Hokuriku Shinkansen 北陸新幹線

Shinkansen · JR West 西日本旅客鉄道 · 12 stations

How to ride JR West (West Japan Railway Company) P

Operator-wide facts from JR West (West Japan Railway Company)'s own pages; individual lines and stations can differ.

IC cards (Suica etc.)Some cards or areas PICOCA, Kitaca, PASMO, Suica, manaca, TOICA +4 more

Credit card touchNot confirmed

OperationOne-man on some lines PSome trains, mainly local trains on regional lines (examples in JR West releases: Kansai Line Kamo–Kameyama, Wakayama Line, Kinokuni Line Gobō–Kii-Tanabe, Sakai Line), run as one-man trains (driver only); others carry a conductor. A full list of one-man lines was not found on JR West's pages.

Delays & suspensionsLive status →Japanese; by area, plus the Sanyo and Hokuriku Shinkansen and limited expresses

Step-free accessStation list → PA station search shows for each station whether you can reach the gates and each platform without steps, whether there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet or elevator, and a map with the step-free route; staff guide wheelchair users to the platform and help with boarding. Some Sanyo Shinkansen and Osaka Loop Line platforms have a reduced gap so you can get off on your own.

Passes4 valid herefrom ¥19,000

IC cards and payment in detail

ICOCA (card, Mobile ICOCA, ICOCA in Apple Pay) and the nationwide cards it shares with (Kitaca, PASMO, Suica, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, Hayakaken, nimoca, SUGOCA) work on JR West only inside the ICOCA area; they cannot be used outside the area, and with few exceptions a trip cannot cross from one IC area into another. Inside the ICOCA area an IC-card trip may not exceed 200 operating km, except trips within the Osaka suburban zone, between that zone and stops of the limited expresses Thunderbird, Shirasagi, Kuroshio, Kounotori, Kinosaki, Hashidate, Maizuru and Hamakaze, between stops of the limited express Yakumo, and trips crossing between JR West and the Hapi-Line Fukui. For trips outside these limits, buy a paper ticket. P

一部を除き、それぞれのエリアをまたがってご利用いただくことはできません。上記のエリア外ではご利用いただくことはできません。ICOCAエリアでは営業キロ200キロを超えてご利用いただくことはできません。

Staffed stationsUnstaffed stations

Getting on

Inside the ICOCA area: touch ICOCA (or another nationwide IC card) flat on the card reader of the gate while it glows blue. Do not put the card into the ticket slot.
Touch one card only: with two IC cards in the same case the gate will not let you through.
For trips that cross into another IC area or leave the ICOCA area, buy a paper ticket for the whole journey before boarding.

Getting off

Touch the same IC card on the exit gate. If you do not touch when getting off, the card cannot be used next time.
If you combine ICOCA with a magnetic ticket or commuter pass, use the fare adjustment machine (のりこし精算機), or ask the staff if it cannot handle it.

Getting on

The procedure on one-man trains differs by line, train length and time of day: follow the signs and on-board announcements. The examples below come from JR West's releases for particular lines.
On some lines (e.g. Kansai Line Kamo–Kameyama, Wakayama Line, Sakai Line) the IC reader is inside the train (車載型IC改札機) or a simple reader on the platform; these have no gate flaps. Touch it when you board.
Kansai Line example, 2-car one-man train: board through the rear door of the first car and touch the blue IC reader by the door; the doors of the second car do not open. On 1-car trains also board at the rear.
Wakayama Line example: on 2-car one-man trains in the daytime only the very front door may open; on 2-car trains in the morning and evening and on 4-car trains all doors open, which is announced on board.
No IC card and no ticket machine at the station: take a numbered ticket (整理券) on the train and pay at the station where you get off.
On some lines (e.g. Wakayama and Kinokuni Lines) all local trains have doors that passengers open and close themselves.

Getting off

Kansai Line example, 2-car one-man train: get off through the very front door of the first car and touch the yellow IC reader there. 1-car trains: get off through the very front door.
If you bought a ticket at the station or boarded with a numbered ticket (整理券), put the ticket or 整理券 into the fare box when you get off.
If the reader beeps an error at a station without staff, tell the staff at a staffed station's gate before your next trip.

Wheelchair assistance

JR West support line for passengers with disabilities (おからだの不自由なお客様のサポートダイヤル), 8:00–20:00: requests for assistance, help booking tickets, enquiries and feedback. The e-mail form takes enquiries and feedback only, not assistance requests or ticket bookings. Tel. 0570-00-8989

Sources checked 2026-10-10 · review: draft_unreviewed

www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/service/barrierfree/wheelchair/ · official accessibility page · checked 2026-10-10
www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/area/ · official ic card page · checked 2026-10-07
www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/ · official top page · checked 2026-10-07
www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/service/barrierfree/ · official accessibility page · checked 2026-10-07
www.jreast.co.jp/press/2026/20260409_ho02.pdf · jr group press release · checked 2026-10-07
www.jreast.co.jp/press/2025/20260128_ho03.pdf · partner operator press release · checked 2026-10-07
www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/guide/train/ticketgate.html · official ic card page · checked 2026-10-08
www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/210119_00_ICareakakudai.pdf · official press release · checked 2026-10-08
www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/191213_00_wakayama.pdf · official press release · checked 2026-10-08
www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/2018/12/page_13543.html · official press release · checked 2026-10-08
trafficinfo.westjr.co.jp/list.html · official status page · checked 2026-10-09

Passes valid on this line 4 P

Day passes, regional passes and special tickets that include this line, cheapest first. 4 of them are sold only to foreign visitors. Prices and rules change: check the official page before you buy.

Foreign visitors only 7 days · Unlimited rides

Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass

Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass · JR West

¥19,000 Adult, 7 days · ¥9,500 Child (6–11), 7 days ¥2,714/day

7 consecutive days, from 0:00 on the first day to 24:00 on the last day. Child = 6–11 years old when bought; up to two children aged 1–5 travel free with each pass holder (without own seat).

Compare

Foreign visitors only 7 days · Unlimited rides

JR-WEST All Area Pass

JR-WEST All Area Pass · JR West

¥26,000 Adult, 7 days · ¥13,000 Child (6–11), 7 days ¥3,714/day

7 consecutive days, from 0:00 on the first day to 24:00 on the last day. Child = 6–11 years old when bought; up to two children aged 1–5 travel free with each pass holder (without own seat).

Compare

Foreign visitors only 7 days · Unlimited rides

Hokuriku Arch Pass

Hokuriku Arch Pass · JR East and JR West (joint pass)

¥35,000 Adult, 7 days · ¥17,500 Child (6–11), 7 days ¥5,000/day

7 consecutive days from the start date you choose.

Compare

Foreign visitors only 7 days · Unlimited rides

Japan Rail Pass

ジャパン・レール・パス · JR Group (JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu)

¥50,000 Ordinary, 7 days, adult (official web sales) · ¥25,000 Ordinary, 7 days, child 6–11 (official web sales) · ¥80,000 Ordinary, 14 days, adult (official web sales) · +21 more ¥7,143/day

7, 14 or 21 consecutive days from the start date you choose. Child = 6 to 11 years old at the time of use.

Compare

1 pass covers part of this line

Valid only between the stations named; outside that stretch you pay the fare. Stretches marked “unofficial source” come from Wikipedia or travel sites, and “estimated from the official map” ones were read off the issuer's map image, not its text: check the official map before you buy.

Hokuriku Area Pass · ¥7,000 Adult, 4 days · ¥3,500 Child (6–11), 4 days · Tsuruga – Kurobe-Unazuki-Onsen

IC cards (Suica, ICOCA…) P

Suica area: Greater Tokyo Suica and the other nationwide IC cards (PASMO, Kitaca, TOICA, manaca, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca, Hayakaken)
1 of 12 stations estimated from the official map
ICOCA area: Hokuriku (Nanao, Johana and Himi Lines) ICOCA and the other nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, TOICA, manaca, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca, Hayakaken, Kitaca)
1 of 12 stations
ICOCA area: Kansai, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, San'in ICOCA and the other nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, TOICA, manaca, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca, Hayakaken, Kitaca)
1 of 12 stations estimated from the official map

This line runs through more than one IC card area. A journey on an IC card must start and end in the same area: across the boundary, buy a ticket.

9 stations are not in the IC areas we have; check at the station.

How IC card areas work →

Trains to book on this line 1 P

Sightseeing trains and services whose seats you reserve in advance.

All seats reserved Shinkansen

Kagayaki (Hokuriku Shinkansen)

かがやき · JR East / JR West

Tokyo – Nagano – Toyama – Kanazawa – Tsuruga (fastest Hokuriku Shinkansen service)

Before you travel

Using passesBuying a pass: who can, where and when
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is for foreign tourists entering as Temporary Visitors; get the stamp at immigration. Buying on the official website is cheaper than an exchange order from an agency abroad. Pick the pass up in Japan with your original passport. JR passes run on consecutive days and the start date cannot be changed once you have the pass.
Using passesUsing a rail pass at the gates and on board
Put a paper JR pass through the automatic gate (not the IC-only ones) or show it at the staffed gate; app passes are shown to staff. Always carry your passport. Seat reservations are free with the pass, but the JAPAN RAIL PASS does not cover Nozomi/Mizuho, private railways or JR highway buses, and a lost pass is not reissued.
FaresChildren's fares
Children aged 6 to 11 (and 12-year-olds still in elementary school) pay half fare; under-6s ride free, up to 2 per paying adult or child. A small child who takes their own reserved seat needs a child ticket. Child IC cards (Welcome Suica Child, child ICOCA) need the child's ID, and rail passes for children are half price.
Seat reservationsBooking seats on JR West: e5489 and JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION
JR West sells reserved seats from 10:00 one month before travel. Book online on e5489 (Japanese) or JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION (English), then collect paper tickets at a ticket machine with the 5489 logo, or ride ticketless where offered.
Seat reservationsBooking the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen (smartEX / EX)
Reserved seats go on sale at 10:00 one month before travel; with smartEX or Express Reservation you can book up to one year ahead and ride by tapping your IC card. Nozomi has non-reserved cars 1–2, except in peak periods when it is all reserved.
Seasons and disruptionsGolden Week, Obon and New Year: crowded trains and all-reserved Shinkansen
In the busiest periods every Nozomi between Tokyo and Hakata runs with reserved seats only, and the Hida, Shinano and Nanki limited expresses do too. For winter 2026/27 that means 25 December to 5 January plus the long weekends. Seats go on sale at 10:00 one month before travel; book as early as you can.
Seasons and disruptionsTyphoons, snow and suspended trains
Before a big typhoon, railways announce planned suspensions (計画運休) in advance; check the operator's service status page. If your train is cancelled you get a full refund or a free ride back, and limited express fees are refunded when a train is 2 hours or more late. Rail passes are not extended or refunded for delays or cancellations.
Big stationsHakata Station: lines, transfers, lockers and step-free routes
Hakata is shared by JR Kyushu (local lines and the Kyushu Shinkansen), JR West (Sanyo Shinkansen) and the Fukuoka City Subway (Airport and Nanakuma lines). The Hakata exit faces Tenjin, the Chikushi exit faces the airport side; Shinkansen gates are towards the Chikushi side, and there are transfer gates between JR local lines and the Shinkansen.
Big stationsKyoto Station: lines, transfers, lockers and step-free routes
Kyoto Station is shared by JR West, JR Central (Tokaido Shinkansen), Kintetsu (Kyoto Line) and the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line. The Shinkansen and Kintetsu are on the south (Hachijo) side, JR local lines and the main Central Gate on the north (Karasuma) side.
Big stationsOsaka / Umeda: lines, transfers, lockers and step-free routes
JR calls its station Osaka (大阪); Hankyu, Hanshin and Osaka Metro call theirs Umeda (梅田, 大阪梅田, 東梅田, 西梅田). They are separate stations joined by streets and underground passages, so you leave one operator's gates and walk to the next.
LuggageLarge luggage on JR East and JR Hokkaido Shinkansen and limited express trains
No luggage booking is needed on the Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen: use any free luggage space, or keep the bag at your feet.
LuggageLarge suitcases on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen
Bags over 160 cm (length + width + height) need a seat with an oversized baggage area, booked in advance at no extra cost. Without one you pay a 1,000 yen fee.
On boardManners on trains and platforms
Put your phone on silent and don't make calls in the car. Give priority seats to those who need them. Line up on the platform, move inside the car, wear your backpack in front and keep big bags out of the way. Some lines have women-only cars, mostly in the weekday morning rush.
Safety and lost propertyLost something on a train?
Ask station staff straight away, or contact the railway's lost-property service: most big operators use the "find chat" online form (open 24 hours) plus a phone line. Say when and where you lost it, which train or stations, and describe the item in detail. Items move after a few days to a central office and, in Tokyo, then to the Metropolitan Police Lost and Found Center. Bring photo ID such as your passport to collect it.
More tipsNight travel: sleeper train and night buses
The Sunrise Seto (Tokyo to Takamatsu) and Sunrise Izumo (Tokyo to Izumo-shi) are the overnight sleeper trains JR lists today; berths cost extra, even with a rail pass. Overnight highway buses are another option; JR Bus Kanto sells seats from 10:00 one month and one day before travel. Buy night tickets early: ticket offices may be closed late at night.

Stations

In order along the main route; branch stations, if any, are listed at the end. English names and readings where OpenStreetMap has them.

#	Station	English	Passengers / day (2024)	Guide / other lines
1	上越妙高じょうえつみょうこう 🗣	Joetsu-Myoko	4,996	Myōkō Haneuma Line, Hokuriku Shinkansen
2	糸魚川 🗣	Itoigawa	1,611	JR Oito Line, Nihonkai Hisui Line
3	黒部宇奈月温泉くろべうなづきおんせん 🗣	Kurobe-Unazuki-Onsen	1,626
4	富山とやまえき 🗣	Toyama-eki	42,548	Station guide JR Takayama Suburban Line, Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line
5	新高岡しんたかおか 🗣	Shin-Takaoka	4,576	Jōhana Line
6	金沢 🗣	Kanazawa	39,380	IR Ishikawa Railway Line
7	小松 🗣	Komatsu	10,399	IR Ishikawa Railway Line
8	加賀温泉 🗣	Kagaonsen	3,861	IR Ishikawa Railway Line
9	芦原温泉あわらおんせん 🗣	Awaraonsen	3,470	Hapi-line Fukui
10	福井 🗣	Fukui	26,652	Katsuyama Eiheiji Line, Hapi-line Fukui
11	越前たけふ 🗣	Echizen-Takefu
12	敦賀つるが 🗣	Tsuruga		JR Obama Line, Hokuriku Main Line, Hapi-line Fukui

Passengers per day: people boarding and getting off on an average day, all operators at the station counted once each (MLIT station passenger data S12).

Lines and stations: 「国土数値情報（鉄道データ、駅別乗降客数データ）」（国土交通省）を加工して作成 (MLIT National Land Numerical Information, railway data N02-24 and station passengers S12-25, CC BY 4.0). English station names and readings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), where they match. Data & credits.