JR Pass Plan a trip

秋

Currently in season

AutumnSep–Nov

Now in Wakasa · calm seas, clear connections

Autumn timetables match spring's: about 12 Obama Line trains a day each way. The weekday-morning gap from Tsuruga (07:48 to 11:18) is the one thing to plan around.

春夏秋冬

Arch Pass covers the Obama Line from March 2026

Wakasa · Access

Getting to Wakasa若狭へのアクセス

Q: How long is the train from Tokyo to Obama?

About 4h 30m door to door: the Kagayaki to Tsuruga (fastest 3h 6m) and the JR Obama Line to Obama (1h 4m–1h 9m). Kagayaki 503 (Tokyo 07:20, Tsuruga 10:26) connects to the 11:18, arriving Obama 12:24.

Q: How much is the train from Tsuruga to Obama?

¥990 one way. The Obama Line has no reserved seats; buy a paper ticket at Tsuruga or pay the driver when you get off.

Q: Can I use ICOCA or Suica on the Obama Line?

Only at Tsuruga and Higashi-Maizuru. The stations in between are outside the IC area, so you cannot tap out at Obama. Buy a paper ticket or pay cash on board.

Q: What is the last train from Obama to catch the Shinkansen to Tokyo?

The 18:54 from Obama (Tsuruga 19:57) connects to the last direct Hokuriku Shinkansen at 20:11. The final Obama Line train, 20:20, only connects to the 22:05 Thunderbird to Osaka.

Q: Is there a bus from Kyoto to Obama?

Not a direct one since 2018. Take the JR Kosei Line to Ōmi-Imazu (47m) and the West JR Bus Wakae Line to Obama (about 1h, ¥1,350). Total about 2h and ¥2,340, and the bus stops at Kumagawa-juku on the way.

Q: Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass cover the Obama Line?

Yes, from 14 March 2026, along with the Shinkansen to Tsuruga and the Thunderbird. The Arch Pass costs ¥35,000 for 7 days. The JR Pass covers the Obama Line too; the Kansai Wide Area Pass does not.

Tsuruga is the gateway. The Hokuriku Shinkansen and every Thunderbird end there, and one slow, scenic, single-track line carries on along the coast to Mihama, Mikata, Obama and Wakasa-Wada.

Tokyo → Tsuruga 3h 6m Tsuruga → Obama ¥990 12 trains a day

Tsuruga Station · 敦賀駅 9 min read

In brief

Three facts cover most trips. 1. Take the Shinkansen (from Tokyo, 3h 6m) or the Thunderbird (from Kyoto, 52m) to Tsuruga. 2. Change to the JR Obama Line: one-man local trains, about 12 a day, Tsuruga to Obama 1h 4m–1h 9m, ¥990. 3. Buy a paper ticket: ICOCA does not work at the stations in between.

Plan around the gap

On weekdays no train leaves Tsuruga for Obama between 07:48 and 11:18 (weekends: 09:50 to 11:18). From Tokyo, the Kagayaki that leaves at 07:20 reaches Tsuruga at 10:26 and connects to the 11:18. Afternoons are close to hourly.

Coming from Kyoto, the bus over the old Mackerel Road via Kumagawa-juku is often quicker than going round by Tsuruga.

Step 1

Getting to Tsuruga

Every long-distance route now ends at Tsuruga. Regular-season fares.

From Tokyo

Service	Time	Fare	Notes
Kagayaki (all reserved)	3h 6m–3h 22m	¥16,580	9 a day. First 06:16, last 20:00 from Tokyo
Hakutaka	3h 52m	¥16,050 unreserved	Stops at every station
Tokaido Shinkansen + change at Maibara	3h 17m–3h 38m	¥12,650	Nozomi to Maibara, then Shirasagi or local

Last direct Shinkansen from Tsuruga to Tokyo: 20:11 (arrives 23:32). Green Car ¥24,430, Gran Class ¥35,430.

From Kanazawa and Fukui

From	Service	Time	Fare
Kanazawa	Tsurugi / Hakutaka / Kagayaki	40m–57m	¥4,950
Fukui	Hokuriku Shinkansen	16m–17m	¥2,730
Fukui	Hapi-Line Fukui local	53m	¥1,140

Hapi-Line Fukui (the old JR Hokuriku Line) is not covered by the JR Pass or the Arch Pass.

From Kyoto and Osaka

From	Service	Time	Fare
Kyoto	Thunderbird (all reserved)	52m–54m	¥3,420
Osaka	Thunderbird (all reserved)	1h 20m–1h 25m	¥4,700
Kyoto	Kosei Line Special Rapid + local	1h 50m	¥1,690

The Thunderbird has no unreserved seats, including for pass holders. Last Thunderbird from Tsuruga to Osaka: 22:05.

Step 2

The JR Obama Line

84.3 km of single track from Tsuruga to Higashi-Maizuru. One-man trains: board at the rear, take a numbered ticket, pay the driver at the front.

Station	For	From Tsuruga	Fare
Mihama 美浜	Mihama town, taxis to the Rainbow Line	21m–22m	¥330
Kiyama 気山	Lake Suigetsu side of the Five Lakes	26m	¥420
Mikata 三方	Varve and Jōmon museums (5 min taxi)	30m–31m	¥510
Kaminaka 上中	Uriwari Falls (15 min walk), bus to Kumagawa-juku	50m–56m	¥770
Higashi-Obama 東小浜	Onyu shrines, rental e-bikes	58m–1h 5m	¥990
Obama 小浜	Obama town, Sotomo boats (15 min walk)	1h 4m–1h 9m	¥990
Wakasa-Wada 若狭和田	Wakasa Wada Beach (10 min walk)	1h 29m–1h 40m	¥1,340
Wakasa-Takahama 若狭高浜	Takahama town	1h 34m–1h 39m	¥1,340
Higashi-Maizuru 東舞鶴	Kyoto Prefecture, lines to Kyoto	1h 55m–2h	¥1,690

Obama to Wakasa-Wada 21m (¥330). Obama to Kaminaka 13m (¥240). Higashi-Maizuru to Obama 46m (¥680).

Timetable

Obama Line departures, 2026

Official timetable revised 14 March 2026. ◆ weekdays only. ★ Saturdays and holidays only. · terminates at Obama.

Tsuruga → Obama → Wakasa-Wada

Tsuruga dep.	Mikata	Kaminaka	Obama arr.	Wakasa-Wada
06:17	06:48	07:10	07:24	07:50
06:48 ◆	07:19	07:41	07:55	·
07:11 ★	07:44	08:19	08:32	08:58
07:48 ◆	08:20	08:44	08:57	09:20
09:50 ★	10:24	10:44	10:57	·
11:18	11:49	12:08	12:24	12:53
13:18	13:49	14:08	14:21	14:48
14:18	14:49	15:15	15:27	15:52
15:48	16:19	16:40	16:53	17:17
16:48	17:19	17:43	17:56	18:20
17:48	18:19	18:38	18:51	19:14
18:41	19:12	19:34	19:47	20:11
20:11	20:43	21:02	21:15	21:51
21:43	22:15	22:35	22:49	·

October 2026 data from one timetable service marks the 11:18 and 13:18 as running on specific days only; the official sheet shows them daily. If a midday connection matters, check JR West on the day.

Obama → Tsuruga

Obama dep.	Kaminaka	Mikata	Tsuruga arr.
05:00	05:13	05:32	06:02
06:25	06:39	07:02	07:33
07:26	07:41	08:00	08:32
08:06	08:19	08:39	09:09
09:34	09:48	10:07	10:37
11:56	12:10	12:29	13:00
14:28	14:41	15:03	15:33
15:28	15:42	16:02	16:33
16:27	16:41	17:00	17:33
17:29	17:43	18:02	18:34
18:54	19:08	19:27	19:57
20:20 (last)	20:34	20:56	21:27

From Wakasa-Wada towards Tsuruga: 05:58, 06:57, 07:40, 09:08, 11:30, 14:01, 16:01, 17:05, 18:29, 19:23 (last through to Tsuruga, 21:27).

From Kyoto

Two routes that skip Tsuruga

Kosei Line + the Mackerel Road bus湖西線・若江線バス

Kyoto → Ōmi-Imazu → Kumagawa-juku → Obama

JR Kosei Line Special Rapid from Kyoto to Ōmi-Imazu (47m, ¥990), then the West JR Bus Wakae Line over the pass on the old Saba-kaidō to Obama Station (about 1h, ¥1,350). It stops at Wakasa Kumagawa (29m) and Kaminaka.

Example: Kyoto 09:48 → Ōmi-Imazu 10:35, bus 10:45 → Obama 11:48. Buses leave Ōmi-Imazu roughly hourly from 07:05 to 16:45, and at 18:45 as far as Kaminaka.

Total

about 2h

Fare

¥2,340

Stops at

Kumagawa-juku

Via Higashi-Maizuru東舞鶴経由

Kyoto → Higashi-Maizuru → Obama Line east

JR San'in and Maizuru lines north to Higashi-Maizuru (limited express Maizuru trains are quickest), then the Obama Line east. The natural way in for Takahama and Wakasa-Wada, 25–30 minutes from Higashi-Maizuru.

Higashi-Maizuru to Obama is 46m (¥680).

To Wakasa-Wada

25–30m

To Obama

46m

Best for

Takahama

Driving

Why a car helps here

Rail covers the towns. The Rainbow Line summit park, Uriwari Falls with Kumagawa-juku in a day, and the auberges on the Uchitomi peninsula are much easier by car.

Route	Road	Time	Toll
Tsuruga IC → Obama IC	Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway	35m	¥1,250
Tsuruga → Rainbow Line summit	E27 or Route 27	about 40m
Tsuruga → Kumagawa-juku	E27 + Route 303	about 50m
Kyoto → Obama	Kyoto-Jūkan + E27	about 1h 40m
Kyoto → Kumagawa-juku	Route 367 (the Saba-kaidō)	1h–1h 30m	none
Osaka → Obama	Chūgoku + Maizuru-Wakasa	about 2h 30m

Car hire at Tsuruga Station (Toyota, Nippon, Eki Rent-A-Car, all within 2 minutes' walk; Toyota allows one-way drop-off), Obama Station (Toyota, 09:00–18:00), Fukui Station and Kyoto Station.

Passes and car hire

Which pass, and where to book

Recommended

虹

Hokuriku Arch Pass

¥35,000 / 7 days

Tokyo to Tsuruga (reserved), the Thunderbird to Kyoto and Osaka, and from 14 March 2026 the whole Obama Line and the Maizuru Line. The cheapest way to make Wakasa part of a Tokyo to Kyoto trip.

Buy the Arch Pass ↗

全

JR Pass (nationwide)

From ¥50,000 / 7 days

Covers the Shinkansen, the Thunderbird (reserve a seat) and the Obama Line. Not the Hapi-Line. Prebooked, it costs ¥53,000, and sellers such as Klook post it to your home, so it is in hand before you fly. The official price is ¥50,000, but you buy it at a major JR station in Japan, where the queues can be long.

Buy the JR Pass ↗

関

Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass

¥19,000 / 7 days

Kansai plus Hokuriku, including the Thunderbird, the Obama Line and the Shinkansen between Tsuruga and Jōetsumyōkō. Not Tokyo. The Kansai Wide Area Pass does not reach Tsuruga or Obama.

車

Car hire

Tsuruga · Obama · Fukui · Kyoto

Compare the Tsuruga Station offices in one search. Pick up after the Shinkansen and drop off in Tsuruga, Obama or Kyoto.

Compare car hire ↗

Practical tips

Before you go

Things first-time visitors usually wish they'd known.

01
Buy a paper ticket at Tsuruga. ICOCA and Suica work only at Tsuruga and Higashi-Maizuru. Tap in at Tsuruga and you cannot tap out at Obama.
02
Take the 07:20 from Tokyo. Kagayaki 503 reaches Tsuruga at 10:26 and meets the 11:18 Obama Line train. Later departures from Tokyo miss the gap.
03
Know your last trains. Obama 18:54 for the last Shinkansen to Tokyo (20:11 from Tsuruga). Obama 20:20 for the last Thunderbird to Osaka (22:05).
04
Board at the back. One-man trains: take a numbered ticket as you board, pay at the front by the driver. At unstaffed stations only the front door opens.
05
Go one way, come back the other. Shinkansen in via Tsuruga, then the Kumagawa bus and the Kosei Line out to Kyoto. You see the whole Mackerel Road.
06
Winter. Delays are possible after heavy snow, though the Wakasa coast gets less than northern Fukui.

FAQ

Getting to Wakasa, answered

How long is the train from Tokyo to Obama?

About 4h 30m door to door: the Kagayaki to Tsuruga (fastest 3h 6m) and the JR Obama Line to Obama (1h 4m–1h 9m). Kagayaki 503 (Tokyo 07:20, Tsuruga 10:26) connects to the 11:18, arriving Obama 12:24.

How much is the train from Tsuruga to Obama?

¥990 one way. The Obama Line has no reserved seats; buy a paper ticket at Tsuruga or pay the driver when you get off.

Can I use ICOCA or Suica on the Obama Line?

Only at Tsuruga and Higashi-Maizuru. The stations in between are outside the IC area, so you cannot tap out at Obama. Buy a paper ticket or pay cash on board.

What is the last train from Obama to catch the Shinkansen to Tokyo?

The 18:54 from Obama (Tsuruga 19:57) connects to the last direct Hokuriku Shinkansen at 20:11. The final Obama Line train, 20:20, only connects to the 22:05 Thunderbird to Osaka.

Is there a bus from Kyoto to Obama?

Not a direct one since 2018. Take the JR Kosei Line to Ōmi-Imazu (47m) and the West JR Bus Wakae Line to Obama (about 1h, ¥1,350). Total about 2h and ¥2,340, and the bus stops at Kumagawa-juku on the way.

Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass cover the Obama Line?

Yes, from 14 March 2026, along with the Shinkansen to Tsuruga and the Thunderbird. The Arch Pass costs ¥35,000 for 7 days. The JR Pass covers the Obama Line too; the Kansai Wide Area Pass does not.

Should I hire a car in Wakasa?

Only if you want the Rainbow Line summit park, Uriwari Falls and Kumagawa-juku in one day, or you are staying on the Uchitomi peninsula. Hire at Tsuruga Station; the expressway to Obama takes 35 minutes (¥1,250 toll).

Where to stay

Bases that make the trains easy

Tsuruga for rail day trips, Obama for the middle of the line, or the best dinner on the coast with a free shuttle from Obama Station.

Station

Hotel Granbinario Tsuruga

ホテルグランビナリオTSURUGA · Tsuruga Station west exit

Opened 2022 beside the Shinkansen terminus. The best rail base for day trips along the Obama Line, or a late arrival from Tokyo.

from ¥13,400 per roomOur notes →

Check rates ↗

Fugu & crab

Sekumiya

せくみ屋 · Obama town

Obama's long-established ryokan, known for winter Wakasa fugu and crab dinners. The practical traditional stay within reach of the station.

from ¥6,600 ppOur notes →

Check rates ↗

Standout

Wakasa Kajitsu

若狭佳日 · Ano inlet, Obama · 13 rooms

Small luxury inn on a calm bay: infinity bath over Wakasa Bay, guji in summer and farmed tiger fugu in winter. Free shuttle from Obama Station at 14:30.

from ¥36,300 pp with dinnerOur notes →

Check rates ↗

See all Wakasa hotels →

Continue exploring