No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to Kyoto. For over a thousand years it was the nation’s capital, but today it is the country’s cultural and spiritual center. Here you can experience kabuki theater, geisha dancing, traditional tea ceremony, Zen meditation, and the local specialty Kyo-ryori cuisine. It is also Japan’s best preserved city, with many beautiful temples, shrines, palaces, and contemplative gardens.
The Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto
Major tourist attractions include the Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, and the bamboo forest of Arashiyama. Fortunately Kyoto is really easy to reach from Kanazawa thanks to excellent train and bus links. In this article we will look at the best ways to travel between these two cities.
Traveling by Train
The fastest JR route between Kyoto and Kanazawa uses the Thunderbird Limited Express and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From Kyoto Station, take the Thunderbird to Tsuruga Station, and then transfer at Tsuruga to the Hokuriku Shinkansen for Kanazawa. JR West provides a Tsuruga Station transfer guide for this connection.
Fast JR connections take about 2 hours between Kyoto and Kanazawa, including the transfer at Tsuruga. A typical journey is about 45 minutes by Thunderbird from Kyoto to Tsuruga, followed by about 1 hour by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga to Kanazawa. The train has a very striking exterior appearance and the inside seating is spacious and comfortable too, so traveling on the Thunderbird itself is a very enjoyable part of any trip.
The Limited Express Thunderbird bound for Kyoto
Ticket prices vary by seat type, date, and purchase method. For eligible foreign visitors, JR West’s Hokuriku One-way Ticket is a useful option: Kyoto City to Kanazawa costs 6,500 yen for adults and 3,250 yen for children, and covers the Limited Express Thunderbird and Hokuriku Shinkansen on this route. The JR route is also covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but reserve your seat before boarding because the Thunderbird is an all-reserved-seat limited express. The Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass is another pass to consider for travel between Kyoto, Kanazawa, and the wider Hokuriku region.
Traveling by Highway Bus
Highway buses between Kyoto and Kanazawa are slower than the train, but they can be cheaper. West JR Bus operates daytime and overnight Osaka/Kyoto-Fukui/Kanazawa/Toyama services using Kanazawa Station’s Kanazawa Port Gate, Kyoto Station, and Kyoto-Fukakusa. In the Kanazawa-to-Kyoto direction, the daytime bus leaves Kanazawa at 10:20 and reaches Kyoto Station at 15:08, while overnight buses leave Kanazawa at 23:00 and 23:20 and arrive at Kyoto Station at 5:00 and 5:30. In the Kyoto-to-Kanazawa direction, the daytime bus leaves Kyoto Station at 11:40 and reaches Kanazawa at 16:28, while overnight buses leave Kyoto Station at 23:40 and 23:59 and arrive at Kanazawa at 5:46 and 6:02.
Fares vary by service, seat type, date, and discount availability. As a guide, Kyoto-Kanazawa adult fares range roughly from 2,300 yen to 9,600 yen. You can look up fares and make bookings at Kousokubus.net. For more details check out the West JR Bus Company English website.
A JR Bus bound for Kyoto & Osaka
Another daytime option is the Osaka/Kyoto-Komatsu/Kanazawa route operated by Kintetsu Bus and Kita Nippon Kanko Bus. From Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit, buses depart at 8:30 and 14:35 and arrive at Kanazawa Station at 12:50 and 18:55. From Kanazawa Station, buses depart at 8:00 and 14:00 and arrive at Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit at 12:26 and 18:26. Kyoto-Kanazawa adult fares vary by fare-calendar period from 2,500 yen to 5,700 yen. For details and booking information, check the Kintetsu Bus route page.
A Hokutetsu bus bound for Kyoto and Osaka
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 01-Jun-2026.
