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
10. "Local Bus". WEST JAPAN JR BUS COMPANY. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
11. "KANAZAWA LOOP BUS". Hokuriku Railroad. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
12. "Komatsu Airport Limousine Bus". Hokuriku Railroad. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
13. "Gokayama, Shirakawa-go, Takayama". Hokuriku Railroad. Retrieved 29 June 2023.

External links

• Kanazawa Station (JR West official page) (in Japanese)