Can I ride Nozomi with JR Pass?

Japan Rail Pass is not valid for “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” trains(including non-reserved seats). To travel on Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen lines, Japan Rail Pass holders have to take “Hikari” trains, “Kodama” trains or “Sakura” trains(see the next page).



As of 2026, you can ride the Nozomi and Mizuho trains with a Japan Rail Pass, but it is not "free." You must purchase a special supplemental ticket for each journey. Before 2023, these fastest Shinkansen trains were completely excluded from the pass, but the rules changed to allow access for an extra fee. For example, a "Nozomi supplement" for the Tokyo to Kyoto route costs approximately ¥4,960 (roughly $33 USD) on top of your valid JR Pass. You can purchase these supplements at JR ticket machines or "Midori-no-madoguchi" ticket offices throughout Japan. If you do not want to pay the extra fee, you can still ride the Hikari and Kodama trains for free with your pass; they use the exact same tracks and are nearly as fast, but they make more stops. For most travelers in 2026, the Hikari is more than sufficient, but the option to pay for the Nozomi is a welcome addition for those who need the most frequent departures (up to 12 per hour) or are in a significant rush.

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Tickets can be purchased when a JAPAN RAIL PASS holder uses a ?NOZOMI? or ?MIZUHO? train within the valid period of the JAPAN RAIL PASS. For JAPAN RAIL PASS (Green car) holders, tickets for Green cars, reserved seats in standard cars, and non-reserved seats in standard cars will be available for purchase.

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The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on ?NOZOMI? and ?MIZUHO? trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. (The pass holders must take ?HIKARI,? ?SAKURA,? ?KODAMA,? or ?TSUBAME? trains.)

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Differences in Fares For example, a reserved seat from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka on a Nozomi train costs 14, 450 yen, while the same seat on a Hikari or Kodama costs 14,140 yen. Please keep in mind that you might not be able to sit down when you buy a non-reserved seat ticket if the train is particularly crowded.

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Apart from that, the train, on board service and amenities are all the same. So you may ask:“Why is the Nozomi excluded from the JR Pass?” The answer is twofold. One reason is to keep the Nozomi for commuter travel only, and second is to offer the JR Pass at the price it currently is.

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The main difference here is that the Nozomi stops at the least amount of stations, the Hikari only at the most important stops and the Kodama at each stop along the way. This way business people can travel fast from meeting to meeting, while tourists can get off at their desired stop, like Mt.

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The Nozomi Shinkansen can reach top speeds of over 300 km/h (186 mph). The fastest travel time between Tokyo – Kyoto is 139 minutes, over a distance of 476.3 KM. That means the average speed is around 205 km/h, the time for stops included.

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The fastest train is Nozomi which reaches an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph).

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With the travel time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, Nozomi Tokyo to Osaka one-way ticket costs around 160 USD.

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Nozomi trains require about 140 minutes to reach Kyoto from Tokyo, Hikari trains about 160 minutes and Kodama trains about four hours. The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13,320 yen for a non-reserved seat or around 14,000 yen for a reserved seat.

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The Japan Rail Pass gives you access to JR train lines countrywide, with very few exceptions. With your pass, you can take unlimited rides on most shinkansen (bullet trains), as well as on rapid, express and local JR trains.

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If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a JR Pass. However, if you take into account journeys on Shinkansen high-speed trains or other means of transport, the savings you make become substantial.

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Three train categories operate on the Tokaido Shinkansen: The Nozomi is the fastest train category along the Tokaido Shinkansen, serving only major stations and requiring about 2.5 hours to reach Shin-Osaka from Tokyo. There are usually four departures per hour in each direction, and even more during peak hours.

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Where Can I Board the Shinkansen? Platforms 14 through 23 at Tokyo Station are for all Shinkansen trains. Platforms 14-19 are for the Tokaido shinkansen and Sanyo shinkansen trains. Travelers headed to cities in western Japan like Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima will board from these platforms.

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How much luggage can I bring onto the shinkansen? Each passenger is allowed to bring on two pieces of oversized luggage each. Each of these pieces of luggage cannot exceed 250 cm in total dimensions as previously stated. Additionally, each piece of luggage cannot exceed 30 kg (66 lbs) in weight.

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Eating and drinking on Japanese trains You should eat on trains only when taking a long-distance train, such as the Shinkansen. These types of trains have a tray and cup holder at every seat, and snacks are sold from a vendor trolley.

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As mentioned, the JR Pass is valid on the Hikari Shinkansen and Kodama services but not the Nozomi train, so be careful to board the right train.

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The Nozomi is the fastest train category along the Tokaido Shinkansen, serving only major stations and requiring about 2.5 hours to reach Shin-Osaka from Tokyo. There are usually four departures per hour in each direction, and even more during peak hours.

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