Getting to Kaga Onsen from Kanazawa or Komatsu Airport

The four hot-spring districts are spread across two cities. Kaga Onsen Station is the practical arrival point for Yamashiro, Yamanaka and Katayamazu; Awazu Onsen is in Komatsu and has a more direct connection from Komatsu Station. Pick the district first, then choose the route. “Kaga Onsen” on a map does not mean every bath is beside the station.

From Kanazawa

For Yamashiro, Yamanaka or Katayamazu, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen or IR Ishikawa Railway to Kaga Onsen Station, then transfer to a local bus or taxi. The current adult IR fare from Kanazawa is ¥880; the quickest Shinkansen trip is about 16 minutes, before allowing for the bus connection. At Kaga Onsen Station, Yamashiro and Yamanaka use the Onsen-Yamanaka Line from stop 2, while Katayamazu uses the separate Onsen-Katayamazu Line from stop 1. They are not branches of one circular route.

Awazu is in Komatsu City. If that is your destination, consider taking the train to Komatsu Station and continuing on the Awazu Line to the Awazu Onsen stop. There is little reason to ride past Komatsu to Kaga Onsen Station and then retrace your route.

From Komatsu Airport

For Yamashiro, Yamanaka or Katayamazu, the simplest option can be the CANBUS Komatsu Airport Line straight to Kaga Onsen Station. The trip is about 30 minutes; the adult single fare is ¥500. The airport line is timed around flights and its timetable was revised on 20 April 2026, so check the service against your actual arrival or departure rather than assuming there is a bus every hour.

Another option is the airport connection bus to Komatsu Station (about 12 minutes, ¥310), then IR Ishikawa Railway to Kaga Onsen Station (about 12 minutes, ¥270). Those fares total ¥580, excluding any onward bus from Kaga Onsen Station. This route involves a transfer but may work better if the airport-line departure does not match your flight.

For Awazu, use the airport connection bus to Komatsu Station and the Awazu Line. That keeps the trip on the right side of the map. The airport connection bus is flight-linked and its schedules vary; confirm the operating date on Hokutetsu’s current timetable.

The last leg is part of the journey

From Kaga Onsen Station, the Onsen-Yamanaka Line reaches Yamashiro in roughly 12 minutes and Yamanaka in about 30 minutes. Some buses continue beyond Yamanaka Bus Terminal to Kikunoyu-mae and Korogi Bridge; others do not. If you have bags or are heading straight to a ryokan, check the destination shown on the specific departure. The Katayamazu Line takes around 12 minutes to Soyu-mae, a short walk from the public bath.

Local buses are not a frequent urban network. Timetables and fares have changed during 2026, and transit IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA are not accepted on the local Hokutetsu Kaga routes; certain contactless credit cards are accepted. Leave time for connections and keep some cash handy. For a multi-stop sightseeing day, compare the direct bus fares with the current CANBUS pass, rather than buying one automatically for a single ride.

Sources

- [Kaga Onsen Tourism: Local access, including the Komatsu Airport line](https://www.tabimati.net/access/inside_1_14_15.html) - [Kaga Onsen Tourism: Local bus timetables and fares, revised 15 March 2026](https://www.tabimati.net/rosen_bus_new/) - [IR Ishikawa Railway: Kaga Onsen Station fares](https://www.ishikawa-railway.jp/station/kaga_onsen/) - [Hokutetsu: Komatsu Airport connection bus](https://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/airport-bus/guide/) - [Komatsu Airport: Bus access](https://www.komatsuairport.jp/access/bus_kagaonsen.html) - [Kaga Onsen Tourism: CANBUS one-day digital ticket](https://www.tabimati.net/news/detail_705.html) - [Kaga Onsen Tourism: Onsen-Yamanaka Line timetable](https://www.tabimati.net/rosen_bus_new/)

Checked: 27 September 2026. Tags: Kaga Onsen, Kanazawa, Komatsu Airport, Yamashiro, Yamanaka, Katayamazu, Awazu, transport