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. Waimee says:
    December 4, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    Hi,

    I will be in Japan Dec/12 to Dec/23. Below is my plan. Would need your advise on which pass to purchase for visiting Kansai & how to travel from Komatsu to Osaka (how much the train ticket cost).

    Dec/12 – Haneda Airport
    Dec/13 – Komatsu Airport(Follow by Business trip)
    Dec/18 – Komatsu to Osaka (Plan visit Kansai area – Himeji/ Uji/ Nara/ Kyoto)
    Dec/23 – Kansai Airport

  2. Lam says:
    November 29, 2015 at 2:36 am

    Hi Takeshi

    We will be in Japan from Dec 11-18, arriving via Kansai Airport.
    We will be travelling from Osaka to Kanazawa on Dec 12-14. We are thinking of getting the Kansai Hiroshima pass but that is only valid for 5 days and will likely activate the pass only for the last five days? Should we get the Thunderbird Express tickets separately or should we get the JR Pass for 7 days?

    Thank you.

    Lam

  3. mads says:
    November 19, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    Hi Takeshi!
    We purchased the Takayama-Hokuriku area tourist pass. Is the limited express Thunderbird from Kanazawa to Osaka covered by the Takayama-Hokuriku pass?

  4. gwek looi says:
    November 12, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    Dear Sir,

    How I am going back to Kanazawa by JR train from Takayama by using Takayama-Hokuriku tourist pass ?

    When would be the last train ?? Please advise as myself is travel on Dec 2015

    Regards,
    Gwek Looi

  5. Gisela says:
    November 11, 2015 at 9:01 am

    Hello there,

    We will be in Japan from 11th to 20th of December 2015, however we still have no idea which pass we should get. Here’s our itinerary:
    11. From Haneda airport to central of Tokyo – 1 night (probably in Shibuya)
    12-13. Going to Osaka – 2 nights (going to the central on 12th and USJ + central on the 13th)
    14. Kyoto – 1 night
    15. Takayama – Shirakawago – Kanazawa – back to Kyoto for another night
    16. Kyoto – our last night (for the festival)
    17. Kawaguchiko or Hakone – 1 night for onsen (planning to go to Gotemba)
    18. Back to Tokyo central
    19. Tokyo Disney Sea + Tokyo central
    20. Haneda airport take off at 11am

    Actually we are still not sure whether we should go to the golden route from Osaka or Kyoto, but since we would like to walk around Kyoto from morning to evening and spend 2 nights in Kyoto to go to Gion and the festival, we decided to make the trip while we are in Kyoto.
    We also think that going to shirakawago is better from Takayama since we would have a more flexible bus trip since we do not have to make any reservation in advance.
    We are still confuse if we should buy the JR west and Takayama Hokuriku pass plus metro card for Tokyo central OR we just buy JR Pass instead. Can we still get into shinkansen if we buy JR west pass?

    Thanks alot!

    Best,
    Gisela

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 11, 2015 at 8:00 pm

      Hi Gisela,

      Your choice is JR pass 7 days. This is only pass to cover most part of your trip. Other deals do not work.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html

      You can start using 7 days pass when you leave for Osaka on day 2. You can take Shinkansen. You can find the details about the coverage of JR Pass at the link above. You don’t need to worry about the pass in Tokyo. If you start using pass on day 2, I believe the pass covers until you arrive Tokyo from Hakone (or Kawaguchiko)

      Overall, your plan is okay. But I have a few thing to mention to you.

      1. Trip to Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa
      Sorry but you cannot make it. It’s too much as day trip. But you can do Kanazawa and Shirakawago as day trip from Kyoto. Please see the link below:
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kanazawa-and-shirakawago-from-osaka-or-kyoto.html

      2. Kawaguchiko or Hakone
      Hakone is more accessible from Kyoto. Please see the link below:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
      If you go to Kawaguchiko, you have to take express bus from Mishima or back to Tokyo and then take train to Kawaguchiko via Otsuki. It’s a big detour. On the other hand, you can access to Hakone from Odawara. Hakone-Yumoto that is one of most popular spots to stay in Hakone is a few stations away from Odawara.
      Both bus from Mishima and train to Hakone are not covered by JR pass.

      You may use subway pass for exploring in Tokyo. But single ticket is okay to Disney and Haneda.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/compare-many-discount-tickets-and-passes-for-sightseeing-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-right-tickets.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Gisela says:
        November 17, 2015 at 2:14 am

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thanks for your reply! I just saw your post: sample itinerary for tokyo, hakone, kyoto and osaka classic route in 7 days. So, I modified my itinerary based on your reference since I don’t want to go to USJ and Disney Sea during weekend.

        11. Haneda-Tokyo (stay around Shinjuku)
        12. Tokyo – Hakone and Gotemba (1 night)
        13. Hakone – Kyoto (Arashiyama for Hanatouro festival and Gion at night) (1 night in Kyoto)
        14. Kyoto – Kanazawa and Shirakawago (day trip, stay in Kyoto)
        15. Kyoto (Higashiyama), afternoon train to Osaka (stay in Osaka)
        16. Osaka (USJ) + central (another night in Osaka)
        17. Osaka – Himeji (Himeji Castle) – Tokyo
        18. Tokyo Disney Sea
        19. Tokyo central
        20. Tokyo – Haneda (take off 11.45am)

        Do you think I should just do this itinerary or the previous one? And do I still need JR Pass for this itinerary? Because on the post that I referred to, you said that JR pass is actually more expensive than the conventional way. I am planning to follow the instruction you wrote there, modify it a bit by going to Himeji and Tokyo after Osaka.
        Also, what time do I need to get to the airport if the plane is taking off at 11.45?

        Thanks alot!

        Best,
        Gisela

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          November 17, 2015 at 11:42 am

          Hi Gisela,

          I think this one is better. JR Pass suits this trip and it’s cheaper than single fare. If you have only one way from Tokyo to Osaka, JR Pass does not work. But you will go back to Tokyo after Himeji. JR Pass is much cheaper. You may start using it on day 2 of your trip. You can use JR train to get DisneySea.

          You can use Shinkansen to get Odawara and then use Hakone Free Pass. It’s cheaper than Odakyu from Shijuku to Hakone via Odawara.

          Usually you have to be airport 3 hours before. But I recommend you to check your airline.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Paul says:
    November 4, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    I am going from Uozu Station to Kyoto Station. What would be the ideal way to go? Hyperdia shows the Ainokaze Toyama Railway for KANAZAWA (looks like this involves a transfer to the IR Ishikawa Railway for KANAZAWA) and then taking the THUNDERBIRD to Kyoto Station. I am willing to pay a bit more if it means a more direct route (less transfers, faster travel).

    Also, I may want to stop in Kanazawa to sightsee for a few hours. What would be the best option if I wanted to do that and still get to Kyoto Station later?

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 4, 2015 at 9:25 pm

      Hi Paul,

      I think the route that hyperdia showed is the best route. If you take Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa. it’s faster but not very different. Trip time by Ainokase and IR Ishikawa is around 1 hour for this segment. If you take Shinkasnen, it takes 25 minutes. But you have to transfer at Toyama station. You may spend at least 10 minutes, but may be more. It depends on connection schedule. And also you have to pay Shinkansen surcharge that is 2000 yen at least. I don’t think it’s worth paying to save only 15 to 20 minutes.

      If you take original route, you just get off at Kanazawa before taking Thunderbird. The last Thunderbird departs from Kanazawa around 20:30.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. tub says:
    October 2, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Hello,I will go Japan on nov first time and I’ll go to Sun Dome Fukui(for a concert) from Tokyo-Okachimachi Station.I will have Japan Raill Pass..How can I go Sun Dome Fukui,what is the road route ? can you help me ^^

    Sincerely Yours

  8. cion says:
    September 24, 2015 at 11:43 pm

    hi there,
    im traveling to kyoto and would like to take the earliest train to kanazawa so that i can travel to shirokawa, may i know how much it cost for a one way ticket?

    thanks

  9. Carol says:
    September 22, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    hi,

    I plan to go Osaka-Kanazawa-Osaka with 5 days trip, will arrival kansai international airport, my question as below
    1. i will buy the thunderbird train ticket from osaka to kanazawa, what pass i need to buy?
    2. is it i need to change the train from Kansai, if i take thunderbrid train?
    3. how to book the thunderbird train ticket? This pass is can use for anywhere?

    Thank you

  10. Grace says:
    August 30, 2015 at 7:38 am

    hi,

    i plan go to Kanazawa/shirakawago and kyoto, so i will choose the JP 5days pass Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass.
    May i know where to get the timetable and can we reserved online before we reach Osaka?

    my plan
    day1: Osaka(4pm reach)-Kanazawa
    day2: Kanazawa-shirakawa
    day3&4: shirakawa(maybe day trip to takayama)
    day5: Shirakawa-Kyoto (ques: if i use my pass on day 1, 4pm, means my pass will expired on this day at 11.59pm?)

    Thanks.

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