Most of us have limited, precious off days, which means there's no time to waste on your next trip to Japan.
That's where the Nozomi Shinkansen comes in. It's one of Japan’s fastest trains, traveling up to 300 km/h. You can get from Tokyo to Osaka in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. That's 90 minutes faster than if you were to take the regular Kodama train!
This Japan train guide explains everything you’ll need to know about the Nozomi Shinkansen – which Shinkansen lines it operates on, the train stations covered, and how to book your Nozomi train tickets.
What is the Nozomi Shinkansen?
This might be a little confusing at first, but Nozomi is not a train line. It's a type of bullet train, which operates on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.
The Tokaido Shinkansen is Japan’s busiest train line, covering major cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line extends the high-speed network westward from Shin-Osaka, stopping at key stations like Okayama and Hiroshima.
The Tokaido Line has three types of trains (Kodama, Hikari, and Nozomi), while the Sanyo Line offers five types (Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, and Sakura).
The train services follow the same line but differ in the number of stops. That's why different train services have varying journey times!
Nozomi trains offer the fastest service on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, outpacing trains on the Kodama and Hikari trains with just 6 stops.
For example, here are the travel times taken by each train service to get from Tokyo station to Shin-Osaka station:
- Nozomi: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Hikari: 3 hours
- Kodama: 4 hours
#KlookTip: To get to Osaka via the Tokaido-Sanyo line, you'll need to stop at Shin-Osaka station.
Which stations are covered by the Nozomi Shinkansen?
Zoom through Tokyo on the Nozomi. Credits to Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash
The Nozomi Shinkansen covers 12 stations across the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, namely:
- Tokyo
- Shinagawa
- Shin-Yokohama
- Nagoya
- Kyoto
- Shin-Osaka
- Okayama
- Hiroshima
- Kokura
- Hakata
- Kumamoto
- Kagoshima-Chuo
Heading west from Tokyo station, the Nozomi Shinkansen departs every 10 minutes. Traveling east from Hakata, it leaves every 15 minutes or so.
Does the JR Pass include Nozomi Trains?
Unfortunately, the Nozomi Shinkansen is not covered by the JR Pass. You'll have to buy an additional ticket to take the Nozomi Shinkansen.
This can be done at Shinkansen ticket machines or manned ticket counters at JR stations. Here are the additional ticket prices for common routes along the Tokaido-Sanyo lines:
Route | Additional Ticket Price |
Tokyo/Shinagawa – Nagoya | ¥4,180 |
Tokyo/Shinagawa – Kyoto | ¥4,960 |
Tokyo/Shinagawa – Shin-Osaka | ¥4,960 |
Tokyo/Shinagawa – Hiroshima | ¥6,500 |
Shin-Osaka – Hakata | ¥4,960 |
Hakata – Kagoshima-Chūō | ¥4,500 |
The same prices apply to Green Car tickets as well as Ordinary Car tickets (both reserved and non-reserved seats). You can find the full list of additional ticket prices for Nozomi trains here.
Shinkansen Seat Classes: Ordinary Car vs Green Car
Most Shinkansens offer two train classes – Ordinary Car and Green Car.
The Ordinary Car is essentially economy class on Japanese trains. It's a more affordable travel option, with seats in a three-by-two layout. In my opinion, the seats in an Ordinary Car are already pretty comfortable. You can choose between reserved and non-reserved seats in an Ordinary Car.
But if you'd like more comfort and privacy, opt for the Green Car (first class) instead! The seats are typically in a two-by-two layout, and commuters enjoy wider seats that recline to a generous 40°. There's extra legroom and a more comfy headrest – the perfect ingredients for a solid nap. All seats in the Green Car must be reserved in advance.
Both Ordinary Cars and Green Cars offer luggage storage space and free WiFi.
Reserved and Non-Reserved Seating
When planning your journey on the Nozomi Shinkansen, you can choose between reserved and non-reserved seating for Green Car tickets.
Reserved seats guarantee you a specific seat on the train. It's a good idea to book these in advance, especially during peak travel times.
Non-reserved seating, on the other hand, operates on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're traveling with non-reserved tickets, it's wise to arrive early at the station to increase your chances of finding a seat.
#KlookTip: Download the Japan Travel by NAVITIME app to check train routes and timings. It also indicates which platform to go to!
How to Reserve Seats on the Nozomi Shinkansen
To reserve a seat, you can visit any JR ticket office (Midori no Madoguchi) located at most JR stations across Japan. Alternatively, use the JR East online reservation service or the SmartEX app, both available in English for international travelers.
When reserving your seat, select the date and time of your departure, preferred class of service, and the number of passengers traveling.
Once your reservation is complete, you'll receive a seat reservation ticket along with your basic fare ticket. Keep both tickets handy as you'll need to present them when boarding the train.
#KlookTip: If you want to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji when traveling on the Tokaido Shinkansen, take the seat on the right when traveling from Tokyo towards Osaka, and take a seat on the left when traveling from Osaka towards Tokyo.
Shinkansen Luggage Storage
Image credit: JR Central
On the Nozomi Shinkansen, passengers can store luggage in overhead compartments or make reservations for larger items.
Here are some things to take note of:
- Each passenger is allowed a maximum of two pieces of luggage, excluding small bags
- The weight limit is 30kg each
- The combined width, height, and depth limit must be less than 250cm
- Passengers with oversized luggage (with dimensions totaling more than 160cm) are required to make a seat reservation for specific seats that offer nearby storage space
Those traveling with oversized baggage without a reservation may be charged a baggage fee of ¥1,000 per oversized bag.
Book your Nozomi Shinkansen tickets on Klook
Securing a seat on Nozomi trains is a simple process. Tickets can be purchased in-person at train stations in Japan or online on Klook.
We'd recommend purchasing your Shinkansen tickets online in advance. Then you won't have to worry about it during your vacation!
How to book Shinkansen tickets on Klook
To book your Shinkansen tickets through Klook, just follow these steps:
- Enter your start and end point
- Select your intended travel date
- Chose your preferred departure time
Take note that the type of train (Nozomi, Kodama, and Hikari) is indicated at each departure option. You'll also see the different prices for the train classes - Ordinary Car (Non-reserved and Reserved) and Green Car.
How to redeem your Shinkansen ticket
After purchasing your ticket for the Nozomi train service, the process of activating your ticket is pretty straightforward.
Upon completing your booking, you’ll receive:
- A confirmation email from Klook
- The QR code, which you'll use to pick up your ticket
- A detailed pickup guide explaining how to use the QR code for collecting your Shinkansen tickets
On the day of travel, head to the Shinkansen station a little earlier and follow these simple steps:
- Locate the SmartEx machines or the JR Tokai reserved ticket machines
- Click scan your QR code button and follow the instructions on the machine
- Retrieve your physical tickets - 2 tickets for each passenger
- Locate the right platform and enjoy your Shinkansen journey!
