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How fast is Hikari Shinkansen?

The Hikari train connects Tokyo to Shin-Osaka in exactly 173 minutes. The maximum operating speed is 285 km/h (178 mph), which makes it the second-fastest train on the Tokaido line. Hikari also runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen line with an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph).



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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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Completed in 1975, it is the second oldest Japanese Shinkansen line. There are 5 train services that run on this line: Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, and Sakura. The fastest train is Nozomi which reaches an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph).

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The Japanese Shinkansen, the inspiration for all of the world's high speed trains, operates between Tokyo and Osaka, a distance of 344 miles. The fastest trip takes two hours and 22 minutes, yielding an average speed of 145 miles per hour, according to Japanese Railway schedules.

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Kodama (???, Echo) is one of the three train services running on the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen lines. Stopping at every station, the Kodama is the slowest Shinkansen service for trips between major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

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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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Train services Hikari is the fastest train service on the Sanyo and Tokaido Shinkansen lines which is fully covered by the JR Pass. The majority of Hikari trains are formed of 16 cars though some have 8.

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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. Fuji!

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The train's tilting mechanism to lean into curves at high speed and the high-quality airtight body minimize vibration and provide a smooth, quiet ride.

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Four Hikari trains depart each hour, two in each direction. Departures take place approximately every half hour. Hikari trains stop only at major cities, but these stops differ by train.

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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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The Hikari Shinkansen have bathrooms, including Japanese high tech toilets.

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The Hikari Shinkansen is the train that brings JR Pass users between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, stopping at important stops like Nagoya, Shizuoka and – of course – Kyoto!

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However, you cannot ride the Nozomi shinkansen with a Japan Rail Pass, but you can ride the next fastest type of shinkansen, which is called the Hikari. The Hikari takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes between Tokyo and Osaka, so it's almost as fast.

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Hikari is a swiftly traveling locomotive service running within the Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen lines. This train makes more stops compared to the Nozomi, but it reaches destinations faster than the Kodama shinkansen, which makes even more stops.

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Mount Fuji from the Shinkansen trains Summer is also the time when Mount Fuji can be clearly seen from a Shinkansen train leaving Tokyo towards Nagoya – Osaka – Kyoto. The window view is impressive – make sure to reserve your D or E seat (C or D in Green Cars), which is the right side from Tokyo, left side from Kyoto.

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The Tokaido Shinkansen (??????, Tokaido Shinkansen) is a shinkansen line that connects Japan's three largest metropolitan areas (Tokyo/Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka/Kyoto) with each other. It is Japan's best used shinkansen line with departures every few minutes.

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