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. An says:
    August 18, 2015 at 3:01 am

    Takeshisan,

    I am planning to use the Hokuriku Area Pass.

    Does this pass connect to Kyoto as well or stops at Tsuruga? If it stops at Tsuruga, what is the most economical way to connect to Kyoto and vice versa?

    Thank you

  2. MsTan says:
    August 4, 2015 at 6:10 am

    Greetings Takeshi San,
    I am flying end Aug’15 into Nagoya (D1) and flying out from Tokyo (D11), and plan this routing:-
    D2: Nagoya ->Takayama, and Takayama->Shirakawago (rtn)
    D3: Takayama->Kamikochi (rtn)
    D4: Takayama->Toyama->Takeyama
    D5: Takeyama Alpine route (rtn to Takeyama), and ->Toyama
    D6: Toyama->Kyoto via Kanazawa
    ::Above D2-D6, use the Takayama Hokuriku Pass; and buy the Takeyama Alpine route 2 way ticket

    D7&8 : Kyoto:: use 2 day Kyoto Pass
    D9: Kyoto->Tokyo:: travel Shinkansen
    D10: Tokyo:: travel individual train/subway trips

    Appreciate your kind advice as to whether this routing and Pass usage is ideal, time and cost-wise.

    Or perhaps the Takeyama Alpine Pass is more economical ; in which case I change the routing to Nagoya->Kyoto->Toyama->Takayama->Toyama->Tateyama->Tokyo.
    I’m unclear as to the cost and coverage of this Pass.

    Thank you.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 4, 2015 at 12:59 pm

      Hi MsTan san,

      I think your original plan is better. Both JR Central and JR West sell Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route ticket. But both pass include return fare to departure city (Nagoya to Nagoya or Kyoto to Kyoto) and you must go through Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. I don’t think these deals are suitable for your trip.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Chicosan says:
    July 24, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    We are 2 adult and 1 child under six years old flying into Osaka in mid-October for 7 days.
    Our travel plans are:

    Day 1: KIX to Kanazawa
    Day 2: Kanazawa to Shirawago
    Day 3: Kanazawa to Toyoma
    Day4: Kanazawa to Osaka
    Day 5: Osaka to Kyoto
    Day 6: Osaka to Kobe
    Day7: Osaka to KIX

    What pass will be the best value and convenient for us?

    Many thanks

  4. al says:
    July 19, 2015 at 8:52 am

    Hi Takeshi
    i will be traveling on nov 12 2015
    will be staying in osaka for the 6 days
    but will visit hiroshima, miyajima, himeji, kyoto and kanazawa during the stay in osaka
    should i just get 7 days JR Pass for all my travel ?
    Thanks

  5. Antti says:
    July 15, 2015 at 8:28 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    we will be travelling in Japan in the beginning of November between Monday 2 November and Monday 9 November. Our planned route is Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Nakazawa, Nagoya. What would be the most efficient way to travel by train? Can we apply the Japan Rail Pass for these connections?

    Thanks in advance for your reply.

    Antti

  6. Sid says:
    July 14, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be going from Kyoto to Kanazawa on the thunderbird on 4thOct, Sunday.

    1. With the hokuriku area pass, can I just buy the ticket for Kyoto to tsuruga, and stay on the very same train and just show the area pass when they check tickets? Or do I have to get off at tsuruga and board again?

    2. I am thinking of taking unreserved seats on the thunderbird from Kyoto to kanazawa, what are the chances that I won’t get a seat?

    Thank you in advance!

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      July 14, 2015 at 7:43 pm

      Hi Sid,

      1. You can show both single ticket and limited express ticket for Kyoto-Tsuruga, and Hokuriku area pass when the conductor check your ticket.

      2. If you are solo traveller, I think you can get a seat. It’s hard to find side by side usually. But it’s very hard to say how busy it will be.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Sid says:
        July 14, 2015 at 8:53 pm

        Thank you for your reply Takeshi! Your article is very helpful!! Wonder if the hokuriku pass is the most economical for my trip:

        Day1-2 Osaka
        Day 2-3 Kyoto
        Day3-5 Kanagawa
        Day 5-6 Kobe
        Day 6-10 Osaka

        I’m planning to get the ICOCA Haruka and Hokuriku pass. Do you think this is the best value for my trip? Any inputs is highly appreciated! Thank you!

  7. ms aini says:
    June 16, 2015 at 5:02 am

    Hi Takeshi

    Appreciate your advice on my planned trip below:

    Passmo card
    Day 1-2 Tokyo
    Day 3 Mt Fuji

    Travel by highway bus from Tokyo to Takayama

    JR Takayama Hokuriku 5 Days Pass
    Day 4 Takayama
    Day 5 Shirakawago
    Day 6 Kanazawa
    Day 7 Japanese Alps (Tateyama/Shinhotaka)

    Travel from Takayama to Kyoto using the above JR Pass

    Kyoto 1 Day Pass & 2 Days Pass
    Day 8 Kyoto
    Day 9-10 Kyoto

    Travel from Kyoto to Osaka by xx(please advice)

    Osaka Amazing 2 Days Pass
    Day 11-12 Osaka

    Travel from Osaka to Kansai Airport by bus
    Day 12 Kansai Airport (midnight flight)

    Is JR 14 days pass worth compared to the above plan?

    We are ladies traveller of three.Looking forward to your reply.Thank you

  8. Assi says:
    April 25, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Hello,

    Due to i bought JR Pass 7 days, So I would like to know, I can use JR pass for this Thunderbird? If i can use, i have to reserve the seat or not.

    Thank you so much.
    Assi

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      April 25, 2015 at 10:31 am

      Hi Assi,

      It is covered fully. Reservation is not mandatory but recommended.
      Reserved seat fee is covered by JR pass. Why don’t you go for booking it? 🙂

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. Linda says:
    April 22, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Hi Takeshi, I plan to use the Limited Express Train from Osaka to Kanazawa on 9 May 2015. Our group has 3 adults and 1 kid (5 year old). Since we still dont need to pay the ticket for five-year-old kid, I intend to buy unreserved seat ticket so that my kid can sit individually in his seat.
    1. Is it crowded on 9 May? I note that it has passed the Golden week but it is in Saturday. How big is he chance of getting a seat for four of us?
    2. Is the non-reserved car non-smoking? How to ensure that we board a non-smoking car? It will be a nightmare if we accidentally board into the smoking car.

    Thanks.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      April 22, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Hi Linda,

      1. It’s not a peak period, but it’s weekend. You can get a seat as long as you take this train at Osaka

      2. All cars are non smoking.

      In case that all seats will be full, you may be asked by conductor to share the seat with your kid because he’s free. In basic rule, you cannot use a seat for child passenger who doesn’t pay. As long as there are empty seats, you can use it for your child.

      Just for your info.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. Cindy says:
    March 24, 2015 at 7:28 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am travelling to Japan from 6June to 12 June. My questions are:

    1. For ICOCA and Haruka pass, the one way pass can it be Osaka to Kansai Airport? As I saw many people bought this pass is from Kansai Airport to Osaka/Kyoto.

    2. If can’t use the pass, may I know how can I travel from Osaka to Kansai Airport? What is the cost?

    3. For Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, can I go Kanazawa from Kyoto? If yes, which train should I take? I told by the JTB where this pass only can use JR limited express and the train schedule are very less.

    Thanks a lot.

    Cindy

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