Hokuriku Railroad for Uchinada & Tsurugi

Hokuriku Railroad, also called Hokutetsu, is a private railway and bus operator based in Kanazawa. At one time this company operated an extensive network of railways in Ishikawa Prefecture. Hokutetsu operates two railway lines: the Asanogawa Line and the Ishikawa Line. The company is better known for providing the main bus services in Kanazawa.

A train at Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station

The Asanogawa Line

The Asanogawa Line, also called Asaden, runs north from Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station to Uchinada Station in the beach town of Uchinada. It is called the Asanogawa Line because it follows the course of the Asanogawa River for a large part of its route. Services on the Asanogawa Line stop at the following stations:

Hokutetsu Kanazawa – Nantsuya – Kami-Moroe – Isobe – Waridashi – Mitsukuchi – Mitsuya – Okobata – Kitama – Kagatsume – Awagasaki – Uchinada

For most of its route the Asanogawa Line passes through suburban areas of Kanazawa before terminating at the seaside resort town of Uchinada. The key destinations are given below with example fares and train times from Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station.

The entrance to Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station

Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station

Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station is an underground facility that can be accessed via escalators which are just outside Kanazawa Station’s east exit.

On both Hokutetsu railway lines, passengers can use normal tickets or supported credit cards, debit cards, and smartphones for touch payment. Check Hokutetsu’s guidance for ICa and other service details.

Ticket machines at Hokutetsu Kanazawa Station

Isobe Station

Isobe Station is a 5 minute walk from pocapoca Moroe-no-Yu, which is a local public bath, or sento. The facilities are separated by gender and include baths, a water bath, a medicated bath, jet and bubble baths, a sauna, a kids space, and a cafe space. Hours and prices should be checked on Google Maps or the facility’s SNS before visiting.

There is a route map with fares above the ticket machines

Uchinada Station

Uchinada is a seaside town which is popular for its beach and extensive sand dunes. The beach at Uchinada is also the setting for the annual World Kite Festival, usually held in May. The nearby Sunset Bridge is a suspension bridge known for its evening illuminations.

The Ishikawa Line

The Ishikawa Line, also presented by Hokutetsu as the Ishikawa Line (Hakusan Geopark Line), runs between Nomachi Station in Kanazawa and Tsurugi Station in the Tsurugi area of Hakusan City.

Nomachi – Nishiizumi – Shin-Nishi-Kanazawa – Oshino – Nonoichi – Nonoichi-Kodaimae – Magae – Nuka-Jutakumae – Otomaru – Shijima – Hibari – Sodani – Dohoji – Inokuchi – Oyanagi – Hinomiko – Tsurugi

This line passes through the cities of Kanazawa, Nonoichi, and Hakusan. The key destinations are given below with example fares and train times from Nomachi Station.

Nomachi Station

Nomachi Station

Nomachi Station is located south of Kanazawa’s Saigawa Ohashi Bridge and is close to the Ninja Temple and the preserved houses of the old Nishi Chaya geisha district. The Manten-no-Yu hot spring spa is a 11 minute walk north of this station.

Nomachi Station interior

Shin-Nishi-Kanazawa Station

Just 11 minutes’ walk from this station is the Kenmin Sporec Plaza, which is a sports and fitness facility with a seasonal ice rink.

Oshino Station

The Head Office Yokogawa Store of the Shibafune Koide confectioners is a short walk from this station.

Tsurugi Station

This station in the city of Hakusan is the southern terminus of the Ishikawa Line. Hakusan City is named after the nearby mountain, Mount Hakusan, which is a popular hiking location in the summer months. Tsurugi Station is a gateway to the Hakusan foothills, with Hokutetsu bus services continuing toward the Sena and Shiramine area on operating days. Access to the Bettodeai trailhead is seasonal and usually requires checking the year’s Hakusan mountain bus and Ichinose-Bettodeai shuttle arrangements before planning a climb. Other attractions in the Tsurugi area are Ishikawa Insect Museum where you can encounter a variety of butterflies and stag beetles, Jumoku Koen Park which has a thousand cherry trees, and the recreational facilities and gardens at Shishiku Park.

A train at Nomachi Station

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 04-Jun-2026.