Although there is no Shinkansen connection between Osaka and Kanazawa, traveling between the two cities is straightforward by train or bus. The train is much quicker and more comfortable, but the bus is cheaper. Let’s take a look at your options.
Traveling by Train
The Limited Express Thunderbird is the main limited express train from Osaka toward the Hokuriku region. To travel from Osaka to Kanazawa, take the Thunderbird from Osaka, Shin-Osaka, or Kyoto to Tsuruga Station, and then transfer at Tsuruga to the Hokuriku Shinkansen for Kanazawa.
Osaka Station
Tsuruga is the key connection point between the limited express trains from Kansai and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. JR West publishes a Tsuruga Station transfer guide for this connection. Fast connections from Osaka Station to Kanazawa take about 2 hours 10-30 minutes, including the transfer at Tsuruga. A typical journey is about 1 hour and 20 minutes by Thunderbird from Osaka to Tsuruga, about 10 minutes for the transfer, and about 40 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga to Kanazawa. The Thunderbird has a sleek and streamlined exterior and the interior seats are spacious and comfortable too, so traveling on the limited express train is a very enjoyable part of any trip.
The Limited Express Thunderbird
Ticket prices depend on the seat type, purchase method, and travel date. For eligible foreign visitors, JR West’s Hokuriku One-way Ticket is a useful one-way option. The Osaka City to Kanazawa ticket costs 8,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for children, and covers the Limited Express Thunderbird and the Hokuriku Shinkansen on this route.
This JR route is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, and seat reservations can be made with the pass. The Thunderbird is an all-reserved-seat limited express, so reserve your seat before boarding. If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass is the regional JR West pass to consider for the Osaka-Kanazawa journey. The Hokuriku Area Pass is different: it covers travel inside Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui, so it can be useful after you reach Kanazawa but does not cover the Thunderbird section from Osaka or Kyoto to Tsuruga.
Traveling by Bus
West JR Bus operates daytime and overnight express buses between Osaka Station and Kanazawa Station. Buses depart from Osaka Station’s JR Expressway Bus Terminal and arrive at Kanazawa Station’s Kanazawa Port Gate. Daytime buses take around 6 hours, while overnight buses leave late in the evening and arrive early the next morning. Fares vary by service, seat type, travel date, and discount availability, with Osaka-Kanazawa fares ranging roughly from 2,500 yen to 9,800 yen.
A JR Bus at Kanazawa Station
You can look up journey times and make bookings online at Kousokubus.net, where available, or make enquiries and bookings directly at Osaka Station’s Bus Terminal Ticket Office. For more details about how to buy tickets and where to find bus stops check the West JR Bus English website.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 31-May-2026.
