Mt. Haku

Mt. Hakusan (2,702 m), straddling Ishikawa and Gifu Prefectures, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains and, together with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tateyama, one of Japan’s Three Holy Mountains. It is famous for its alpine flora, including many species that carry the “Hakusan” name such as Hakusan-ichige and the black lily (kuroyuri).
From Mattō or Komatsu Station on the JR Hokuriku Line, seasonal summer buses and a shared taxi connect to the Bettōdeai trailhead.

A direct Hakusan climbing bus also runs from Kanazawa Station (Hokuriku Railroad, Kanazawa route) on selected days in the summer season (sections 5 and 6).

*Timetable last checked: June 4, 2026

1. [Outbound] Mattō Station → Bettōdeai

From the south exit of JR Mattō Station, take the Hakusan Climbing Bus (Mattō service, operated by Kabushiki-gaisha Map) and get off at Ichinose. At Ichinose, transfer to the shuttle bus for Bettōdeai. No reservation is required (seating is limited to bus capacity).

Travel time: Mattō Station → Ichinose, about 1 hr 35 min
Fare: Mattō Station → Ichinose, ¥2,500 one-way (adult) + shuttle bus (Ichinose → Bettōdeai), ¥1,000 one-way (adult)
Shuttle bus: Ichinose → Bettōdeai runs roughly every 20 minutes between 5:00 and 15:30 on climbing days (about 15 min; operating hours vary by restriction-day calendar).

Bus timetable Mattō Station → Ichinose (Hakusan Climbing Bus, Mattō service)

2. [Outbound] Komatsu Station / Komatsu Airport → Bettōdeai

From Komatsu Station (or Komatsu Airport), take the Hakusan Tozan Express shared taxi operated by Komatsu Taxi for a direct ride to Bettōdeai. You can also board or alight at Ichinose.

Travel time: Komatsu Station → Bettōdeai, about 2 hours
Fare: Komatsu Station → Bettōdeai ¥3,400 one-way (adult) / Komatsu Airport → Bettōdeai ¥3,800 one-way (adult)
Operating period: 30 June – 16 August and 19 – 23 September 2026 (service days: Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon and 14–16 August)
Reservation: online or by phone, up to 5 days before the service date (reservation required)

Timetable Komatsu Airport / Komatsu Station → Bettōdeai (Hakusan Tozan Express)

3. [Return] Bettōdeai → Mattō Station

From Bettōdeai, take the shuttle bus down to Ichinose, then transfer to the Hakusan Climbing Bus (Mattō service) for JR Mattō Station.

Travel time: Ichinose → Mattō Station, about 1 hr 35 min
Fare: shuttle bus (Bettōdeai → Ichinose) ¥1,000 one-way (adult) + Ichinose → Mattō Station ¥2,500 one-way (adult)
Shuttle bus: Bettōdeai → Ichinose runs roughly every 20 minutes between 9:30 and 17:00 on the descent (last boarding 16:30; operating hours vary by restriction-day calendar).

Bus timetable Ichinose → Mattō Station (Hakusan Climbing Bus, Mattō service)

4. [Return] Bettōdeai → Komatsu Station / Komatsu Airport

From Bettōdeai, take the Hakusan Tozan Express shared taxi operated by Komatsu Taxi. The return trip includes a 60-minute bathing stop at Shiramine Onsen or an equivalent bathhouse.

Travel time: Bettōdeai → Komatsu Station, about 2 hr 50 min (including the 60-min bath)
Fare: Bettōdeai → Komatsu Station ¥3,400 one-way (adult) / Bettōdeai → Komatsu Airport ¥3,800 one-way (adult)
Operating period: 30 June – 16 August and 19 – 23 September 2026 (service days: Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon and 14–16 August)
Reservation: online or by phone, up to 5 days before the service date (reservation required)

Timetable Bettōdeai → Komatsu Station / Komatsu Airport (Hakusan Tozan Express)

5. [Outbound] Kanazawa Station → Bettōdeai (Hakusan climbing bus, Kanazawa route)

From stop 7 at Kanazawa Station West Exit, the Hokuriku Railroad Hakusan climbing bus (Kanazawa route) runs direct to Ichinose (you can also board in central Kanazawa at Musashigatsuji, Kōrinbō and Katamachi; there is a toilet break at the Shirayamasan roadside station). At Ichinose, transfer to the shuttle bus (about every 20 minutes, ride about 15 minutes, ¥1,000 one way) for Bettōdeai. No reservation needed (seated capacity only — when full you cannot board, and no extra buses are added).

Fare: Kanazawa Station West Exit → Ichinose, ¥2,860 one way (adult)
Ride time: about 2 hours 15 minutes

Bus Timetable Kanazawa Station → Ichinose (Hakusan climbing bus, Kanazawa route)

※1 services run only on 7/17–7/20, 7/24–7/27, 7/31–8/3, 8/7–8/11.
※2 services run on 7/4–7/5, 7/11–7/12, 7/17–7/20, 7/24–7/27, 7/31–8/3, 8/7–8/11, 8/15–8/16, 8/22–8/23, 8/29–8/30, 9/5–9/6, 9/12–9/13, 9/19–9/22, 9/26–9/27, 10/3–10/4, 10/10–10/12.

Reference: Hokuriku Railroad: 2026 Hakusan climbing bus

6. [Return] Bettōdeai → Kanazawa Station (Hakusan climbing bus, Kanazawa route)

Take the shuttle bus down from Bettōdeai to Ichinose and transfer to the Hakusan climbing bus (Kanazawa route). On the way down, stops in central Kanazawa (Musashigatsuji to Katamachi) are drop-off only. No reservation needed.

Bus Timetable Ichinose → Kanazawa Station (Hakusan climbing bus, Kanazawa route)

※1 services run only on 7/18–7/21, 7/25–7/28, 8/1–8/4, 8/8–8/12.
※2 services run on 7/5–7/6, 7/12–7/13, 7/18–7/21, 7/25–7/28, 8/1–8/4, 8/8–8/12, 8/16–8/17, 8/23–8/24, 8/30–8/31, 9/6–9/7, 9/13–9/14, 9/20–9/23, 9/27–9/28, 10/4–10/5, 10/11–10/13.

The last bus on the Kanazawa route leaves Ichinose at 13:30, which is early. For a later descent, use the Mattō route (section 3, Ichinose 15:30) or the Hakusan Tozan Express (section 4).

Reference: Hokuriku Railroad: 2026 Hakusan climbing bus

Photo by つだ