Yes, Hikari (meaning "Light") is a major high-speed service on Japan's Shinkansen network, specifically operating on the Tōkaidō and San'yō lines. It occupies a middle-tier position in terms of speed and stopping frequency. It is slower than the Nozomi (which skips many stations) but faster than the Kodama (which stops at every single station). For many years, the Hikari was the premier service of the "bullet train" era, but it is now most famous among international tourists as the fastest Shinkansen service included in the Japan Rail Pass. While JR Pass holders cannot ride the Nozomi or Mizuho without a hefty surcharge, the Hikari allows them to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto in about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The trains used for Hikari services are typically the state-of-the-art N700S or N700 series, capable of reaching speeds up to 285 km/h (177 mph). Riding a Hikari is the quintessential Japanese travel experience, offering a perfect balance of blistering speed, punctuality that is measured in seconds, and the convenience of reserved and non-reserved seating options for cross-country journeys.