Kyoto to Kanazawa

Kyoto to Kanazawa

Kyoto
Kanazawa
Mon, Jun 15
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2 Passengers
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Kyoto to Kanazawa Destination Reviews

H
Hanna
The train ride from Kyoto to Kanazawa? Absolutely lovely. Smooth, clean, and everything you’d expect from Japan Rail. But the booking process? A masterclass in confusion. We booked online for three people and received a QR code with a specific departure time. Great, we thought seats secured, all set. We did know we had to print the ticket at the station. That part was explained. What wasn’t explained or at least not clearly enough was that seat reservations weren’t just optional extras. They were mandatory. As in: no reservation, no ride. Apparently, all cars on that train were reserved seating only. But nowhere did it say, hey, by the way, you must reserve a seat to actually board this train. So when we showed up at the station about 15 minutes before departure, our train had already disappeared from the machine’s options. Poof. Gone. No seats, no access, no chance. We ended up missing our original train and had to take a later one with available seats. Not ideal when traveling on a schedule or when you thought you’d already booked everything properly. JR West, your trains are five-star. Your booking system? A riddle wrapped in a QR code. A simple line like seat reservation required to board would’ve saved us a lot of stress. Just saying.
Kyoto to Kanazawa, Train #19 Standard Class Unreserved, Hokuriku One Way Ticket (Thunderbird JR West), Oct 23, 2025
SA
Sian A
The instructions to obtain our tickets at Kyoto Station was confusing. We went to the green machines and got our ticket and then went to board the train but we were told we needed to have seat reservations for two trains! We then went to queue in the ticket office and it took a very long time to obtain our seat reservations. The instructions from 12GO were not clear, we were not even aware that we would have two train journeys! Let alone the requirement to get seat reservations. 12Go has been very good except for this journey.
Kyoto to Kanazawa, Train #17 Standard Class Unreserved, Hokuriku One Way Ticket (Thunderbird JR West), Jun 8, 2025
J
Jonathan
driver took us to all the right places.
Kyoto to Kanazawa, Train #9 Standard Class Unreserved, Hokuriku One Way Ticket (Thunderbird JR West), May 28, 2023
4.6
28 customer reviews
5
78%
4
11%
3
7%
2
4%
1
0%

Kyoto to Kanazawa Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
06:59
09:14
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
07:29
09:44
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
08:09
10:24
$37.25
  4.4
Bus
Kintetsu Bus ZKN24
Express
08:30
12:50
$23.67
  5.0
Bus
Shinki Bus HT2
Express
08:40
13:10
$25.33
  5.0
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
09:09
11:24
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
10:11
12:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
11:11
13:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
12:11
14:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
13:11
15:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
14:11
16:26
$37.25
  4.4
Bus
Kintetsu Bus ZKN24
Express
14:35
18:55
$23.67
  5.0
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
15:11
17:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
16:11
18:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
17:11
19:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
18:11
20:26
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
19:41
21:56
$37.25
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
21:23
23:38
$37.25
  4.4
Bus
Koei Kotsu BL4
Express
23:30
05:10
$36.69

How to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa

Travelling between Kyoto and Kanazawa is possible by Bus, train and taxi. Train guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Bus is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 67.70 if you go by Train; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a bus which will set you back mere USD 22.30.

How long does it take to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa?

It can take you anywhere between 3 and 6 hours to travel between Kyoto and Kanazawa depending on the means of transport you choose.

Train is the fastest way to travel between Kyoto and Kanazawa. Train will bring you to your destination in 2h 15m. Bus does a much slower job and take about 5h 40m to reach Kanazawa.

How much does it cost to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa?

Travelling between Kyoto and Kanazawa can be as cheap as USD 22.30 if you opt for a Shinki Bus HT2 (神姫観光バス HT2) bus and as expensive as USD 67.70 if you buy a Hokuriku One Way Ticket (Thunderbird JR West), Shinkansen JR East Train ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

How many trips per day are there between Kyoto and Kanazawa ?

  • 16 from Kyoto to Kanazawa starting from 06:59 Kyoto until 21:23 Kyoto
  • 4 from Kyoto to Kanazawa starting from 08:30 Kyoto until 23:30 Kyoto

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Kyoto to Kanazawa.

What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?

Bus

Travelling from Kyoto to Kanazawa overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.

Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.

They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.

Companies operating bus routes between Kyoto and Kanazawa

Kintetsu Bus ZKN24, Koei Kotsu BL4, Shinki Bus HT2 (神姫観光バス HT2)

Taxi

Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.

Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.

Companies offering charters between Kyoto and Kanazawa

Daytrip private transfer with English speaking driver

Train

Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.

Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.

What is the most popular transport to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa?

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Train remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

  • 88% took a train
  • 12% opted for a bus

Transportation from Kyoto to Kanazawa

Facts about the transport from Kyoto to Kanazawa

Cheapest Transport$23
Fastest Transport2h 15m
Earliest Departure6:59 AM
Latest Departure11:30 PM
Departures per day20
Distance113 kilometers
Transport CompaniesDaytrip private transfer with English speaking driver, Hokuriku One Way Ticket, Kintetsu Bus ZKN24, Koei Kotsu BL4, Shinkansen JR East, Shinki Bus HT2