If you’re planning a Japan winter trip and only hitting Kyoto, Osaka, or Tokyo… DO NOT sleep on Kanazawa We spent 3 nights here and fell head over heels in love with the place! It’s the perfect home base for snowy day trips to fairytale villages, powdery ski slopes, and gorgeous old towns And you won’t even have to switch hotels to do it all  We especially loved the lantern-lit geisha streets and snowy forests, and yummy hot bowls of ramen after skiing Here’s everywhere you can explore from Kanazawa: 🏔️ Shirakawago 🚗 Distance: 1 hr 15 mins by express bus 🚌 How to Get There: Direct Nohi or Hokutetsu bus from Kanazawa Station 💸 Cost: ¥2,600 ($17 USD) one way 🔍 Don’t Miss: Shiroyama Viewpoint, gassho-style houses, warm soba bowls 🕯️ Takayama 🚆 Distance: 2 hrs 25 mins by JR Hida Express 🚉 How to Get There: JR Hida Express (covered by some JR Passes) 💸 Cost: ¥5,610 ($23 USD) one way 🍶 Don’t Miss: Sanmachi Street, sake tasting, morning markets 🎿 Hakusan Ichirino Ski Resort 🚗 Distance: 1 hr 10 mins by seasonal shuttle bus 🚌 How to Get There: Direct bus from Kanazawa Station (winter only) 💸 Lift Pass: From ¥4,000–¥4,500 ($26–$30 USD) per day 🧤 Gear Rental: Full ski or snowboard set from ¥3,000–¥4,000 ($20–$26 USD) 🌨️ Why It’s Special: * No crowds, locals’ best-kept secret * Onsen right on the mountain 👉 If Niseko is out of budget and Hakuba feels busy, you can ski here all in for under $60 USD and still make it back to Kanazawa for dinner 🚄 How to get to Kanazawa * From Tokyo: 2.5 hrs on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (direct!) * From Kyoto: Just over 2 hrs on the Thunderbird Express * From Osaka: 2 hrs 40 mins on the same train 👉 Perfect add-on to any Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route 🎫 Takayama–Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass * 💸 Cost: ¥19,800 ($125 USD) for 5 days * 👥 Best For: Travelers doing Kanazawa + Shirakawago + Takayama + Gifu * 🧠 Why You Need It: * Unlimited bus and train rides * Reserved seats 📍 Kanazawa: Stay near Kanazawa Station for easy day trips, or Higashi Chaya for geisha charm 🧳 Why it works: One hotel. Multiple snow adventures. Low stress. Save for later #japantraveltips #japanwintertrip #kanazawa - @global.and.beyond.travel