Major city · Japan
Kaga加賀市
Base in Kaga for one night if you want onsen and Kutani porcelain: Yamashiro Onsen for a ryokan, Kagaonsen station for a cheap hotel.
Kaga is the southern edge of Ishikawa, a spread-out onsen and craft town rather than a sightseeing city. Its three draws are the Yamashiro and Katayamazu hot springs, Kutani porcelain kilns and museums, and the old Kitamaebune shipping house at Hashitate. Most travellers pass through on the JR Hokuriku line between Kanazawa and Fukui; one night is enough, and a car or the CANBUS makes the outlying sights work.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), mid-August Obon
- Airport
- KMQ
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kaga110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kaga, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyKaga is a quiet, low-crime town and safe to walk by day.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKMQ Komatsu Airport (Nearest airport; Hokutetsu bus or train via Komatsu station, then JR to Kagaonsen.).
- Getting aroundKaga is spread out.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup or katsudon¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryFree or reduced for under-18s and over-75s at several sites.¥310–500 (≈ US$3–4)
- Budget bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥6,000 (≈ US$45)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥11,000 (≈ US$75)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥15,000 (≈ US$110)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KMQ Komatsu Airport (Nearest airport; Hokutetsu bus or train via Komatsu station, then JR to Kagaonsen.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Best: Apr–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jan (18 rain days), driest May (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kaga: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
18 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
15 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
15 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
11 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11 rd
Sep
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
13 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
15 rd
Dec
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
18 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Kaga is spread out. The JR Hokuriku line links Iburihashi, Kagaonsen and Daishoji stations; Kagaonsen is the main stop. The CANBUS loop reaches outlying sights. A rental car is the fastest way to Yamashiro, Katayamazu and Hashitate.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kanazawa
goDoor to door: About 1 h
JR Hokuriku line from Kagaonsen, about 53 min, ¥740 (≈ US$5)
Kenroku-en, the samurai and teahouse districts, the seafood market.
Komatsu
goDoor to door: About 30 min
JR Hokuriku line from Kagaonsen, a few stops north
Natadera temple and the airport are here.
Nonoichi
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
JR Hokuriku line north toward Kanazawa
Mostly a rail stop; go only if you have a specific reason.
Hakui
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h
JR line north along the coast
Long ride for a small town; better as part of a Noto Peninsula run.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Yamashiro Onsen
The classic onsen base: ryokan with hot-spring baths and the Kutani kiln site nearby.
Kagaonsen station area
Business hotels and izakaya within a 10–15 min walk; best for a cheap one-night stop.
Daishoji
Around the station and city hall: cafés, the Kutaniyaki Art Museum, easy rail access.
Katayamazu Onsen
Lakeside onsen with the snow-and-ice museum; quieter, needs a car or bus.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥11,000 | ¥11,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥13,000 | ¥26,000 |
| JR Kagaonsen → Kanazawa, one way2 × ¥740 · check | ¥1,480 |
| CANBUS day pass2 × ¥1,000 · check | ¥2,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥4,550 |
| Trip total≈ ¥25,020 per person per day, bed included | ¥50,030≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Noodle soup or katsudon | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Sushi, per plate | ¥150–325 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Set lunch | ¥750–1,900 (≈ US$6–13) |
| Museum entryFree or reduced for under-18s and over-75s at several sites. | ¥310–500 (≈ US$3–4) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Sights are far apart: without a car or the CANBUS you will lose hours waiting.
- Many small restaurants close one fixed weekday and shut early; check before you walk.
- Onsen towns are quiet after dark; last buses from the stations run early.
- Cash is still needed at smaller shops and some museums.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Kaga加賀市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Kaga; the US consulate is in Osaka and most embassies are in Tokyo (check addresses).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- JR Kagaonsen → Kanazawa: ¥740 (≈ US$5), about 53 min (check)
- Hokutetsu Komatsu Station → Komatsu Airport: ¥260 (≈ US$2), 12 min (check)
- CANBUS around Kaga: day pass about ¥1,000 (≈ US$7) (check)
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kaga. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), mid-August Obon · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KMQ: last Hokutetsu connection field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kagaonsen station, Daishoji, Yamashiro Onsen, Katayamazu.
- Place pages with verified hours (Kitamaebune Ship Museum, Kutaniyaki Art Museum, Kutaniyaki Kiln Museum, Nakaya Ukichiro Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Festival fixtures (Gogan Shinji in February, Sakura in April, Shobu-yu in June, fireworks in late July, Guzuyaki in late August, Jumangoku in September) so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialKaga City official site
- officialVisit Kaga (local tourist association)
- officialIshikawa-Kaga-Hakusan tourism site
- officialKomatsu Airport
- officialCANBUS (Kaga community bus)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Kaga, revision 5315258 (CC BY-SA 4.0)