The JR Pass is valid on all Shinkansen services in all the Shinkansen lines, except for the Nozomi and Mizuho services on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. You will not have access to the trains with the fewest stops on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines.

Yes, you can use the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) for the Shinkansen, but in 2026, there are specific rules regarding the fastest trains. The pass covers unlimited rides on the Hikari, Kodama, Sakura, and Tsubame trains across the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines. However, the fastest Nozomi and Mizuho trains—which make the fewest stops—are not included in the base pass. To ride these specific trains, JR Pass holders must purchase a special "Nozomi/Mizuho Supplement Ticket" at a JR ticket office or machine before boarding. This supplement costs roughly 4,180 to 8,140 yen depending on the distance (e.g., Tokyo to Osaka). For most travelers, the Hikari is a perfectly adequate alternative, arriving only about 20 minutes later than a Nozomi on the Tokyo-to-Osaka route. It is also important to remember that since the massive price hike in late 2023, the JR Pass is now only "worth it" for those doing significant long-distance travel in a short period (e.g., Tokyo to Hiroshima and back).