IR Ishikawa Railway Line for Tsubata, Kurikara, Toyama, Tomari, & Nanao

IR Ishikawa Railway is a third-sector railway company operating the conventional line through Ishikawa Prefecture between Daishoji and Kurikara. The company is owned and governed by a mixture of local government and local businesses. The original Kanazawa – Kurikara section opened in March 2015, when the Hokuriku Shinkansen line was extended to Kanazawa. In 2024, when the Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended again from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, IR Ishikawa Railway took over the conventional-line section between Kanazawa and Daishoji.

Kanazawa Station is operated jointly by both JR West and the IR Ishikawa Railway. From Kanazawa, IR Ishikawa Railway local trains run south toward Nishi-Kanazawa, Matto, Komatsu, Kaga Onsen, and Daishoji, and east/northeast toward Higashi-Kanazawa, Morimoto, Tsubata, and Kurikara. Through trains also connect with the Nanao Line and the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line.

An IR Ishikawa Railway train at Kanazawa Station

Table of Contents

Destinations

IR Ishikawa Railway has 19 stations between Daishoji and Kurikara.

Daishoji – Kagaonsen – Iburihashi – Awazu – Komatsu – Meiho – Nomi-Neagari – Komaiko – Mikawa – Kaga-Kasama – Nishi-Matto – Matto – Nonoichi – Nishi-Kanazawa – Kanazawa – Higashi-Kanazawa – Morimoto – Tsubata – Kurikara

Fares and train times vary by service and timetable revision, so check the official IR Ishikawa Railway fare and timetable pages before traveling.

Kanazawa Station

Kanazawa Station is the main transfer point for travelers using IR Ishikawa Railway from central Kanazawa. Transfer here to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the Hokutetsu Asanogawa Line at nearby Hokutetsu-Kanazawa Station, and JR West limited express services for the Nanao Line, including the Limited Express Noto Kagaribi. Local IR trains also run south toward Komatsu and Daishoji and east/northeast toward Tsubata and Kurikara.

South & West from Kanazawa

Southbound IR Ishikawa Railway trains from Kanazawa serve Nishi-Kanazawa, Nonoichi, Matto, Komatsu, Kaga Onsen, and Daishoji. These local trains are useful for intermediate stops along the conventional line. For faster trips from Kanazawa to Komatsu, Kaga-Onsen, Awara-Onsen, Fukui, and Tsuruga, use the Hokuriku Shinkansen instead of local IR and Hapi-Line services.

Tsubata Station

Tsubata Station is jointly operated by JR West and IR Ishikawa Railway. Through trains bound for Nanao Station branch from the IR Ishikawa Railway Line here and continue on the Nanao Line.

Kurikara Station

Through trains bound for Toyama Station and Tomari Station continue past Kurikara Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line. Kurikara Fudoji Temple is a 12 minute taxi ride from Kurikara Station. This beautiful temple was built in the year 718 by the Empress Gensho, one of only eight female leaders to have ruled Japan. The Nishinobo Hooden or “Phoenix Hall” on the temple grounds was reconstructed in 1998. Built in the style of a Heian era palace it strongly resembles the famous Byodoin Temple in Uji, Kyoto.

An IR Ishikawa Railway train in pale blue livery

Through Train Services

Some IR Ishikawa Railway services continue beyond the company’s own line. Eastbound trains may continue past Kurikara onto the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line for Toyama and Tomari. Trains for the Nanao Line branch at Tsubata and continue toward Nanao and Wakura Onsen.

This through train service for Nanao Station is run by JR West

You do not need to change trains at Tsubata or Kurikara when using through services, but check the destination display because many local trains run only within part of the IR route. Through train services may involve three different companies: IR Ishikawa Railway, JR West for the Nanao Line, and the Ainokaze Toyama Railway. Check the fare and ticket rules for the full route before traveling.

The IR Ishikawa Railway Information Counter at Kanazawa Station

Tickets

For ordinary local travel on IR Ishikawa Railway and local through services, buy tickets from the IR Ishikawa Railway machines or use a compatible IC card where accepted. ICOCA and other nationwide mutual-use IC cards can be used in the permitted IR/Ainokaze and IR/Hapi-Line areas, but there are area restrictions, so check the official IR ICOCA page for through trips.

For reserved JR services such as the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Limited Express Noto Kagaribi, or Hanayome Noren, use JR ticketing channels or the relevant JR reservation service.

The IR Ishikawa Railway ticket machines are beside the JR West machines and are pale blue in color

The ticket machines have an English language button and are easy to use

Route maps above the machines show destinations and fares in Japanese and English

Using the Japan Rail Pass

IR Ishikawa Railway is not a JR line, so ordinary travel on IR local trains is not generally covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The official pass conditions include a narrow no-stopover exception for IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata when using JR-line trains that extend beyond that section, such as services connected with the Nanao Line. The pass cannot be used for ordinary IR trips to Higashi-Kanazawa, Morimoto, Kurikara, or stations south of Kanazawa such as Nishi-Kanazawa, Komatsu, Kaga Onsen, and Daishoji.

The Limited Express Noto Kagaribi for Wakura Onsen Station

The Limited Express Noto Kagaribi runs between Kanazawa and Wakura Onsen. The Hanayome Noren is a JR West sightseeing train on the Nanao Line. Thunderbird services do not run to Kanazawa or Wakura Onsen; for Kyoto and Osaka, passengers use the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga and transfer there to the Thunderbird.