Experience the Unmatched Beauty of Japan's Hokuriku Region with the New Bullet Train Route

Nestled between the towering Japanese Alps and the meandering coastline of the Sea of Japan lies one of the country's hidden gems: Hokuriku. This CNN Travel series is sponsored by the destination it highlights, but CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting, and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy.

This region, made up of the four prefectures Toyama, Niigata, Ishikawa, and Fukui, was a significant center during the Edo period (1603-1867). However, in the subsequent century, it was overshadowed by its neighboring cities of Tokyo to the east and Osaka to the southwest. Nevertheless, a new bullet train extension set to connect the region with Tokyo in March 2024 will make it easier than ever to explore Hokuriku's numerous attractions.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen extension will launch in March 2024.

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To Nagano and beyond

The Hokuriku Shinkansen line was originally built in 1997 as the Nagano Shinkansen to connect the prefecture with Tokyo for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. In 2015, the line was extended and renamed Hokuriku Shinkansen to reflect its expansion into the region, with tracks running through Niigata and Toyama prefectures, known for its 20-meter-deep snow corridor, and ending at Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa prefecture.

Goishi Coast is nationally designated place of scenic beauty and natural monument in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

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The 2024 extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which will reach Tsuruga Station in Fukui prefecture, will extend the track by 125 kilometers (78 miles) and create new travel opportunities for international visitors. The journey from Tokyo to Tsuruga Station will take three hours and eight minutes, which is 51 minutes faster than current travel times by rail.

According to a representative from West Japan Railway Company (West JR), the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen has increased city interactions and visitor flow for both business and tourism across the region.

The bullet train extension will stretch the line to Tsuruga City, a port in Fukui prefecture.

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Nowhere is this more apparent than in Ishikawa prefecture, which witnessed a dramatic impact on its tourism industry when the bullet train was extended to Kanazawa city.

The numbers speak for themselves - there were 3.3 million more tourists in 2019 compared to the year before the Kanazawa Shinkansen station opened in 2015.

Hokurikus hot spring villages

Its hoped the new extension will bring the underexplored parts of the Hokuriku region into the international limelight.

Among the top highlights are the areas hot spring (onsen) resort villages.

Four-century-old KAI Kaga is located in Ishikawa prefecture.

Hoshino Resorts

Four hot spring resorts are situated near Komatsu Station and Kaga Onsen Station in Ishikawa (Awazu, Yamanaka, Yamashiro and Katayamazu), with an additional one, Awara Onsen, having its own station in Fukui prefecture. According to Omotegushi, a variety of hot spring resorts, catering to different budgets and offering both reasonably priced and luxury options, are available to accommodate travelers. With the planned extension of the Shinkansen line in March 2024, an increase in tourist visits to these areas is anticipated.

She mentions that the five hot spring resorts are expected to have around 3 million overnight guests in 2024, which is an increase of about 400,000 compared to the pre-Covid figures from 2019.

The historic KAI Kaga, which has been around for four centuries, is one of the onsen ryokans in Ishikawa eagerly anticipating the arrival of new waves of travelers.

This historic Japanese inn, originally known as Shiroganeya, was constructed in 1624 in Yamashiro. It was frequented by the feudal lord of the Kaga domain during the Edo period, as well as by Rosanjin Kitaoji, a renowned artist from the early 1900s.

FK3J5W Japanese confectionary

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The homegrown Hoshino Resorts group took over and refurbished the space in 2012.

The ryokan boasts red wooden walls and a serene outdoor zen garden, celebrating the region's craftsmanship and partnering with local communities to boost tourism. Each room is adorned with handcrafted papercraft, dyed fabrics, and exquisite Kutani-yaki tea sets.

Every night, a modern interpretation of the traditional mythical lion dance (shishi) is performed. "KAI Kaga presents an opportunity to showcase the allure of Kaga to customers both in Japan and around the world," stated General Manager Aya Morishita in an interview with CNN Travel.

Dinos, a techno Buddhist temple and king crab

The Shinkansen line stations in Fukui prefecture, including Awara Onsen Station, Fukui Station, Echizen-Takefu Station, and Tsuruga Station, are expected to attract a large number of travelers with the introduction of the bullet trains. And it's easy to see why.

Fukui prefecture, like Ishikawa, boasts well-maintained ancient architecture, historic sites, and temples. In addition to the existing attractions, new ones are beginning to emerge in and around Fukui City. Yasui Masaki, director of the Fukui City Omotenashi Tourism Promotion Division, anticipates a significant shift in the flow of people and goods with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Fukui.

The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is the biggest dino museum in Japan.

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This is a rare chance to showcase the finest attractions of Fukui. We stand at the brink of a new era for our city, with the anticipated influx of international tourists set to explode following the Shinkansen extension and Expo 2025 Osaka.

Next to Fukui Station, a 100-meter-tall (328-foot) commercial complex is being constructed, set to open by March 2024. The complex will house a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, a three-story food hall showcasing local cuisine, office space, and a residential building.

The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, known for its extensive dinosaur collection, has recently undergone a significant expansion. The museum now boasts 50 complete dinosaur skeletons, including a rare Brachylophosaurus mummy fossil with well-preserved skin fragments.

BNA29B Japanese Garden at Adachi Museum in Shimane Prefecture Japan

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Yasui recommends visiting Sho-onji Temple for a one-of-a-kind experience in Japan. The temple offers a techno Buddhist memorial service that incorporates music and projection mapping, creating a truly unforgettable experience. According to the tourism director, this is a "must-see" for travelers looking for something unique and unlike anything else in the country.

Yasui stated that the twice-a-year techno memorial services (typically held in May and October) were established in 2016 to appeal to a younger audience. Their popularity has grown to the extent that the temple is now intending to launch an "art space" where individuals can engage with the service at any time of the year.

Echizen Gani crab is among the prized foods to try when in Fukui prefecture.

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Fukui is known for its local cuisine, with its status as a major rice producer and seafood port making it a top spot for sushi enthusiasts. The region's Echizen gani crabs, which can reach a length of up to 80 centimeters (31 inches), are particularly renowned and sought after.

Explore outside Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto

Nagata Tomohiro, senior group manager of the Fukui Prefectural Government International Tourism Office, explains that up to this point, the majority of foreign tourists visiting Fukui Prefecture have been from East Asian countries. This is largely due to the prefecture's proximity to Kansai International Airport (Osaka) and Central Japan International Airport (Nagoya), as well as the fact that many flights to these airports originate from East Asian and Southeast Asian countries.

The new Shinkansen connection will make it easier for tourists arriving at Haneda or Narita airports near Tokyo to travel directly to Fukui prefecture, increasing the number of tourists from Europe, North America, and Australia, who primarily use Narita Airport," says Nagata. He encourages travelers to explore beyond the popular urban areas of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

Sakura enthusiasts will be delighted to find a two-kilometer stretch of cherry blossom trees along the Asuwa River in Fukui City. The city also serves as an ideal starting point for exploring Maruoka Castle Park, one of Japan's 12 remaining castle towers, and Eihei-ji, one of the two main Soto Zen Buddhist temples in the country.

Visitors to Nishiyama Park, located between Fukui and Echizen-Takefu Stations, can delight in the expansive azalea bushes and explore a red panda zoo. Additionally, the tourism manager suggests exploring the breathtaking cliffside rock formations at Tojinbo, as well as the picturesque Mikata Goko (Five Lakes of Mikata) and the scenic Rainbow Line - an 11-kilometer (seven-mile) road that provides stunning views of the lakes - in Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park near Tsuruga Station.