Those travelling from Kyoto or Osaka to Kanazawa used to be able to reach Kanazawa simply by taking the Thunderbird limited express train, which offered a direct connection. However, from March 2024, this route will be changed, requiring passengers to transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga Station. This has somewhat reduced the convenience of travelling and increased the hassle of changing trains.
The reason behind this change is the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The Hokuriku Shinkansen was originally planned as a route between Tokyo and Osaka, and a number of lines were defined by the National Shinkansen Railway Development Act promulgated(全国新幹線鉄道整備法公布) in 1970. However, the section from Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka has not yet opened, and this unopened section is the reason for this change in travel route.
There were two proposed routes from Tsuruga to Osaka, Shin-Osaka, and Kyoto: one via Obama City in Fukui Prefecture, and the other via Maibara in Shiga Prefecture. The Obama route was finally adopted, but construction progress has been slow due to the large construction costs involved. The Maibara route, on the other hand, is being reconsidered on the grounds that it is less expensive and more realistic, but no concrete progress has yet been made. Under these circumstances, the journey is somewhat inconvenient for users, as they have to change trains at Tsuruga Station.
The following section provides details of specific route changes with regard to travel from Kyoto and Osaka to Kanazawa. Firstly, when travelling from Osaka, Shin-Osaka, or Kyoto to Kanazawa, it was previously possible to reach Kanazawa without changing trains by using the direct Thunderbird limited express train. However, due to a timetable revision in March 2024, this direct route will be discontinued and passengers will need to transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga Station. This transfer time is very short, and care must be taken when travelling at Tsuruga Station. We recommend that you allow plenty of time for this.
There are also changes to travel from Nagoya to Kanazawa. Previously, it was possible to reach Kanazawa directly from Nagoya by using the Limited Express Shirasagi, but it is now necessary to change to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga Station. As transfer times are also limited here, care must be taken in allocating time.
There have also been some minor changes to fares. With the addition of the Shinkansen section, there has been a slight price increase compared to previous fares. The specific amount varies from route to route, but the increase is approximately ¥2,000. Combined with the increased hassle of changing trains, this has resulted in a slight increase in the burden on users.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen is planned as an important railway infrastructure linking Tokyo to Kanazawa and eventually to Osaka. However, at present, the line is only open up to Tsuruga, and construction has not progressed on the sections beyond that. This is due to construction cost issues and ongoing debate on route selection. The route from Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka via Obama City in Fukui Prefecture has been adopted, but the high cost of this route has become a bottleneck and construction progress has been slow. On the other hand, a route via Maibara in Shiga Prefecture is considered more realistic and remains open for reconsideration, but no concrete solution is currently in sight.
What do you think? Travelling from Kyoto and Osaka to Kanazawa now requires more transfers and a little more hassle than in the past, but Kanazawa’s charm remains the same. Please come and visit this beautiful city full of history and culture. We hope you have a wonderful time in Kanazawa while making the most of the new travel routes.
| Departure Point | Travel Method |
|---|---|
| Osaka, Shin-Osaka, Kyoto | Thunderbird → Hokuriku Shinkansen → Tsuruga → Kanazawa |
| Nagoya | Limited Express Shirasagi → Hokuriku Shinkansen → Tsuruga → Kanazawa |
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