It depends on the line but generally Shinkansen run from 6 am to midnight. This unfortunately means that you won't be able to make it to Osaka with a 10 pm arrival.

The Shinkansen (bullet train) does not operate 24 hours a day; it generally closes for maintenance between 00:00 and 06:00 (midnight to 6 AM). The last trains of the day typically depart their starting stations between 21:00 and 22:30 to ensure they reach their final destinations before the midnight curfew. For example, the last Nozomi from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka usually leaves around 21:20, while shorter regional hops may have departures as late as 23:30. In 2026, JR Central and JR West have strictly maintained these maintenance windows to ensure the network’s 60-year record of zero passenger fatalities remains intact. If you miss the last Shinkansen, your options are limited to overnight "highway buses," which take 7–8 hours for the Tokyo-Osaka route, or waiting for the first morning train at 06:00. Always check the official Smart-Ex or JR apps for the "Last Train" (Saishu-densha) to avoid being stranded, as Japan's rail system is notoriously punctual.