How to get from Osaka to Kanazawa

Travel from the biggest city in Kansai to the golden boutique city of Kanazawa using a combination of the Thunderbird Limited Express Train and the newly expanded Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train!

Trip Duration Approx. 2 hours 10 mins
First & Last Departure 6:05 AM/ 10:45 PM
💶 Cost From 2,300 to 5,000 yen
🚆 Distance 237 kilometers
🚉 Departing/Arriving Station Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka Station/
Kanazawa Station
Thunderbird Limited Express TrainKagayaki Shinkansen Bullet Train
READ MORE ABOUT SEAT RESERVATIONS // How to Reserve Seats on the Train in Japan

Oversized Baggage on the Shinkansen

In order to board the bullet train, passengers who are carrying a lot of luggage must follow certain rules. According to Japan Railway regulations, any baggage exceeding 160 cm in length, width, and height needs to be checked into the special bulky baggage section at the back of the train car. Owners of such bags must additionally make reservations for seats near this section. Please be advised that baggage exceeding 250 cm in total is not permitted on the Shinkansen bullet train.

Baby carriages, musical instruments in cases, and sporting goods (bikes, snowboards, etc.) in cases are all excluded from these baggage limits.

NOTE: These oversized baggage rules ONLY apply to the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train line. Other Shinkansen bullet trains such as the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Limited Express Trains DO NOT have a limit or special regulations in regards to reserving oversized baggage sections or compartments.

Dimensions for luggage on the Shinkansen bullet train

READ MORE ABOUT OVERSIZED BAGGAGE RULES // New Luggage Reservation Rules for the Shinkansen

These ancient burial grounds are a rare historic site among the modern buildings inside the Osaka metropolitan area. From above, the burial grounds take on different shapes and sizes, with the larger ones resembling key holes. 

The primary servicing station for passengers traveling to and from Osaka via Shinkansen will be Shin-Osaka Station, a more modern station constructed in 1964 to manage the country's first Shinkansen bullet train operation. Nearby Kiyasuso Hanpo is worth checking out. It's well known for its unusually shaped rectangular mitarashi dango—roasted, chewy mochi covered in sweet sauce. Inside Shin-Osaka Station, Chikira House is a specialized shop that sells Nissin Chicken Ramen products. Get ramen-flavored soft serve ice cream, savory appetizers, and Osaka-specific souvenirs. A unique delight that will surely remain in your memory throughout your visit to Osaka! 

Tower of the Sun by Taro Okamamoto in Osaka, Japan

Tower of the Sun by Taro Okamamoto in Osaka, Japan

@Wikimedia

Osaka, Japan

Osaka, Japan

@Wikimedia

Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three famous gardens, is also located in Kanazawa. The garden first welcomed visitors in the late 1800s, and it now hosts seasonal nighttime illuminations in the spring for the cherry blossoms and in the fall for the changing of the leaves. The 21st Century Contemporary Art Museum and the historic Kanazawa Castle are close by, making this central location a hub for entertainment and activities. For a deeper exploration of Kanazawa's extensive past, a visit to Higashi-chaya is a must. This is a classic tea district that's perfect for photos because it still has many of its original buildings from centuries ago. Wearing traditional yukata, many tourists from both inside and outside of Japan stroll around this region of Kanazawa. Naturally, the area has cafes and restaurants, stores offering trinkets and handicrafts, and traditional tea houses. See Yamano-o, a traditional Japanese ryokan and kaiseki restaurant run by the same family for five generations, at the top of the hill overlooking Higashi-chaya. 

Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle

@Wikimedia

Kenrokuen

Kenroku-en in early fall

@Wikimedia

Higashiyama Station, Kyoto

Higashiyama Station, Kyoto

@Wikimedia

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