The Limited Express Thunderbird timetable and the train information. The train bound for Kanazawa from Osaka and Kyoto.

thunderbird 683Kanazawa, Toyama, Wakura-Onsen, Fukui
683 series is the primary fleet for limited express train in Hokuriku region, such as Thunderbird and Shirasagi.
683 series is the primary fleet for limited express train in Hokuriku region, such as Thunderbird and Shirasagi.

The limited express Thunderbird connects Osaka, Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, Fukui, and Kanazawa. One round trip of this train operates to Wakura-Onsen. This train is the fastest way to get to Kanazawa from Osaka/Kyoto. If you go to Kanazawa from Osaka, simply take this limited express train.

This train is fully covered by JR Pass, Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass, Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass, and Hokuriku Arch Pass.

In this post, I will explain you about the train information of limited express Thunderbird.

Route, schedule and trip time

Thunderbird runs one or two departure(s) in every hour and it runs more than 20 round trips a day. Average trip time is 2 hours and 45 minutes to get to Kanazawa from Osaka. Please see the route map below to find the trip time on the major segments and stations on the route:

The Limited Express Thunderbird train operation route (Click to view large)

You can find the timetable in the link below:

Due to COVID-19, it may be operated on a schedule different from the normal timetable. Check the train schedule on Hyperdia.
Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine

Accommodation

683 series for the limited express Thunderbird

Thunderbird is serviced by 681 or 683 series. 681 series is a bit older fleet than 683. But both fleets are basically same.

The seat pitch in a Green seat is 1,160 mm (46 inches). It is the standard of most JR trains. The seat layout is 2+1. It offers very spacious leg room and quite good seating.

The seat pitch of an ordinary seat is 970 mm (38 inches). It is a little bigger than the standard of JR trains. Some seats on Car #3 are exclusively available for women and small child. Some of JR trains offer this service for women travelers.

By the way, the seat pitch of most major airlines is 76 cm (30 inches) to 84 cm (33 inches). You can imagine how spacious an ordinary seat is. Unless you have a big body, an ordinary class seat is fine.

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

Train formation

Thunderbird train formation

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*G=Green seat R=Reserved seat NR=Non reserved seat
Smoking is not allowed on board.

Images

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Other resources

I have a few more posts which explains you about the access to Kanazawa and surrounding area, such as Shirakawago, Takayama. Please refer the posts below to find more information. I believe these posts will help you to build your trip plan:

How to access to Kanazawa and Toyama from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Niigata.
Kanazawa is very popular destination in Hokuriku region. Toyama is also well known as the gateway to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and Kurobe gorge. In this post, I will show you the access to these cities from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya and Niigata.
jprail.com
2011.10.27
How to get to Takayama by a train and a bus
Takayama is very attractive small town. It is very closed to another popular spot, Shirakawago. In this post, I show you how to get Takayama by train and bus.
jprail.com
2020.05.17
How to access to Shirakawago from Takayama, Kanazawa, Takaoka and Toyama.
This post gives you the access guide to Shirakawago from Kanazawa, Takayama, Toyama and Takaoka. You may find a lot of photos of Shirakawago. It helps you to understand how you stay in Shirakawago easily.
jprail.com
2010.07.31

I hope this post will help you to create your trip plan.

Comments

  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

    • 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

  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

    • 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

  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

  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

  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.

  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.

  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

  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?

  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.

  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.

    • 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

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