The Japan Rail (JR) Pass is an incredible value, but it famously excludes the two fastest service categories on the Shinkansen lines: the Nozomi (on the Tokaido/Sanyo lines) and the Mizuho (on the Sanyo/Kyushu lines). These trains are the "express" versions that stop only at major cities, making the trip from Tokyo to Osaka in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. As of late 2023, JR Pass holders can actually ride these trains, but only if they purchase a special supplemental ticket for an additional fee, which can be quite expensive. Without this supplement, pass holders must stick to the Hikari and Sakura trains, which travel at the same top speeds as the Nozomi but make a few more stops along the way, adding roughly 20–30 minutes to a long-distance journey. For most travelers, the Hikari is perfectly sufficient and still incredibly fast. It is also important to remember that the JR Pass does not cover private (non-JR) railway lines, such as the Odakyu line to Hakone or the Kintetsu line in Nara, so you should always check the train logo before boarding to ensure it is a JR-operated service.