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. BL says:
    March 21, 2015 at 1:58 am

    Hi. I will be flying in to Osaka. From Osaka, i plan to go to Kyoto,then to Kanazawa, then to Tokyo and flying back from Tokyo Haneda Airport for a week . Would like to ask which JR pass can i buy which covers all da places.does it cover for domestic train as well?

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      March 21, 2015 at 2:51 am

      Hi BL,

      All trips that includes local trains are covered by JR pass. But if you use the pass for Kansai airport-Kyoto, Kyoto-Kanazawa, Kanazawa-Tokyo, single ticket is appx 4000 yen cheaper. Of course you will have other chances to take local trains in Kyoto, Tokyo and other areas. I think total fares will be almost equal to JR Pass 7 days price.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  2. Ali says:
    March 14, 2015 at 10:12 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thank you for the information you’ve provided. I would like to get your opinion on something though. I have about 5 days to visit Kyoto and Takayama some time in April/May. This is my itinerary: Kansai Airport to Kanazawa (via Shin-Osaka) — Kanazawa to Takayama — Takayama to Kyoto — Kyoto to Kansai Airport. Can I get both the JR Kansai Pass and the Takayama Hokuriku Pass to cover these routes?

    Many thanks for your advice.

  3. ying says:
    March 10, 2015 at 11:51 pm

    Hi,

    I am confused with the time of activate the pass. Is it activated by time or by date?

    I should get 2D or 3D kansai area pass
    Day1: Osaka (5pm) – Kyoto
    Day 2: Kyoto
    Day 3: Kyoto

    and for Takayama – Hokuriku area pass:

    Day 4: Kyoto (am) – Kanazawa
    Day 8: Kanazawa – Osaka(pm)

    or

    Day 4: Kyoto (am) – Kanazawa
    Day 9: Kanazawa(am) – Osaka

    Thanks in advance!

  4. Siew Yun says:
    March 9, 2015 at 8:01 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Am visiting Japan soon and intend to buy the 5 days pass of Takayama-Hokuriku Tourist Pass, but my travelling is as follows :

    Osaka – Kanazawa – 1 night
    Kanazawa – Takayama – 2 nights
    Takayama – Shiragawa-go – 2 nights
    Shiragawa-go – Kyoto – 3 nights

    So which day to activate my pass? in Osaka or Kanazawa?

    Appreciate your help and advice.

    Thanks.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      March 9, 2015 at 2:55 pm

      Hi Siew Yun,

      If you activate in Osaka, you have to pay for Shirakawago-Kanazawa and Kanazawa-Kyoto. It’s more expensive than Osaka-Kanazawa. So you should activate it in Kanazawa and pay for Osaka-Kanazawa.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. cathy says:
    February 28, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    Hi,

    I am traveling to Japan soon.

    My travel plan:

    Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Kanazawa-Tokyo

    Will it be convenient to travel by train? Which pass u suggest me to buy?

    Arigato,

    Smiles,

    Cathy

  6. Brenda Cheung says:
    December 2, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    Hi

    I want to go to Tsuruga from kansai airport.

    The best route is

    1) kansai airport —- JR Ltd express Hanuka ——- Kyoto —- JR Ltd express Thunder Bird —- Tsuruga

    or

    2) kansai airport —– JR Ltd express Hanuka —– Shin Osaka —JR Ltd express Thunder Bird — Tsuruga

    Thank you

    Brenda

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      December 2, 2014 at 9:06 pm

      Hi Brenda,

      Do you want to know which one is better, 1 or 2?
      Actually it’s not much different. But if you intend to take non reserved seat, it’s easier to get a seat at Shin-Osaka.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. Alan says:
    November 19, 2014 at 7:53 am

    Hi,

    For Shin-Osaka to Kanazawa.

    If I have an ordinary JR pass can i pay extra to upgrade to green just for this trip?

    Also do I need to reserve seat?

    Thanks

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      November 19, 2014 at 1:06 pm

      Hi Alan,

      You have to be careful it’s not difference between Green and ordinary reserved seat. If you take Green car by ordinary pass, you have to pay not only Green fee but also Limited Express surcharge.
      If you are okay with it, you can go for it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Hosan says:
    November 14, 2014 at 10:25 am

    If I want to go to Awara-Onsen (芦原温泉) from Kyoto, and I have the Kansai Wide Pass.

    Do I have to pay extra? If so, where and when should I buy the extra ticket?

    Thanks!

  9. Aizhan says:
    November 10, 2014 at 7:14 am

    Hi,

    I wanted to know if Thunderbird trip from Kyoto to Kanazawa is covered by JR Kansai pass?

    I read somewhere that it’s not, but lost the page where I read it.

    I’m travelling on 13th November, wanted to reserve a Kansai pass if it does cover it.

    Thanks,
    Aizhan

  10. Simin says:
    July 27, 2014 at 8:48 am

    Hi,

    I’m travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto to Kanazawa. I understand that Hikari (from Tokyo to Kyoto) is operated by JR Central while Thunderbird (from Kyoto to Kanazawa) seems to be under JR West. Can I know if the JR pass covers both trains? Thanks for the help in advance!

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      July 27, 2014 at 2:03 pm

      Hi Simin,

      Yes. Those trains are covered fully by JR Pass. JR Pass covers most of trains by any JR companies.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

    • Simin says:
      July 31, 2014 at 7:09 am

      Hi,

      Thanks for the reply. Actually I was confused by the different passes and their respective operating companies – JR Central and JR West. Is there a general JR pass that allows coverage of both areas or do I have to buy different JR passes? Because there seemed to be a JR West pass as well. Thanks.

      • Takeshi / JPRail says:
        July 31, 2014 at 12:38 pm

        Hi Simin,

        JR Pass covers all six JR companies, JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu. And also each JR companies have own pass that covers their territory only.

        Cheers,

        Takeshi / JP Rail

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