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:
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
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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
G | R | R | R | NR | NR | NR | R | R |
*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:
I hope this post will help you to create your trip plan.
Comments
Hi Takeshi San,
We are planning a trip with the following itinerary:-
6/11/2018 – Tokyo Narita Airport to Osaka (2 nights in Osaka)
8/11/2018 – Osaka to Awara Onsen
9/11/2018 – Awara Onsen to Takayama
10/11/2018 – Takayama to Shirakawago
11/11/2018 – Takayama to Tokyo (2 nights in Tokyo)
12/11/2018 – Tokyo to Narita Airport
Kindly advice the best pass to purchase on our trips.
Thank you
Cheers
Jeremy Chow
Hi Jeremy san,
JR pass 7 days is your choice.
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
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I am not getting time schedules for the Limited Express Thuderbird between Kanazawa and Kyoto, can you help me?.
We are travelling to Japan second forthnight of October and I do have to prepare our route, if I could find the link showing trains timetable from Kanazawa to Kyoto would be most convenient.
Thank you very much!!!
Hi Maria,
Please use hyperdia to find it.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
There is no timetables available online.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
Do you think the nationwide 7 days JR Pass or the Hokuriku Arch pass good enough to cover my itinerary.
8/10, Tokyo to Kyoto
9/10 , Kyoto
10/10 Kyoto Travel to Kurobe Gorge by thunderbird & JR Hokuriku Shinkansen, back to Toyama
11/10 Toyama to Kanazawa
12/10 Kanazawa to Toyama for Alpine Route toward Nagano
13/10 Nagano , Karuizawa
14/10 Karuizawa to Tokyo
Hi Lishya san,
I recommend you to use JR pass. It is better choice than using Hokuriku Arch Pass. Hokuriku Arch Pass is cheaper but it does not cover Tokyo to Kyoto direct route. If you use JR pass, you can take Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. It’s direct and take about 2.5 hours.
Meanwhile if you use Hokuriku arch pass, you have to go through Kanazawa from Tokyo to Kyoto and need to change from Hokuriku Shinkansen to Thunderbird. Trip time is 5 hours. It is inconvenient.
Both JR pass and Hokuriku arch pass do not cover Kurobe Gorge and Alpine route. You have to add extra fare for Kurobe Gorge and Tateyama Kurobe option ticket for Alpine route:
http://www.jrtateyama.com/e/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
please could you help us with your advice. Do we need to get a JR pass for this trip or is it cheaper to buy tickets individually?
day 1 – Osaka airport to Kyoto
five days in Kyoto and then to Kanazawa
two days in Kanazawa and then to Tokyo
Five days in Tokyo and then departure from Narita.
If it is better to buy the tickets individually, how and where do we do it?
Thank you for your help.
Hi Alyona,
JR Pass is not recommended because you cannot get the worth of it.
You may use Kansai One Pass and Haruka (ICOCA and Haruka) for access to Kyoto.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/icoca-and-haruka-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-kansai.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/what-is-ic-card-suica-icoca-pasmo-how-to-use-these-cards.html
You may use Kansai one pass to take trains or subways. You can use it to take a bus in Kyoto but one day city bus pass is sold at only 600 yen. You can get the worth by only 3 rides. So I recommend you to use Kansai one pass for taking trains and subways only.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/webguide/en/index.html
After that, you can use regular ticket but you can use one base fare ticket from Kyoto to Tokyo via Kanazawa, and use limited express train ticket from Kyoto to Kanazawa, and Shinkansen ticket from Kanazawa to Tokyo. It will be slightly cheaper if you use one base fare ticket from Kyoto to Tokyo with stopover at Kanazawa.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
In Tokyo, you can use subway pass.
In Tokyo, Tokyo Subway Ticket is recommended:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/travel/index.html
There is no deals from Tokyo to Narita.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you!
No worries, Alyona.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Can you help me asses what train and bus pass should we get? Here’s our detailed itinerary:
Dec 09 to 11 (kansai airport to kyoto)
Dec 11 to 13 ( kyoto to tokyo)
Dec 13 to 15 ( tokyo to yuzawa)
Dec 15 to 16 (yuzawa to tokyo)
Dec 16 to 19 ( tokyo to osaka)
Thanks,
Dhan
Hi Dhan,
You may use ICOCA and Haruka for Dec 9 and 10.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/icoca-and-haruka-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-kansai.html
JR pass 7 days for Dec 11 to Dec 17.
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
And then add some deals for the rest of the days.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello, can you kindly advise which is the best pass to purchase based on the shortest travel time for the following itinerary:
– Osaka Airport to Osaka (1.5hrs via express)
– Travel Osaka to Kanazawa (2.45hrs via thunderbird)
– Day Trip Kanazawa to Noto Peninsula
– Day Trip Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go (2hrs via Nohi Bus)
– Travel Kanazawa to Kyoto (2.20hrs via thunderbird)
– Travel Kyoto to Osaka (45mins via shinkansen+local)
– Osaka to Osaka Airport (1.5hrs via express)
Thank you.
Hi Yii,
You can use Takayama Hokuriku area pass or Kansai Hokuriku area pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/takayama-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-to-get-takayama-kanazawa-toyama-shirakawago-from-nagoya-or-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kansai-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-for-the-traveller-who-wants-travel-to-kansai-kanazawa-and-toyama.html
Takayama Hokuriku area pass is valid for 5 days but it does not cover trip to Noto.
Kansai Hokuriku area pass is valid for 7 days but it does not cover trip to Shirakawago.
Either pass do not cover Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka. Only JR pass covers it but you cannot get the worth of it by this trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Good day<
I am traveling Tokyo – Nagano, Nagano – Kyoto, Kyoto – Tokyo. which trains should I take using Osaka-Tokyo Hakuriku Arch pass
thanks
Vitaly
Hi Vitaly,
You have to take Limited Express Thunderbird from Osaka (or Kyoto) to Kanazawa and Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Tokyo.
I think JR Pass is better choice.
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
The price is 5000 yen higher but you can take Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo. You can get Tokyo directly and trip time is more than 2 hours shorter than Osaka-Kanazawa-Tokyo route. Hokuriku arch pass does not cover this direct route.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I am planning Osaka-Kanazawa-Toyama-Osaka all within 5 days. what is the best JR pass I should get? Thanks
Hi Chan,
Takayama Hokuriku area pass suits your trip plan:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/takayama-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-to-get-takayama-kanazawa-toyama-shirakawago-from-nagoya-or-osaka.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Can you help us with what JR passes and other train pass should we get? Here’s our detailed itinerary:
Feb 17 KIX to Umeda
Feb 18 Umeda to Kanazawa (day trip) to Umeda
Feb 19 Umeda to Kyoto (day trip)
Feb 20 USJ
Feb 21 Osaka and Nara (daytrip)
Feb 22 Umeda to KIX
Thank you
Hi LDG,
You may use Kansai Hokuriku area pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kansai-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-for-the-traveller-who-wants-travel-to-kansai-kanazawa-and-toyama.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for the quick response. Does the Kansai Hokuriku pass include the bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawago?
Thank you
Hi LDG,
No, it doesn’t. Takayama Hokuriku area pass covers it and may be better choice than Kansai Hokuriku area pass. But it does not cover Nara and valid for 5 days only.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/takayama-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-to-get-takayama-kanazawa-toyama-shirakawago-from-nagoya-or-osaka.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
This is our revised itinerary:
Feb 17 KIX to Umeda
Feb 18 Umeda to Kanazawa and Shirakawago (day trip) to Umeda
Feb 19 Umeda to Kyoto (day trip)
Feb 20 USJ
Feb 21 Osaka area
Feb 22 Umeda to KIX
What combination of passes would be a better deal for us?
Thank you
Hi LDG,
You may use Takayama Hokuriku area pass for the first 5 days. But you need to add bus pass or subway/bus pass in Kyoto. Because this pass does not cover any local transportation in Kyoto. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
You may use one of the deal in the link below for departure day.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Correct me if Im wrong, the T-H pass include trains around Osaka such as (USJ, Osaka castle, etc) but not around Kyoto?
Hi Takeshi
I was just wondering if this would work
Feb 17 KIX to Umeda (use K-H pass)
Feb 18 Umeda to Kanazawa and Shirakawago (day trip) to Umeda (use K-H pass and buy nohi bus roundtrip ticket for 3700yen)
Feb 19 Umeda to Kyoto (day trip) (use K-H pass)(add kyoto bus pass for 500yen if needed)
Feb 20 USJ (use K-H pass)
Feb 21 Osaka area (use K-H pass)
Feb 22 Umeda to KIX (use K-H pass)
Thank you very much
Hi LDG,
You mis-understood the coverage of Takayama Hokuriku area pass. It covers JR train from Osaka (Umeda) to Kyoto. You can get Kyoto. And it includes Nohi bus fare too. Kansai Hokuriku area pass is not a right choice.
As you think, you can take JR local train in Osaka to get USJ and many places in Osaka:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi San, good day to you. Please assist me how to make a seat reservation on Nohi bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawa and return to kanazawa .thank you in advance.
Hi Yong SL san,
Please see the link below. You will find online reservation site address.
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/highwaybus/shirakawago.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com