Kyoto to Kanazawa

Kyoto to Kanazawa

Kyoto
Kanazawa
Feb 15, 2028
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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
24 customer reviews
5
75%
4
13%
3
8%
2
4%
1
0%

Kyoto to Kanazawa Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
06:59
09:14
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
07:29
09:44
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
08:09
10:24
$37.93
  4.4
Bus
Kintetsu Bus ZKN24
Express
08:30
12:50
$24.10
  5.0
Bus
Shinki Bus HT2
Express
08:40
13:10
$25.79
  5.0
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
09:09
11:24
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
10:11
12:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
11:11
13:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
12:11
14:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
13:11
15:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
14:11
16:26
$37.93
  4.4
Bus
Kintetsu Bus ZKN24
Express
14:35
18:55
$24.10
  5.0
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
15:11
17:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
16:11
18:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
17:11
19:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
18:11
20:26
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
19:41
21:56
$37.93
  4.4
Train
Hokuriku One Way Ticket
Standard Class Unreserved
21:23
23:38
$37.93
  4.4
Bus
Koei Kotsu BL4
Express
23:30
05:10
$37.36

How to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa

When you want to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Bus
  • Train
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Train. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Bus ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Train ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 68.94. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 41.72.

How far is Kyoto from Kanazawa?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Kyoto to Kanazawa. Your trip will be a total of 71 miles (113 km). The flying distance is 71 miles (113 km).

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

The travel time from Kyoto to Kanazawa can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 5 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Kyoto to Kanazawa varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Hokuriku One Way Ticket (Thunderbird JR West): travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 41.72 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Train - a one-way Train ticket can cost as much as USD 68.94.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Kyoto to Kanazawa:

  • Bus tickets - USD 29.05 to USD 31.72;
  • Train tickets - USD 41.72 to USD 68.94;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 1,213.27 to USD 1,291.37.

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

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 16 trains per day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Kyoto to Kanazawa is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Kyoto to Kanazawa. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 1,213.27.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Shinkansen Bullet Trains from Kyoto to Kanazawa

While conventional trains typically operate at speeds of 80-130 km/h (50-80 mph), Shinkansen trains can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph). This significant increase in speed allows the Shinkansen to drastically reduce travel time between Kyoto and Kanazawa, making it the fastest form of ground transportation available for this route.

Japan Rail Passes from Kyoto to Kanazawa

For travelers planning multiple trips, a JR Pass from Kyoto to Kanazawa can be a cost-effective solution.
JR Rail Passes provide:

  • Access to multiple Shinkansen lines, including those serving the Kyoto to Kanazawa route
  • Use of local JR trains for side trips and exploration
  • Flexibility to modify travel plans without additional ticket purchases
  • Potential cost savings compared to buying individual tickets

These passes often provide significant savings compared to individual ticket fares and offer flexibility in travel planning. When comparing prices and considering your itinerary needs for journeys between Kyoto and Kanazawa, the JR Rail Pass option is worth evaluating. It can be particularly beneficial for those planning to explore multiple destinations or make return trips within the validity period of the pass.
Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.
If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks..

The most popular transport from Kyoto to Kanazawa

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Kyoto to Kanazawa? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 89% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 11% decided to go for a bus.

Transportation from Kyoto to Kanazawa

Facts about the transport from Kyoto to Kanazawa

Cheapest Transport$30
Fastest Transport2h 15m
Earliest Departure6:59 утра
Latest Departure9:23 вечера
Departures per day16
Distance113 kilometers
Transport CompaniesDaytrip private transfer with English speaking driver, Hokuriku One Way Ticket, Kintetsu Bus ZKN24, Shinkansen JR East, Shinki Bus HT2