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Take a Journey Through Hokuriku: The Hokuriku Shinkansen Line’s Extension Between Kanazawa and Tsuruga Station Has Finally Started!.

On Saturday March 16th, the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga will finally open. Six new stations will be added along this line: Komatsu Station, Kaga-Onsen Station, Ashihara-Onsen Station, Fukui Station, Echizen-Takefu Station, and Tsuruga Station. The journey from Tokyo to Fukui will now be approximately 30 minutes shorter, taking about 2 hours and 50 minutes. To celebrate the opening, various events will be happening at stations along the Hokuriku Shinkansen route and today we will introduce a special Eastern Japan tour that can only be enjoyed during this period.

All cities featured in this itinerary can be accessed via the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Some sections offer discounted tickets when purchased up to 20 days in advance before the departure time by 1:50 AM. You can find these advantageous tickets by checking JR East's website "Ekinet" for further details.

Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano City: A National Treasure with 1400+ Years of History and a Popular Area for Cherry Blossoms and Gourmet Food.

Prior to the 1998 Nagano Olympics and Paralympics, the Nagano-Tokyo Shinkansen opened in October 1997 (Heisei 9). At that time, it was known as the "Nagano Shinkansen" since it did not extend into the Hokuriku region. In 2015 (Heisei 27), it was renamed to the Hokuriku Shinkansen thanks to the opening of the Nagano to Kanazawa line. The Nagano station building was redeveloped and became a key intermediary connecting Tokyo to the Hokuriku region.

Recommended sight seeing spot
Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple (pictured) is a 20 to 30-minute walk from Nagano Station. This historic temple is accompanied by one of Japan's most prominent temple towns, offering a blend of traditional streetscapes and stylish cafes housed in renovated old buildings. Along Nakamise Street, near Zenkoji, local gourmet food line the streets such as Oyaki (filled dumplings). Adjacent to Zenkoji's east side, the Jōyama area is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring (pictured). In recent years, on the redevelopment efforts have focused around the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum and Jōyama Park, generating buzz as a hub for creating new attractions.

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Address: I-491, Nagano Motoyoshi-cho, Oaza, Nagano City
WEB:Zenkoji Temple

Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa-Tsuruga Section Opening Event in Kanazawa City: The Starting Point for a Hokuriku Tour of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui.

Kanazawa boasts rich traditions in crafts and performing arts, it is a vibrant city nurtured by the Kaga Domain's million koku prosperity (koku is an ancient measurement of rice production, indicating vast wealth in this case). Visitors can experience activities such as gold-leaf application, Mizuhiki (decorative Japanese cord) crafting, and traditional confectionery making. Visitors of the city can also enjoy vast historical streets preserving the ambiance of the feudal era, such Higashi Chaya District, Nishi Chaya District, and Kazuemachi Chaya District. Thanks to the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, hot spring resorts such as Awara Onsen and Kaga Onsen are now easily accessible via Shinkansen. Moreover, day trips to destinations like Shirakawa-go and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture are facilitated through bus tours, so visitors can easily explore several cities in the Hokuriku region while staying in Kanazawa. On March 16th (Saturday), the Kanazawa-Tsuruga Hokuriku Shinkansen Line Opening Ceremony (Image picture) will take place at Kanazawa Station.

Recommended sight seeing spot
Kanazawa-Tsuruga New Line Opening Event
On opening day, Saturday March 16th, Kanazawa City and Ishikawa Prefecture will collaborate to host a welcome event at Kanazawa Station. Passengers will be greeted on the platform and concourse to traditional performances such as Kanazawa geisha dances and Kaga Matsuri (festivals). Performances like Kaga Tobi (jumping stilt performance) and Kaga Jishi (lion dance) will be shown in the Motenashi Dome. Additionally, in the underground plaza of the Motenashi Dome, local university students will perform hospitality tea ceremony (pictured). Each event will contribute to the excitement of the ‘second opening’ for Kanazawa City.

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Address: 1-1 Kinoshinbo-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (Kanazawa Station)

Collect Stamps and Win Cute Prizes! Komatsu City’s Hokuriku Shinkansen Komatsu Station Opening Commemorative Photo Spot Stamp Rally.

Located in southern Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, Komatsu City has long been a hub for craftsmanship, including traditional Kutani pottery and a thriving machinery industry. It boasts a variety of tourist attractions such as Natadera Temple, Japan Automobile Museum, and Awazu Onsen draw visitors, and the beloved "Komatsu Udon" is a popular soul food for locals. With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Komatsu Station, in addition to the existing Komatsu Airport, access to the Hokuriku region has never been easier and the city anticipates an even greater influx of tourists from across the country.

Recommended sight seeing spot
Hokuriku Shinkansen Komatsu Station Opening Commemorative Photo Spot Stamp Rally
"The Hokuriku Shinkansen Komatsu Station Opening Commemorative Photo Spot Stamp Rally" (Saturday March 16th – Sunday August 31st 2023) is a stamp rally that takes participants to designated photo spots around Komatsu City and the neighboring Nomi City. Each city features six photo spots (Komatsu City features Pompom Pudding and Kabukky, while Nomi City features Cinnamoroll, Hiponon, Yuzumin, and Poponon). Visitors can collect stamps and can redeem original goods based on the number of stamps collected.
Since 2020, Komatsu City has been collaborating with Sanrio Co., Ltd., and Nomi City began their collaboration from this year. In July 2022, Pomupomupurin was appointed as the cheering squad captain, ‘We Love Komatsu,’ to support Komatsu City, and in May 2023, Cinnamoroll became the goodwill ambassador for Nomi City. Both mascots are actively promoting the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Komatsu Station and the beauty of both cities nationwide.

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Address: 466 Doihara-machi, Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture (Komatsu Station)

©︎ '24 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPR. NO. L647800

Opening in October 2023! Fukui City Tourism Exchange Center: Creating Information and Exchange with a Focus on Tourism.

Surrounded by sea and mountains, Fukui City is a very popular destination with its diverse and beautiful nature as well as popular culinary delights such as Echizen crab, Oroshi soba (grated radish soba), Koshihikari rice, and local sake. On March 16th (Saturday) and March 17th (Sunday), the "Hokuriku Shinkansen Fukui Opening Event" will be held around Fukui Station. On the east side of Fukui Station, a new tourist information center directly connected to the station opened on March 2nd (Saturday). It provides comprehensive information on travel within Fukui and is staffed with concierge services for guidance, brochure distribution, and the sale of excursion tickets. For those eager to discover more about Fukui's attractions, the "Fukui City Tourism Exchange Center" (pictured) is a recommended visit.

Recommended sight seeing spot
Fukui City Tourism Exchange Center
The Fukui City Tourism Exchange Center is a facility designed to welcome and assist visitors to Fukui. On the first floor, there is a tourist information center, waiting area, restrooms, and a bike-sharing service which opened on March 2nd. Additionally, the second floor features a café where visitors can comfortably relax while waiting at the station. Furthermore, the rooftop area has been developed into a "Dinosaur Plaza" adorned with dinosaur monuments, visitors can use their phone to take photos with the dinosaurs by scanning the QR codes located nearby.

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Address: 1-1-1 Teyose, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture

Extend Hokuriku Shinkansen, Extend Enjoyment of Hokuriku Travel♪

With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Kanazawa and Tsuruga, travel time will be drastically reduced. This presents the perfect opportunity to embark on a journey to fully enjoy the charm of the Hokuriku region!