Limited Express Kounotori and Kinosaki are operated by the newest 287 series. (C) Jonathan Ayre
Konotori connects Shin-Osaka (新大阪) and Osaka (大阪) with Kinosaki-Onsen (城崎温泉), Toyooka (豊岡) and Fukuchiyama (福知山). When you go to the popular hot springs town, Kinosaki or one of “Three Views of Japan”, Amanohashidate from Osaka, you may take this train.
Of course, this train, Kounotori can be used by Japan Rail Pass with no restriction. Let’s see about route, schedule and accommodations of these trains.
Route, schedule and travel time
Amanohashidate is one of Three Views of Japan. ©Kyoto Prefecture/© JNTO
Konotori connects Osaka with Fukuchiyama in 1 hour 30 minutes, and Osaka with Kinosaki-Onsen in 2 hours 40 minutes. This train departs from Shin-Osaka. Shin-Osaka is only one station away from Osaka. Therefore the time required is almost same as departure from Osaka.
The number of trips is the following:
Between Shin-Osaka and Kinosaki-Onsen — 6 round trips
Between Shin-Osaka and Toyooka — 1 round trips
Between Shin-Osaka and Fukuchiyama — 7 trips to Fukuchiyama, 5 trips to Osaka
*You can find it at the bottom of JR West website.
If you go to Amanohashidate, you have to transfer a train at Fukuchiyama. You can transfer to a local train or another limited express train “Hashidate” that is operated between Kyoto and Amanohashidate. Some Konotori arrive at Fukuchiyama station at same time as Hashidate. You may transfer the train at the same platform.
You can find the detail schedule at Hyperdia.
* If you don’t know how to use Hyperdia, please refer this post
| Stations | |
|---|---|
| Shin-Osaka (新大阪) | x |
| Osaka (大阪) | x |
| Amagasaki (尼崎駅) | x |
| Takarazuka (宝塚) | x |
| Sanda (三田) | x |
| Shin-Sanda (新三田) | * |
| Aino (相野) | * |
| Sasayamaguchi (篠山口) | x |
| Tanikawa (谷川) | * |
| Kaibara (柏原) | x |
| Kuroi (黒井) | * |
| Fukuchiyama(福知山) | x |
| Wadayama (和田山) | x |
| Yoka (八鹿) | x |
| Ebara (江原) | x |
| Toyooka(豊岡) | x |
| Kinosaki-Onsen (城崎温泉) | x |
x:All train stop *:Some of trains stop
View Kounotori in a larger map
Accommodation and train formations
Kinosaki Onsen is an old fashioned hot springs town. ©Toyooka City/©JNTO
Kunotori is operated by the newest fleet 287 series and 289 series. All trains do not have any on board sales. Please prepare food and drinks before you ride.
287 series
This fleet is very common for limited express train in Kansai area.. The seat configuration in Green class is 2+1 and the seat pitch is 1160mm. The seat configuration in Ordinary class is 2+2 and the seat pitch is 970mm. All seats in Green class and the first row seats in Ordinary class have a power outlet. You can use your laptop or charge your batteries.
*I have received many images of 287 series from my viewer, Mr. Jonathan Ayre. I would like to thank you for your contribution.
7 cars formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| G | R | R | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
4 cars formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| G | R | R | NR | NR |
3 cars formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| R | R | NR |
*G=Green seat R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train.
Images
Green seat
Ordinary seat
Sanitary space
Entrance deck
289 series
289 series used to run as limited express train in Hokuriku region.
289 series was 683 series for Limited Express Shirasagi. When Hokuriku Shinkansen was open, many train sets were transferred and started to use for Limited Express Kounotori as 289 series.
Interior was same when it ran as Shirasagi and Thunderbird. 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 bit bigger than the standard. The front row seats have a big table and a power outlet. If you want to use your laptop or charge your batteries, try to secure these seats.
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.
Train formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| G | R | NR | NR |
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| R | R | NR |
In peak season, two train sets are combined and it runs as 7 cars formation.
*G=Green seat R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train. This train is sometimes operated by 6 cars formation.
Images
These images below were taken when it ran as Shirasagi. But the interior is mostly same.
Green seat
Ordinary seat
Sanitary space
Entrance deck and common space
Comments
Hello I’ll go Osaka at february.I buy kansai wide area paa .Can i use limited express kuonotori in ordinary car ? I can reserve in ordinary car? I must pay seat fee for reserve seat? Thank you for answer.
Hi Pises,
You can use only non reserved ordinary car of Kounotori by Kansai wide area pass. If you want to reserve your seat, you have to pay full fare of reserved seat. That cost is not the difference between reserved and non reserved. If you do this, you may not get the worth of the pass. Regular fare may be cheaper and not recommended. Please refer the link below to find more info about non reserved car.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/reserved-seat-vs-non-reserved-seat-how-to-get-a-seat-on-non-reserved-car.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi all interested in the Kounotori service,
The new 287 series is quite a nice train. It seems in many ways similar to the 681 series “Thunderbird” or “Shirasagi” sets that do the Osaka Kanazawa/Toyama and Nagoya/Maibara Kanazawa/Toyama runs. The “Kounotori” services have replaced what I think used to be called “Kitakinki”.
A bit of supplementary info. The standard cars actually have a 2 + 1 seat configuration in rows 13 and 14 (the back two rows), so if you’re travelling alone or in a group of 3, you might be able to ask for this. Seats in the standard car also have both a meal tray in the back of the seat as well as a mini tray that comes from beneath the armrest.
Word of warning though, there is no vending machine or cart service anywhere on the 287 series train, and it’s a reasonable trip up to Kinosaki Onsen, so make sure you have any snacks you may need. Even though its not that far, there are some pretty strict speed limits on the track between Fukuchiyama and Kinosaki Onsen.
I’m not certain about the 7-car configurations, but on the “Kinosaki” services that go from Kyoto Kinosaki Onsen, the 4-car set continues to Kinosaki, and the 3-car attachment uncouples at Fukuchiyama and heads for Higashi-Maizuru or to Toyooka via Amanohashidate and operates as Limited Express “Maizuru” or “Hashidate”. I don’t know whether Kounotori services are similar.
Best regards,
Jonathan Ayre