Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, and it's a destination which became much easier to access with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen which was completed in 2015. If you're planning a visit to this part of Japan, one of the best ways to get around once you've arrived in the city is the Kanazawa Loop Bus – it's both economical and easy to use.
The loop bus operates two routes – the left loop and the right loop – and they cover some of the city's major tourist attractions, including the Higashi Chaya District, Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art to name just a handful. The buses run every 15 minutes from around 8.30 am until 6 pm, meaning that even if you miss a bus you won't have to wait long for another to arrive.
A single ride on the loop bus is priced at ¥ 200 for adults and ¥ 100 for children, but one-day passes allowing unlimited hop-on, hop-off rides can also be purchased. The one-day passes are priced at ¥ 600 for adults and ¥ 300 for children, but do note that they need to be organized ahead of time and are not available onboard. They can be purchased from the Hokutetsu Ekimae Center located near the bus terminal by Kanazawa Station's east gate, which opens from 7 am until 8 pm daily.
Please also note that tap-and-go IC cards cannot be used on the loop bus.
