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How to get from Hakone to Kanazawa
From Hakone-Yumoto you take a short train to Odawara, then the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo and the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, about 4 to 4 h 30 in total. An alternative is via Nagoya or Maibara and Tsuruga, taking about the same time.
Best option: Train. Shinkansen connections via Tokyo are fast, frequent and simple, while driving across the Japanese Alps takes much longer.
All the ways to make the trip
| How | Time | How often | Price* | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| train Odakyu line from Hakone-Yumoto to Odawara, JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo, then JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki or Hakutaka) to Kanazawa | about 4 to 4 h 30 | frequent; Kagayaki trains about hourly | about ¥17,000–19,000 | Reserve seats on the Hokuriku Shinkansen at busy times; the Japan Rail Pass covers the JR legs but not the Odakyu line. |
| train Tokaido Shinkansen west from Odawara to Nagoya or Maibara, Limited Express Shirasagi to Tsuruga, then the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa | about 4 h 30 | a few connections an hour | about ¥17,000–20,000 | Useful if you are travelling from Hakone towards Kyoto later. |
| car Tomei and Chuo or Tokai-Hokuriku expressways | about 5 h 30 to 6 h 30 | fuel plus expressway tolls of roughly ¥10,000–13,000 | Long and expensive; only worth it if touring by car. |
*Approximate prices and times for 2026. Timetables change by season: check with the operator before you travel.
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Tips
- Send large luggage ahead with a delivery service (takkyubin) so you can travel light.
- Leave Hakone by mid-morning; Odakyu trains and buses around Hakone get busy.
- Kanazawa station's East Exit, with the Tsuzumi gate, is where city buses to Kenroku-en leave.
- Compare the Tokyo and Tsuruga routes on a journey planner on your date.
Common questions
What is the fastest way from Hakone to Kanazawa?
By train: Odakyu to Odawara, the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo, then the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, about four to four and a half hours in total. A route west via Nagoya or Maibara and Tsuruga takes about the same time. Use a journey planner on your travel date to choose the best connection.
Does the Japan Rail Pass cover Hakone to Kanazawa?
It covers the JR legs: the Tokaido Shinkansen from Odawara and the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa. Nozomi and Mizuho trains need an extra ticket with the pass. The short Odakyu line from Hakone-Yumoto to Odawara is a private railway, so you pay separately or use a Hakone Freepass.
Do I need seat reservations?
Reserved seats are recommended on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, especially at weekends, holidays and during cherry-blossom and autumn seasons. Kagayaki trains are all-reserved. Reservations can be made at JR ticket machines, offices or online. The Tokaido Shinkansen has unreserved cars, but they fill up at busy times.
Can I drive from Hakone to Kanazawa?
Yes, but it takes about five and a half to six and a half hours on expressways, with tolls of around ¥10,000 or more plus fuel. It only makes sense if you are touring by car, for example through the Japanese Alps and Takayama. For most travellers the train is faster and less tiring.
Compiled by TonyPlan from operator and transport information and travel knowledge; updated 2026-10-05. Anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.