🚄 JRJapan Rail Pass
Nationwide ・ Three types: 7, 14 or 21 days. The period of use cannot be extended or changed
From ¥50,000
Osaka → Kanazawa
Osaka to Kanazawa
🚆 Limited express🚌 Highway bus🌙 Overnight bus
The fastest way from Osaka to Kanazawa is the Limited Express Thunderbird to Tsuruga, changing to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, taking as little as 2 hr 9 min. You can ride both with a JR Pass or Hokuriku Arch Pass. For a lower fare, highway buses and overnight buses from Osaka Station are also available.
Compare
Compare your options
Limited Express Thunderbird + Hokuriku Shinkansen (change at Tsuruga)
- Travel time
- Fastest 2 hr 9 min (change at Tsuruga)
- Fare
- HOKURIKU One-way Ticket for international visitors ¥8,000 for adults (as of October 2026, purchased in advance outside Japan)
- Transfers
- Change at Tsuruga to the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tsurugi, Kagayaki, etc.; standard connection time 8 min)
Highway bus (Hokurikudo Seishun Hiru Tokkyu Osaka)
- Travel time
- About 6 hr (departs Osaka Station 10:20 → arrives Kanazawa Station 16:28)
- Fare
- ¥2,500–6,800 for adults (as of October 2026, varies by travel date)
- Transfers
- None
Overnight bus (Hyakumangoku Dream Osaka and others)
- Travel time
- About 7 hr 30 min (e.g. departs Osaka Station 22:20 → arrives Kanazawa Station 5:46)
- Fare
- 3-across seating ¥3,700–9,800, 4-across seating ¥3,100–7,800 (as of October 2026, varies by travel date)
- Transfers
- None
| Compare your options | Travel time | Fare | JR Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited Express Thunderbird + Hokuriku Shinkansen (change at Tsuruga) | Fastest 2 hr 9 min (change at Tsuruga) | HOKURIKU One-way Ticket for international visitors ¥8,000 for adults (as of October 2026, purchased in advance outside Japan) | Covered by the JR Pass (no extra charge for either the Thunderbird or the Hokuriku Shinkansen) |
| Highway bus (Hokurikudo Seishun Hiru Tokkyu Osaka) | About 6 hr (departs Osaka Station 10:20 → arrives Kanazawa Station 16:28) | ¥2,500–6,800 for adults (as of October 2026, varies by travel date) | — |
| Overnight bus (Hyakumangoku Dream Osaka and others) | About 7 hr 30 min (e.g. departs Osaka Station 22:20 → arrives Kanazawa Station 5:46) | 3-across seating ¥3,700–9,800, 4-across seating ¥3,100–7,800 (as of October 2026, varies by travel date) | — |
Fares and times are as of the date shown. Airfares vary by season and booking date. Check the operator’s official website before you travel.
Recommended
Best option for…
Fastest option / Using a JR Pass
→ Limited Express Thunderbird + Hokuriku Shinkansen (change at Tsuruga)
Budget option
→ Highway bus (Hokurikudo Seishun Hiru Tokkyu Osaka)
Overnight to save on accommodation
→ Overnight bus (Hyakumangoku Dream Osaka and others)
How to Ride
How to ride each option
Limited express
Limited Express Thunderbird + Hokuriku Shinkansen (change at Tsuruga)
- Depart from
- Osaka Station (also stops at Shin-Osaka and Kyoto stations)
- Arrive at
- Kanazawa Station
- Travel time
- Fastest 2 hr 9 min (change at Tsuruga)
- Fare
- HOKURIKU One-way Ticket for international visitors ¥8,000 for adults (as of October 2026, purchased in advance outside Japan)
- Frequency
- Thunderbird Osaka–Tsuruga: 25 round trips a day
- Transfers
- Change at Tsuruga to the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tsurugi, Kagayaki, etc.; standard connection time 8 min)
- Tickets
- Station ticket machines or ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi), or JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION
- JR Pass
- Covered by the JR Pass (no extra charge for either the Thunderbird or the Hokuriku Shinkansen)
- Note
- Transfer through the transfer gates on the 2nd floor of Tsuruga Station. Limited express platforms are on the 1st floor and Shinkansen platforms on the 3rd floor
Highway bus
Highway bus (Hokurikudo Seishun Hiru Tokkyu Osaka)
- Depart from
- JR Expressway Bus Terminal at Osaka Station
- Arrive at
- Kanazawa Station (Kanazawa Port Exit)
- Travel time
- About 6 hr (departs Osaka Station 10:20 → arrives Kanazawa Station 16:28)
- Fare
- ¥2,500–6,800 for adults (as of October 2026, varies by travel date)
- Frequency
- 1 service a day
- Transfers
- None
- Tickets
- Kousoku Bus Net (JR Bus reservation site) and others. All seats reserved
- Note
- 4-across seating. Also stops at Kyoto Station and Fukui Station
Overnight bus
Overnight bus (Hyakumangoku Dream Osaka and others)
- Depart from
- JR Expressway Bus Terminal at Osaka Station
- Arrive at
- Kanazawa Station (Kanazawa Port Exit)
- Travel time
- About 7 hr 30 min (e.g. departs Osaka Station 22:20 → arrives Kanazawa Station 5:46)
- Fare
- 3-across seating ¥3,700–9,800, 4-across seating ¥3,100–7,800 (as of October 2026, varies by travel date)
- Frequency
- 2 services a day
- Transfers
- None
- Tickets
- Kousoku Bus Net (JR Bus reservation site) and others. All seats reserved
- Note
- The Hyakumangoku Dream Osaka with 3-across seating and the Seishun Hokuriku Dream Osaka with 4-across seating
Tips
Good to know
- ✓Since March 2024 there has been no direct limited express between Osaka and Kanazawa, so you always change at Tsuruga
- ✓The Thunderbird departs from Osaka Station. You can also board at Shin-Osaka Station
- ✓Highway buses arrive at the Kanazawa Port Exit of Kanazawa Station
Travel Passes
Travel passes you can use on this route
🚄 JR
🎫 Combo ticket
🚄 JRTickets you can book in advancePR
PRKlookOsaka–Kanazawa Thunderbird + Hokuriku Shinkansen ticketChoose your train combination with a change at Tsuruga and your seats, and book onlineView on Klook- PRKlookJR Thunderbird Ticket (Osaka / Kyoto–Kanazawa)For international visitors. A one-way ticket valid on the Thunderbird and the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tsuruga–Kanazawa) for the whole journeyView on Klook
- PRKlookJR Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days)Unlimited rides on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and limited express trains linking Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and OsakaView on Klook
Map
Map
Where to Stay · Agoda
Places to Stay near KanazawaPR
PR9.1天然温泉 加賀の宝泉 御宿 野乃 金沢
★★★★Check rates on Agoda6,866 reviews1.1 km from center
PR9.0ホテルフォルツァ金沢
★★★★Check rates on Agoda6,234 reviews0.9 km from center
PR8.9ドーミーイン金沢
★★★★Check rates on Agoda6,716 reviews0.3 km from center
PR8.9ホテルマイステイズプレミア金沢
★★★★Check rates on Agoda6,028 reviews0.5 km from center
PR9.2ダイワロイネットホテル金沢駅西口
★★★★Check rates on Agoda3,772 reviews0.2 km from center
PR8.5KOKO HOTEL 金沢駅前
★★★Check rates on Agoda7,037 reviews0.3 km from center
Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Other Routes
Other routes
Osaka → Hiroshima
Fastest: About 1 hr 25 min (e.g. Nozomi No. 89 departs Shin-Osaka 22:29 → arrives Hiroshima 23:54)
🚄 Shinkansen🚌 Highway bus🌙 Overnight bus
Osaka → Okayama
Fastest: About 45 min (e.g. Nozomi No. 89 departs Shin-Osaka 22:29 → arrives Okayama 23:13)
🚄 Shinkansen🚌 Highway bus
Travel times, fares and boarding points are based on official information from rail, airline, bus and ferry operators. Fares and timetables can change, so check the official websites before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-08