Kanazawa is easily reached from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which opened in 2015. The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes, making a same-day return from Tokyo possible. From Osaka and Kyoto, take the Ltd Express Thunderbird to Tsuruga and transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen; the journey takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. Services from Osaka will improve further when the Hokuriku Shinkansen extends to Osaka, planned for the 2030s.
Kanazawa has an airport (KMQ) with domestic flights from Tokyo Haneda and several regional airports, but the shinkansen is faster and more convenient for most travellers.