Can you ride the Nozomi train with a 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 high-speed Nozomi and Mizuho trains with a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), but only if you purchase a supplemental "[ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket" for each journey. Historically, these fastest Shinkansen services were completely excluded from the pass, forcing holders to use the slightly slower Hikari or Sakura trains. Now, while the basic JR Pass still doesn't cover the full fare, you can pay an additional fee—typically ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 yen depending on the distance—to upgrade your trip. This supplemental ticket can be purchased at JR ticket machines or "Midori-no-madoguchi" offices in Japan. It allows pass holders to utilize the most frequent and fastest connections between major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, which is particularly useful during peak travel seasons when other trains may be fully booked. However, if you choose not to pay this extra fee, you must stick to the Hikari, Kodama, or Sakura services, which remain fully covered by the standard pass and offer nearly identical comfort, albeit with a few more stops along the route.

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If you wish to travel on the Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen, you must purchase a special ticket to complement your JR Pass. The price of the supplement is the same for ordinary class, first class (Green Car) and reserved and non-reserved seats.

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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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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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Slower than the premier Nozomi but faster than the all-stations Kodama, the Hikari is the fastest train service on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen that can be used with the Japan Rail Pass, which is not valid for travel on the Nozomi or Mizuho trains except through a special supplementary ticket.

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What is Tokyo to Osaka bullet train cost? 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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Getting to Kyoto 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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For a limited time only, you can buy a Japan Rail Pass from certain train stations and airports in Japan. Travelers should be aware it is more expensive to buy a JR Pass in Japan than to purchase the pass online.

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If you are traveling to multiple cities in Japan and plan on using the bullet train (Shinkansen) or other long-distance trains (local, express or limited-express trains), then the JR Pass can be a cost-effective option.

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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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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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Important notice: JR Pass Green Class holders are required to book their seats, as non-reserved seats in Shinkansen are only available for ordinary class.

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Nozomi (???, Wish or Hope) is the fastest train service running on the Tokaido & San'yo Shinkansen lines in Japan. The service stops at only the largest stations, and along the stretch between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, Nozomi services using N700 series equipment reach speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph).

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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. When taking this type of train, it is also acceptable to bring your own food.

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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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The best way to travel between Tokyo and Osaka is the shinkansen (bullet train). The fastest type of shinkansen, which is called the Nozomi, takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes and costs Y13,620 for a one-way trip in an unreserved seat.

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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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