• Tweet

• Tweet

Thunderbird is operated between Osaka (大阪) and Wakura-Onsen (和倉温泉), Kanazawa (金沢), Toyama (富山) and Uozu (魚津). This train is the fastest transfer from Osaka/Kyoto to Hokuriku region, such as Kanazawa and Toyama. This train is very popular for both business and leisure travellers. Because there are several popular location along this trains’s route, like Awara-Onsen (芦原温泉) hot springs, Kaga-Onsen (加賀温泉) hot spring, Kanazawa and Wakura-Onsen hot spring. If you go to Kanazawa from Osaka, simply take this express train.

This train is fully covered by Japan Rail Pass. Let’s see the details.

Route, schedule and time required

Thunderbird runs 22 round trips a day. It takes 2 hours and 40 minutes to Kanazawa, 3 hours 20 minutes to Toyama from Osaka. Some of Thunderbird are extended to operate to Wakura-Onsen. It takes about 4 hours from Osaka to Wakura-Onsen.

*You can find it at the bottom of JR West website.

View Limited Express Thunderbird in a larger map

Stations

Station	to Kanazawa/ Toyama/Uozu	to Wakura-Onsen	Remarks
Osaka (大阪)	x	x
Shin-Osaka (新大阪)	x	x	Connect to Shinkansen
Kyoto (京都)	x	x	Connect to Shinkansen
Katada (堅田)	*	*	Some of Thunderbird stop
Oumi-Imazu (近江今津)	*	*	Some of Thunderbird stop
Tsuruga (敦賀)	*	*	Most of Thunderbird stop
Takefu (武生)	*	*	Most of Thunderbird stop
Sabae (鯖江)	*	*	Most of Thunderbird stop
Fukui (福井)	x	x
Awara-Onsen (芦原温泉)	*	*	Most of Thunderbird stop
Kaga-Onsen (加賀温泉)	*	*	Most of Thunderbird stop
Komatsu (小松)	*	*	Most of Thunderbird stop
Matto (松任)	*	*	Some of Thunderbird to Kanazawa/Wakura-Onsen stop
Kanazawa (金沢)	x	x
Isurugi (石動)	*	-	Some of Thunderbird stop
Takaoka (高岡)	x	-
Kosugi (小杉)	*	-	Some of Thunderbird stop
Toyama (富山)	x	-
Uotsu (魚津)	x	-
Tsubata (津幡)	-	*	Some of Thunderbird to Osaka stop
Unoke (宇野気)	-	*
Takamatsu (高松)	-	*
Hakui (羽咋)	-	x
Yoshikawa (良川)	-	*
Nanao (七尾)	-	x
Wakura-Onsen (和倉温泉)	-	x

x:All trains stop *:some trains stop

Accommodation

Thunderbird is serviced by 681 or 683 series. 681 is older than 683. But basically it is no difference.

The seat pitch in Green seat is 1160mm. It is the standard of most JR trains. The seat configuration is 2+1. It has spacious and nice holding. It is quite good seat. The seat pitch in Ordinary seat is 970mm. It is a little bigger than the standard. Car#3 is only for women. Some of JR train give this kind of service for women travellers.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Train formation

Thunderbird train formation

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
G	R	WR	R	NR	NR	NR	R	R

*G=Green seat R=Reserved seat WR=Reserved seat for women only NR=Non reserved seat
Smoking is not allowed on these trains.

Images – 681/683 series

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

You may also like these posts:

• Direct transfer to Kanazawa from Nagoya, Limited Express Shirasagi
• The fastest way to get Kanazawa from Tokyo, Limited Express Hakutaka
• Intercity train between Niigata and Kanazawa. Limited Express Hokuetsu
• Save money and time going to Kanazawa, Overnight Express train Noto
• Access to Kii mountains/peninsula from Osaka and Kyoto, Limited Express Kuroshio / Ocean Arrow

---

---

39 Comments to “Access to Kanazawa from Osaka and Kyoto. Limited Express Thuderbird”

1. Tamara says:

   May 25, 2013 at 1:12 am

   Hello Takeshi san,

   I will need to travel within 3 days with short stops: from Kansai Airport to Kyoto (hotel near kyoto Tower), next day to Kanazawa ( Ishikawa Ongakudo) and to Tokyo next day , and to Narita the next day.
   What do you advise me: to take tickets on spot or to buy the JR pass?

   thank you, Tamara

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     May 25, 2013 at 9:40 am

     Hi Tamara,

     Single ticket is much cheaper. You can use single ticket from Kansai airport to Narita airport via Kyoto, Kanazwa and Tokyo. You can stopover at these places and if you want, you can stopover at any stations as long as you go forward. And also you have to buy limited express ticket one by one if you take it.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
2. Irene says:

   May 12, 2013 at 9:08 am

   Hi,
   Does the kansai wide area pass allow JR travel from
   1 . kanazawa to osaka
   2. Osaka to kushimoto/ Katsura and wakayama
   3. Wakayama to kansai airport
   4. Within osaka
   Trying to decide if this is the right pass to buy

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     May 12, 2013 at 9:08 pm

     Hi Irene,

     That pass does not cover only Kanazawa to Tsuruga segment. The pass anyway is much cheaper than single ticket.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. Selina .s says:

   June 3, 2012 at 4:26 am

   Hi,I would like to ask, if I purchase for Japan West Kansai rail pass, is that cover for limited express thunderbird? Or do I need to make other purchase for thunderbird pass? Thanks

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     June 3, 2012 at 10:38 pm

     Hi Selina.s,
     Kansai area pass do not cover any express trains except Kansai Aiport Express Haruka. If you want to take Thuderbird, you need to pay Limited Express surcharge. Please read the following link:
     http://www.jr-odekake.net/en/jwrp/kansai.html
     Cheers,
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
4. Suyi says:

   May 18, 2012 at 8:27 pm

   Hi ~

   I would like to know where can buy & book from Toyama —– > Osaka train ticket ? I’m checked this website http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
   But only price. can’t book the train ticket.

   Many Thanks your advise
   Suyi

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     May 18, 2012 at 11:41 pm

     Hi Suyi,

     There is no online booking site. You need to book your ticket on the spot at the station. Please see the following post to get the details:
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-reserve-seat.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
5. Mike says:

   May 16, 2012 at 10:14 pm

   Hi,

   I forget to ask is there any discount on the round trip ticket from Osaka to Toyama? Also does kid pay half price? If I do not get the reversed seats, it is very crowded? Thanks.

   Reply
6. Mike says:

   May 16, 2012 at 10:08 pm

   My wife and I plan to go to Toyama from Osaka. Should I get the 4 days pass or 7 days pass? I may plan to visit Kyoto but not sure how to get there. We may take a bus if it is not a long ride. My air ticket does not include any transit from Osaka airport to the Swissotel Nankai Osaka Hotel . Please advise me if I can save money by getting a pass. If I want to get a pass, how many date in advance to purchase?

   I would like to know the fair on each way if I purchase the tickets seperately. Thanks.

   My trip will be in July.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     May 16, 2012 at 11:06 pm

     Hi Mike,

     First of all, your hotel is located at Nankai Namba station. So you should get on Nankai Railway train. See the link below:
     http://www.nankai.co.jp/global/english/index.html

     When you go to Kyoto, you can choose from single ticket, multiday pass that cover for all Kansai area, or city pass in Kyoto or Osaka. You need to make sure where you want to visit. Please see my posts below to learn about the pass and transfer in Osaka, Kyoto and other area in Kansai. (You can use Kansai Thru pass for your transfer from Kansai airport to Namba)
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html

     Regarding Osaka-Toyama transfer, there is no pass and discount ticket for this trip. I’m not sure about 4 days pass that you mentioned. If you mean JR West Kansai area 4 days pass, that pass do not cover Toyama and Limited Express Thunderbird. 7 days pass (I think you mean Japan Rail pass) at 28,300 yen is too much. It costs around 16,000 yen return. (Kids price is half)

     If you travel in late July, it is more crowded because school summer break starts on July 20. The busiest period in summer is mid August. So even if you travel in late July, it is still okay. If you cannot get a reserved seat, you will still be able to find the space at non reserved car seat.

     If you need the details about the fare, try to find it at Hyperdia.
     http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
7. Marc Baraness says:

   February 5, 2012 at 7:22 am

   I would like to know how much is a return train fare Kyoto Kanazawa Kyoto.
   How often do these train run

   Many thanks

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     February 5, 2012 at 9:19 am

     Hi Marc,
     Thunderbird runs mostly once an hour. You can check a fare at Hyperdia.
     http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
8. saz says:

   December 23, 2011 at 8:15 pm

   i will travel to japan ( kansai-osaka-toyama) on 8jan to 1 feb next year. i read about japan rail pass that cannot be purchased in japan, but can be purchased in other country including malaysia. from what i understand, this japan rail pass fare is economic for travellers to visit japan..
   - is thunderbird include in this JR pass/route?
   - since we cannot buy it in japan, where we can buy this ticket?

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     December 23, 2011 at 10:28 pm

     Hi Saz,
     The answers are the following:
     1) Yes. You can take Thunderbird by Japan Rail Pass with no restriction.
     2) Contact to the nearest travel agent in the list on Japan Rail Pass official site. Some agent can mail it to you.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
9. Joshtai says:

   October 9, 2011 at 3:03 am

   Hello,

   I planned to visit shirakawago on 18feb-19feb,

   -May i know how much ticket fare from osaka station – kanazawa station (one way & return) ?

   -Does Thunderbird operate daily on February ?

   Thank you.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     October 9, 2011 at 8:31 am

     Hello Joshtai,
     You can get the exact fare at Hyperdia.
     Thunderbird is operated all year.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
10. Sandy says:

    October 3, 2011 at 1:40 am

    Thank you Takeshi-san for your prompt reply.

    Do you have any website that I can purchase online for Thunderbird Ticket now ? or I have to purchase the ticket thru Kintetsu International or Toptour Agent in Malaysia?

    Kindly advise me on the above matter.

    Reply
    • JPRail says:

      October 3, 2011 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Sandy,
      We do not have any website that you can book for Thunderbird.
      Please refer this post.
      You can ask Kintetsu or other Japanese travel agent to book your ticket. But they add some handling charge. It is not cheap. Mid Jan or early Feb is not peak season. I don’t know how many days you have after arrive Japan. But I think you can book your ticket at the station after you arrive at Japan. In case that you cannot make it, Thunderbird has non reserved seat. You can go to the station earlier to get the seat.
      Thunderbird is very popular train. But it is not hard to get a ticket.

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      Reply