How fast is Nozomi?

The Nozomi Shinkansen trains reach speeds of up to 185 mph (300 km/h) making them one of the fastest trains in Japan. Though the actual train models are no different to some other JR trains, the limited number of stops they cover allows them to reach these great speeds and cover great distances in a short time.



The Nozomi is the fastest and most frequent service on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines in Japan, reaching a top operating speed of 300 km/h (approximately 186 mph). On the Tōkaidō segment between Tokyo and Osaka, the speed is slightly capped at 285 km/h due to the age and curvature of the tracks, but on the San'yō segment toward Fukuoka, it hits the full 300 km/h mark. Using the latest N700S series trainsets, the Nozomi can travel from Tokyo to Kyoto in just about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and to Osaka in roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes. It achieves these high speeds while maintaining an incredible record for punctuality and safety, with average delays often measured in mere seconds. Unlike the Hikari or Kodama trains, the Nozomi stops only at the largest major stations, making it the preferred choice for business travelers and tourists looking for the quickest transit. It is important to note that the Nozomi is generally not covered by the standard Japan Rail Pass, requiring a supplementary "Nozomi-Mizuho" ticket for pass holders.

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

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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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In addition, the tracks, signals, rail cars and software made in the U.S. are costlier than imports, largely because the government has not funded rail the way European and Asian countries have, experts say.

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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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The different types of Nozomi Trains The Nozomi achieves speeds of up to 285 km/h on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line (i.e., Tokyo to Nagoya) and 300 km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line (Nagoya to Hakata). Some typical travel times on the Nozomi: Tokyo to Nagoya: about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

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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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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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To allow us to offer this pass at an extremely reasonable price, certain conditions are placed on usage. To use Nozomi or Mizuho, you will need to purchase regular tickets (basic fare ticket and limited express ticket).

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Both Nozomi and Mizuho run between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. To distinguish between them, count the number of cars. Nozomi is built to the Tokaido Shinkansen standard, so it always has 16 cars connected to it. The Mizuho is built to Kyushu Shinkansen standards, so it always consists of 8 cars.

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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).

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The Hikari Shinkansen have bathrooms, including Japanese high tech toilets. There is also an attendant going through the train selling drinks, snacks and lunch boxes.

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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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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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Talking loudly on trains is considered bad mannered and ranks highly amongst the most annoying behaviors on trains in Japan. Don't talk on the phone. Only on long-distance trains on the decks between cars is talking on the phone acceptable. Set your phone to silent mode.

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In Japan, the high-speed Shinkansen trains spray water onto snowy tracks to prevent the snow from blowing up into the undercarriage and re-freezing. In all areas with extreme winter conditions, de-icing, like in the airline industry, is essential.

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