Discover Hokuriku: Historic Hidden Gems & Beautiful Traditions Off the Beaten Path

Along Japan’s western coastline, tucked in between the Sea of Japan and inland mountains, the Hokuriku region is often overlooked by travelers exploring Japan – especially English-speaking visitors. And yet, despite the lack of name recognition, the area is surprisingly easy to get to from Kyoto, Osaka, or Tokyo, and those who take this step off the beaten path are rewarded with picturesque coastlines and verdant cedar forests, centuries of tradition and samurai history, as well as a rich and enduring love of arts and culture. Plus, with the recent extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, it’s easier than ever to travel to Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama Prefectures, whether you’re looking for a destination to visit after the 2025 Osaka Expo, or looking to get out of Tokyo.

So what exactly does the Hokuriku region have to offer? Ancient temples with unique rituals, rare natural phenomena, surprising museums, history, expert artisans, Japan’s famous “onsen” hot springs, and much more. Use this 5-day itinerary as a guide to some of the top destinations in Hokuriku, with a route through three prefectures: Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama.

How to Get to Hokuriku: Transportation in Fukui, Ishikawa, & Toyama

Since Hokuriku lacks the name recognition of some of Japan’s other regions, it can feel a little removed, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Hokuriku Shinkansen now runs directly from Tokyo through Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui, making the region more accessible than ever. From Osaka and Kyoto, the JR Thunderbird Limited Express connects to this route via Tsuruga. Depending on which part of Hokuriku you visit first, it can be as close as 2 and a half hours from Tokyo, or under an hour from Kansai! At these distances, you could even consider a Hokuriku day trip, but to make the most of the experience, we recommend spending at least a few days exploring the region.

For a great deal on transportation and convenient access to destinations in Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama, we recommend checking out the various rail passes that cover the Hokuriku Region. JR-WEST offers a few different rail passes that are specially designed for international travelers visiting Japan! (They’re exclusively available for foreign passport holders in Japan as “temporary visitors.”)

The first of these passes is the Hokuriku Arch Pass, which is 30,000 yen (for adults) and covers 7 days of free access to a broad arc of transportation between Tokyo and Kansai, and throughout Hokuriku. The Hokuriku Arch Pass can be used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tsuruga ⇔ Tokyo) and limited express trains like the Thunderbird, as well as local JR lines, and even a few select non-JR local railway lines. The Hokuriku Arch Pass gives you incredible freedom to move across Japan, and it’s a practical choice if your travel plans include time in Tokyo before or after your trip to Hokuriku!

Our second pass recommendation is the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass, a regional JR-WEST RAIL PASS, which works exactly like you might expect from the name. For 19,000 yen, adults gain 7 days of free access to transportation throughout the Kansai and Hokuriku regions, including Sanyo and Hokuriku Shinkansen routes within the regional boundaries, limited express trains like the Thunderbird, local JR lines, and select non-JR local railway lines too. Unlike the Hokuriku Arch Pass, this pass doesn’t include access to Tokyo, but it actually does cover a broader portion of the Kansai region, even including destinations as far as Kurashiki in Okayama. (Plus, it’s even more affordable!) If you’re hoping to make the most of your time in Kansai and Hokuriku and really enjoy the best of western Japan, the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass is an incredibly convenient option.

▶︎ You can find details on all of the JR-WEST passes on their official website, including the Hokuriku Arch Pass, the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass, and more.

The convenience of the Hokuriku Shinkansen means it’s simple to travel throughout the Hokuriku region, and you can start your trip wherever you choose. For this itinerary, we decided to start in the south at Tsuruga Station, which is just an hour or so from Kyoto, a little longer from Osaka, and about three hours from Tokyo. From there, we’ll work our way through Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama prefectures, moving along the shinkansen tracks as they head northeast, in order to discover all the best nooks and crannies along the way.

Day ① Fukui: Explore the Port City of Tsuruga

This Hokuriku adventure begins in Tsuruga, a coastal city that has long served as a gateway to Hokuriku, both for Japanese travelers making their way on land, and even for foreign arrivals coming in through Tsuruga Port. Picturesque and a surprising hub of historical events, Tsuruga is the perfect place to set the tone for this Hokuriku trip!

Kehi Jingu Shrine

Known as the “Guardian of the Hokuriku Road,” Kehi Jingu was first established in 702 and remains one of the region’s most important shrines, believed to protect travelers passing through – the perfect place to ask the Shinto gods for luck on your journey. The shrine’s massive 11-meter-tall wooden “torii” gate is among the largest in Japan, and it has stood resiliently through centuries of war and disaster.

Visitors come not only to admire the shrine’s architecture, but also to sip sacred spring water that locals believe bestows longevity. (Nearby cafes even use the water to brew long-life coffee!)

Kehi Jingu Shrine (氣比神宮)
11-68 Akebonocho, Tsuruga, Fukui
Shrine Office Hours: 6:00 – 17:00
Official Website (jp)

Directions: 15 min. on foot or 5~10 min. by bus from Tsuruga Station

Kehi no Matsubara Pine Grove

Down by the shore, not far from the shrine, Kehi no Matsubara is a seaside park designated one of Japan’s “Three Great Pine Groves.” According to local legend, the trees arrived on the beach as a form of supernatural protection, growing overnight to guard the area from a band of foreign pirates not long after the construction of Kehi Jingu. These days, the scenery of dark windswept pines stretching along Tsuruga Bay stands out starkly against sand and sea, making it particularly beautiful in the afternoon light. Bring a picnic for lunch, or just enjoy a walk along the promenade!

Kehi no Matsubara/Matsubara Park (気比の松原・松原公園)
33 Matsushimacho, Tsuruga, Fukui
Official Page (jp)

Directions: about 10 min. from Kehi Jingu or 15~20 min. from Tsuruga Station by bus

Tsuruga “Port of Humanity” Museum

Tsuruga isn’t all ancient history and spirituality – many of its most important stories have happened in the last hundred years. The Tsuruga Museum tells a powerful story of compassion, describing how Tsuruga welcomed both Polish orphans fleeing Siberia and Jewish refugees, who escaped Europe in the 1940s thanks to the “visas for life” distributed by the Japanese diplomat to Lithuania Chiune Sugihara. An amazing destination for modern history lovers and full of moving stories for everyone else, the museum highlights Tsuruga’s legacy as a port of hope.

Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum (人道の港 敦賀ムゼウム)
23-1 Kanegasakicho, Tsuruga, Fukui
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 | closed Wednesdays
Official Website (jp)

Travel to Fukui Station

Much of the Hokuriku region is known for its great seafood, freshly caught in the Sea of Japan, so on your first night in Hokuriku, it only makes sense to grab a “kaisendon” (sashimi rice bowl) for dinner before you leave Tsuruga. When you’re full and content, you can head to the station, and relax on the train. Catch the local Hapi Line (about an hour) or the Hokuriku Shinkansen (15~20 min) north toward Fukui City to prepare for tomorrow’s adventures.

Day ② Fukui: Dig Up Dinosaurs, Castles, and Cliffs

While Tsuruga might be where travelers have entered the region since ancient times, these days Fukui Prefecture is famous for other things entirely. Spend a day exploring the area accessible from Fukui Station to discover two running themes: dramatic views, and dinosaurs.

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Arriving at Fukui Station, you’re immediately greeted by life-sized dinosaurs, and this is no random gimmick. Most of Japan’s dinosaur fossils were discovered in Fukui, and the prefecture is home to a world-class paleontology museum!

The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is among the world’s largest, a silver-domed building packed with dozens of enormous skeletons, fossilized footprints, interactive exhibits, and displays to help you imagine just what scale dinosaurs once stood at. Paleontology enthusiasts can even visit nearby excavation sites where fossils are still being unearthed, and join guides on genuine digs!

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (福井県立恐竜博物館)
51-11 Murokocho Terao, Katsuyama, Fukui
Hours: 8:30 – 18:00
Official Website (en)

Directions: from Fukui Station, take the Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line to Katsuyama Station, then catch a bus to Kyoryuhakubutsukan-mae bus stop

Echizen Ono Castle

Before heading towards the coastline, take a quick detour to Echizen Ono Castle, nicknamed “Japan’s Castle in the Sky.” The fortress was originally built in the 1500s and reconstructed in the 20th century to offer a peek into the region’s samurai past. You’re not going to see any mechanical soldiers guarding this hilltop castle, but on foggy days it does seem to float above the mist, in a scene straight out of a fairytale.

Echizen Ono Castle (越前大野城)
3-109 Shiromachi, Ono, Fukui
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Official Website (jp)

Directions: about 30 min. from Katsuyama Station, or an hour from Fukui Station using the JR Kuzuryu Line

Tojinbo Cliffs

Bring the day to a close on the Fukui coastline at the rugged Tojinbo Cliffs – basalt columns rise vertically from the Sea of Japan, a rare geological formation found in just a handful of places around the world. The jagged formations are beautiful and a little haunting, which might be why local legends say that the name “Tojinbo” comes from a corrupt monk once thrown from the cliffs. Today, however, visitors arrive to take relaxing strolls on the paths along this spectacular natural wonder, or boat cruises to view the formations from the water.

Tojinbo (東尋坊)
64-1 Mikunicho Anto, Sakai, Fukui
Hours:
　Cruise: 9:00 – 16:00 (or ~15:30 in winter)
　Observation Deck: 9:00 – 17:00 (or ~16:30 in winter)
Official Page (jp)

Directions: from Fukui Station take the Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line to Mikuni Station, then catch a bus to Tojinbo bus stop

Travel to Ishikawa’s Kanazawa Station

If you’re hoping to keep your trip as efficient as possible, then you can grab dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants around the Tojinbo cliffs, and then hop on the train to Kanazawa to get an early start in Ishikawa. If you’d rather give yourself a luxurious evening of rest and relaxation, this is the perfect opportunity to spend a night at Awara Onsen, a nearby hot spring village with traditional ryokan inns and open-air baths. Awara Onsen is on the way, anyway!

From the Tojinbo Cliffs, take the Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line to Awara-Yunomachi Station, and transfer to the Tojinbo Line to get to Awara Onsen Station. Here you can take a quick bathroom break, or head to your onsen ryokan for the evening, before leaving for Kanazawa Station. If you take the Hapi Line Fukui, it’ll be just over an hour, but the Hokuriku Shinkansen will get you there in under half that time!

Day ③ Ishikawa: Soak Up Kanazawa’s Unique Mix of Art and Tradition

Perhaps the most popular sightseeing destination in all of Hokuriku, the city of Kanazawa is Ishikawa’s capital, affectionately called “Little Kyoto.” With a number of elegant historic districts once populated by geishas and samurai, and a population of artisans who still help the city glitter, it’s easy to see why this flashy destination draws crowds!

Kenrokuen Garden

Known as one of Japan’s “Three Great Gardens,” Kenrokuen is said to embody the six essential elements that define a Japanese landscape garden: spaciousness/seclusion, artifice/antiquity, water features/scenic landscapes. It’s truly a wonder for garden enthusiasts, but you don’t have to know anything about classical Japanese gardening to enjoy the elegant design and enjoy seasonal delights like spring cherry blossoms or vivid autumn leaves!

Kenrokuen Garden (兼六園)
1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Hours: 7:00 – 18:00 (March to early October) | 8:00 – 17:00 (late October to February)
Official Website (en)

Directions: about 20 min. by bus from Kanazawa Station

Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Just across the street from Kenrokuen, this striking glass-walled building of the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art offers a very different experience, focused less on tradition and more on innovative creativity. The museum features a selection of local and international artists, with indoor exhibits and an extremely popular “public zone” filled with outdoor exhibitions – and entirely free to explore. Perhaps the most famous piece at the museum is Leandro Erlich’s playful “Swimming Pool” installation, where you can go deep below the surface without ever getting wet.

Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (金沢21世紀美術館)
1-2-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Hours:
　Exhibition Zone: 10:00 – 18:00 (~20:00 on Fridays & Saturdays)
　Public Zone: 9:00 – 22:00 (~21:00 on Fridays & Saturdays)
　Closed Mondays
Admission: ticket prices vary depending on the exhibit
Official Website (en)

Directions: next to Kenrokuen Garden, or about 20 min. by bus from Kanazawa Station

Higashi Chaya-gai

Enjoy the golden hour in the city’s most atmospheric historic district, treading the streets among the warm wooden teahouses of Higashi Chaya-gai (the eastern teahouse district) where geisha once performed traditional dance and music, and entertained guests. Some of the “chaya” (teahouses) remain as performance venues, but these days many now operate as cafes or boutiques, and others act as museums or historic exhibits.

Wander the postcard-perfect streets to enjoy the atmosphere, and don’t miss the gold-leaf ice cream – Kanazawa produces nearly all of Japan’s gold leaf, and you’ll see its shimmer on everything from chopsticks to desserts. Higashi Chaya-gai even has a building entirely covered in real, gleaming gold, called the Hakuza Hikari-gura!

Higashi Chaya-gai (ひがし茶屋街)
1 Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Directions: about 10~15 min. by bus from the Museum of Contemporary Art or Kanazawa Station

Travel to Toyama’s Shin-Takaoka Station

We recommend staying overnight to try some of Kanazawa’s decadent crab-based cuisine and enjoy the city to the fullest, before returning to Kanazawa Station in the morning. Our next stop, Toyama’s Shin-Takaoka Station, is less than 20 minutes away on the Hokuriku Shinkansen!

Day ④ Toyama: Sample Japan’s Woodcarving and Whisky

Toyama Prefecture is nestled in between the sea and the Hida Mountains (often referred to as Japan’s “Northern Alps”), meaning the area has long been blessed with natural resources and natural wonders. That abundance has also given makers the opportunity to prosper, making it easy to devote a full day to Toyama’s passionate artisans.

Zuisenji Temple & the Inami Cats

The artisan village of Inami is famed for its centuries-old woodcarving tradition, rooted in the 16th-century reconstruction of Zuisenji Temple by Kyoto master Sanshiro. Today, the town is nicknamed a “museum of wood carving,” with dozens of studios still active!

Visitors still come to admire Sanshiro’s intricate temple carvings, explore charming streets to enjoy the retro vibe, and search for hidden carved-wood cats tucked away in unexpected places. You can even join hands-on carving workshops with local artisans for a particularly immersive cultural experience.

Inamibetsuin Zuisenji (井波別院瑞泉寺)
3050 Inami, Nanto, Toyama
Hours: 9:00 – 16:30
Admission: adults 500 yen
Official Website (jp)

Directions: from JR Shin-Takaoka Station catch a bus to Inami-chuo bus stop

Wakatsuru Sake Brewery & Saburomaru Distillery

After working up a sweat in a woodcarving studio, it only feels right to treat yourself to a good drink. Head north to visit Wakatsuru Sake Brewery and its Saburomaru Distillery, the only whisky distillery in the Hokuriku region! Operating since 1952 and renovated in 2017, the distillery is known for collaborating with local artisans to create the world’s first cast copper pot still, a blend of traditional craftsmanship and innovation. Guided tours showcase the whisky-making process, the retro warehouse spaces, and the elegant copper still itself (an energy-efficient masterpiece), before finishing with a tasting of Wakatsuru’s sake and Saburomaru’s distinctive smoky whisky.

Wakatsuru Sake Brewery & Saburomaru Distillery (若鶴酒造&三郎丸蒸留所)
208 Saburomaru, Tonami, Toyama
Hours: 8:30 – 12:00 / 12:50 – 16:30 | closed Sat/Sun
Official Website (en)

Directions: from Inami take a bus to Yuden bus stop, or from Shin-Takaoka Station, take the JR Johana Line to Aburaden Station

Travel to Toyama Station

All along the coast of the Sea of Japan, Toyama stretches wide from southwest to northeast, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen runs all along the length of the prefecture. When you’ve explored the Takaoka area, your sights are set on the mountains, and you’re ready to head towards Toyama station, the Hokuriku Arch Pass or the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass can make it easy to hop on a train and traverse the region!

After a Saburomaru whisky tasting, it’s the perfect chance to relax and try some local Toyama seafood delicacies like Japanese glass shrimp and firefly squid, before turning in for the night to get ready for an early morning temple visit.

Day ⑤ Toyama: Immerse Yourself in Temples, Waterfalls, and Hot Springs

Toyama’s natural beauty shines brightest in its mountains, so our final day in Hokuriku follows a route from mountainside temples to natural hot springs.

Oiwasan Nissekiji Temple

Hidden away in the green forests of Kamiichi, Oiwasan Nissekiji Temple has been a Shingon Buddhist destination for 1,300 years, famed for rock-carved deities crafted by the monk Gyoki. These days, however, the beautiful temple draws just as much attention for a rare Buddhist ritual: takigyo.

While you won’t find as many Japanese warriors training under waterfalls as anime might lead you to believe, Nissekiji does offer this waterfall purification ritual, where participants clad in white robes endure streams of icy mountain water. The waterfalls flow from dragon-shaped spouts symbolizing the six elements, cleansing the spirit and sweeping away worldly desires. Warm up afterwards with local spring-water noodles and seasonal mountain vegetables from shops just outside the temple gate!

Oiwasan Nissekiji Temple (大岩山日石寺)
163 Oiwa, Kamiichi, Nakaniikawa District, Toyama
Hours: 8:30 – 16:00
Waterfall Experience: 3,000 yen (reservations required, check the official website for details)
Official Website (jp)

Directions: from Toyama Station take the Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line to Kamiichi Station, and catch the bus to Kakizawa and Oiwa

▶︎ If you’re ready to head to another part of Japan, or getting ready to fly home, you can return to Kamiichi Station and be on your way after your visit to Nissekiji. But if your schedule is a little more flexible, you’ll find a picturesque and truly relaxing way to bring your Hokuriku trip to a close an easy train ride away in…

Unazuki Onsen, Kurobe

Not ready to leave Hokuriku quite yet? For the perfect finale for your trip, travel northeast to Kurobe Gorge, one of Japan’s most scenic valleys. If time allows, you can ride the Torokko Train along the Kurobe River for views of gorges, bridges, and hidden hot springs.

Otherwise, head straight to a traditional ryokan inn in Unazuki Onsen, a hot spring town at the gorge’s entrance. The local food and open-air hot-spring baths with mountain views are an ideal way to conclude a journey through Hokuriku!

Kurobe Gorge Railway Torokko Train
Board at Unazuki Station: Kurobekyokokuguchi, Kurobe, Toyama
Hours: 8:17 (first outbound trip) – 16:30 (final return trip)
Round-trip Tickets: 700~2,800 yen for adults (prices vary throughout the season, check the official website for details)
Official Website (en)

Unazuki Onsen Togen (黒部・宇奈月温泉 桃源) (Seen Above)
22-1 Unazuki Onsen, Kurobe City, Toyama
Official Website (jp)

Directions: from Uozu Station or Toyama Station, take the Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line to Unazukionsen Station

Make the Most of Your Five Days in Hokuriku

With so much to see in Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama, we’ve only brushed the surface of this beautiful region of Japan, but this five-day itinerary was designed to get to the heart of Hokuriku: Fukui’s dinosaurs and seaside destinations, Kanazawa’s gardens and teahouses, even Toyama’s artisans and alpine temples. What sets Hokuriku apart is its relaxed pace and strong grasp on local traditions, offering the kind of off-the-beaten-path experiences you’ll never find in Japan’s bigger cities, without the hassle of really going off-grid. Japan’s excellent railway system makes visiting Hokuriku a breeze, from the updated Hokuriku Shinkansen to rail passes that offer foreign travelers a great deal on transportation!

Whether it’s memories of misty gardens, soft onsen-soaked skin, or the warm taste of smoky whisky, Hokuriku will give you gifts to last a lifetime – not to mention the many artisan crafts and other souvenirs you’ll find along the way. This may not be Japan’s most famous region, but Hokuriku rewards those who take the time to explore!

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