How much faster is Nozomi?

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.



In 2026, the Nozomi is the fastest service on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, but the "speed" is measured in travel time, not just top velocity. All three main train types—Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama—reach the same top speed of roughly 285 km/h (177 mph) on the Tokyo-Osaka stretch. However, the Nozomi is "faster" because it skips almost all intermediate stations, stopping only at major hubs like Nagoya and Kyoto. A trip from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka on a Nozomi takes about 2 hours and 22 minutes, whereas the "all-stop" Kodama takes nearly 4 hours. That makes the Nozomi roughly 60% faster in terms of total duration. A supportive 2026 peer tip: if you are using the JR Pass, remember that the Nozomi requires a "supplemental ticket" fee, whereas the slightly slower Hikari (which takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes) is usually included in the base pass.

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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 Nozomi (Japanese for Hope or Wish) is Japan's fastest bullet train, being the super-express service on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen that runs between Tokyo and out west to Kyushu.

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

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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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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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How fast is the Nozomi train? 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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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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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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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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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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Most trains do not operate 24 hours; for example, in Tokyo they do not run in the early morning 01:00-05:00, and the Shinkansen never runs overnight. If you are planning to be out late and are relying on the train to get home, be sure to find out when the last train is leaving.

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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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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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Some trains might have a stop as brief as 1 minute, while others might stop 5 to 10 minutes due to waiting for other Shinkansen to pass. Regardless, arriving at the platform about 15 minutes before the departure time provides ample mental and physical preparation.

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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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