How much does it cost to ride the Nozomi train from Tokyo to Kyoto?

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.



As of early 2026, the cost of a one-way ticket on the Nozomi—the fastest Shinkansen service on the Tokaido line—typically ranges from approximately ¥13,300 to ¥19,500 ($88 to $130 USD) depending on the seat type and season. A non-reserved seat in an ordinary car is the most economical option, usually costing around ¥13,320. For a reserved seat, which guarantees your spot during busy periods, the price increases to roughly ¥14,200. Travelers seeking the premium "Green Car" (first-class) experience can expect to pay around ¥19,400. Prices can fluctuate slightly during "peak" seasons like Golden Week or New Year's. It is important to note that the Japan Rail Pass does not cover the Nozomi or Mizuho trains unless a specific supplemental "Nozomi Mizuho Upgrade" ticket is purchased. Most travelers buy these tickets at "Midori-no-madoguchi" ticket offices or via the SmartEX app, which often offers small discounts for advanced "Hayatoku" bookings.

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Does the JR Pass cover Nozomi and Mizuho trains? 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.

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You must order at least 3 days in advance before the day of travel. I would advise you to book your shinkansen tickets as far in advance as you can, during peak season like Christmas and New Year, cherry blossom season (April) and fall foliage season (November). It gets extremely busy and trains are often fully booked.

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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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The best way to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto is the shinkansen (bullet train). The fastest type of shinkansen, called the Nozomi, takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs Y13,080 for a one-way trip in an unreserved seat.

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Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto with the Japan Rail Pass is easy. You should take the Shinkansen Hikari bullet train from either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station in central Tokyo, and arrive at Kyoto Station. Three trains run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line: Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama.

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The Green cars, reserved seats in the standard cars and non-reserved seats in standard cars on “NOZOMI” or “MIZUHO” trains can be used only when the ticket is used in combination with a JAPAN RAIL PASS that is valid as of the day of using the train, regardless of the date of exchange or purchase of the JAPAN RAIL PASS.

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On a Green car, as there is a footrest, please store your baggage on the overhead baggage rack. If your baggage cannot be stored on the overhead baggage rack or by your feet due to its shape, weight, etc., you may store it in the area at the back of the car by reserving a seat with an oversized baggage area.

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All shinkansen are equipped with multiple toilets, which are sometimes separated by gender. The toilets are Western-style except on some older train sets.

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If you miss your stop on the Shinkansen in Japan, you have a few options: You can ask the conductor to let you off at the next station. The conductor may be able to do this if there are seats available, but they are not obligated to do so.

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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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With your Japan Rail Pass The cities of Tokyo and Kyoto are linked to each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line. A one-way trip from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station on a Hikari or Kodama train costs 13,080 yen (unreserved seat) or 13,800 yen (reserved seat), but is completely free with a JR Pass.

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When boarding directly from a Shinkansen station, please insert your tickets into the Shinkansen ticket gate prior to boarding. Your tickets are required for on-board ticket checks and exiting the station at your destination. Please do not lose or forget to take your tickets.

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