JR Central · JR West

Nozomi Train — Japan's fastest bullet train, up to 300 km/h from Tokyo to Hakata

The Nozomi bullet train skips the smaller stops on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, cutting real time off every ride between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Search live fares and reserve your seat below.

Book Nozomi tickets
300 km/hTop speed, Sanyo Shinkansen
Since 1992First Nozomi service, 14 March
~12 / hourPeak departures from Tokyo
Shinkansen car interior with rows of blue reclining seats and white headrest covers (illustrative image)
Tokyo Station, platform 14

The Nozomi train you're boarding

Nozomi is the fastest train service on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. Every Nozomi train runs the N700A or N700S trainset — the newest generation of Shinkansen bullet trains — operated as one continuous through service by JR Central (the Central Japan Railway Company) on the Tokaido Shinkansen and JR West on the Sanyo Shinkansen, in service since 14 March 1992. The fastest Nozomi covers the 515 km from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka in 2 hours 21 minutes, and Tokyo to Hakata in about 4 hours 45 minutes.

OperatorJR Central
JR West
TrainsetN700A / N700S
Since14 Mar 1992
Which way to your seat?

Nozomi Standard Car or Green Car

Nozomi has two classes, and every Nozomi train has both reserved and non-reserved seats in dedicated cars — Standard Car is listed as Ordinary Car on JR ticket machines. A reserved seat ticket lists your exact seat number and car, worth the seat reservation during rush hours, weekends and Japanese holidays; non-reserved seats cost less but are first-come, first-served at peak periods — car numbers can shift by train type, so check the platform boards at JR stations.

Shinkansen car interior with rows of blue reclining seats and white headrest covers (illustrative image)
Standard car

Standard Car

3-and-2 seating, a fold-down tray, power outlets at every seat on N700S trains (window and front-row seats on older N700A sets), and generous legroom — makes up most of every Nozomi trainset.

Book Standard Car ↗
Nozomi S Work car (a Standard car set aside for working) with passengers using laptops at their seats (illustrative image)
Green Car

Green Car (First Class)

Wider 2-and-2 seating, extra legroom and a quieter car, with snacks and drinks ordered to your seat by QR code — Green Car has only reserved seats, no non-reserved option, and costs more than an ordinary reserved seat.

Book Green Car ↗

Nozomi tickets start from approx. $137 from Tokyo to Kyoto and approx. $142 from Tokyo to Osaka, one-way — lowest fares in the search above, as of October 2026.

Somewhere past Shinagawa

The stations the Nozomi train skips without stopping

Nozomi is the fastest, limited-stop Shinkansen service on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines — it skips the smaller stations that Hikari and Kodama still call at, cutting real time off the ride between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima.

NOZOMI — major stations only HIKARI — adds mid-size stations, +20–30 min · JR Pass OK KODAMA — every station · JR Pass OK

Core major stations on the route: Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata — exact stops vary by train. Reserved tickets are valid only for the booked train, so a reserved Hikari or Kodama ticket can't be used on a Nozomi. Hikari calls at additional stations along the way, and Kodama trains stop at every one of them. Nozomi ends at Hakata: to travel on into Kyushu, change there to a Mizuho or Sakura train on the Kyushu Shinkansen toward Kagoshima.

Somewhere near Mount Fuji
285 km/h

Top speed on the Tokaido Shinkansen past Mount Fuji, rising to 300 km/h west of Shin-Osaka on the Sanyo line — with no train change needed between Tokyo and Hakata.

Route map

Nozomi on the Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen, station by station

Nozomi runs the full line from Tokyo Station to Hakata with 11 stops, skipping the smaller stops that Hikari and Kodama still call at — the route map shows every one.

  • Tokyo
  • Shinagawa
  • Shin-Yokohama
  • Nagoya ~1 h 35 min
  • Kyoto ~2 h 10 min
  • Shin-Osaka ~2 h 21 min
  • Shin-Kobe
  • Okayama
  • Hiroshima ~3 h 50 min
  • Kokura
  • Hakata (Fukuoka) ~4 h 45–50 min

Typical fastest travel times from Tokyo; check live timetables in the search above for your train.

Schematic Nozomi route from Hakata to Tokyo: Hakata, Kokura, Hiroshima, Okayama, Shin-Kobe and Shin-Osaka on the Sanyo Shinkansen (up to 300 km/h), then Kyoto, Nagoya, Shin-Yokohama, Shinagawa and Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen (up to 285 km/h) Hakata Kokura Hiroshima Okayama Shin-Kobe Shin-Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Shin-Yokohama Shinagawa Tokyo Sanyo · up to 300 km/h Tokaido · up to 285 km/h
Simplified diagram, not to scale.
Approaching Shin-Osaka

Nozomi, Mizuho and the Japan Rail Pass

The standard Japan Rail Pass doesn't cover Nozomi — or Mizuho, the fastest Kyushu Shinkansen service continuing from Hakata toward Kagoshima. Pass holders can add a fixed-price NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride: about $26 from Tokyo to Nagoya, $31 to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka and $41 to Hiroshima, the same price for Ordinary or Green Car, reserved or non-reserved.

The quickest way to check Nozomi times and fares is the search above — booking ahead is especially worthwhile during Japanese holiday weeks, when reserved seats on the busiest services sell out days in advance.

Search live fares
FAQ

Nozomi Train — Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: October 2026 — times, fares and JR Pass rules checked against current sources.

Is the Nozomi train covered by the Japan Rail Pass?

No. The standard Japan Rail Pass doesn't cover Nozomi or Mizuho trains, but pass holders can add a fixed-price NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride, from about $26 (Tokyo–Nagoya).

What is the top speed of the Nozomi Shinkansen?

Nozomi trains reach up to 285 km/h on the Tokaido Shinkansen and up to 300 km/h on sections of the Sanyo Shinkansen.

What's the difference between Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama?

Nozomi is the fastest bullet train, with stops only at major stations. Hikari makes more stops, and Kodama stops at every station. Only Hikari and Kodama are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Do I need a reserved seat on the Nozomi train?

Not always — every Nozomi train has non-reserved cars — but a reserved seat ticket guarantees your seat number during rush hours, weekends and holidays.

Which stations does the Nozomi train stop at?

Major stations including Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, though the exact stops vary by train.

Who operates the Nozomi Shinkansen?

JR Central (the Central Japan Railway Company) operates the Tokaido Shinkansen section, and JR West operates the connecting Sanyo Shinkansen section, as one continuous Nozomi service.

Where can I buy a Nozomi train ticket?

Search live times and fares in the search box at the top of this page and book your seat online in advance — booking early matters most during Japanese holiday weeks.

How often do Nozomi trains depart from Tokyo?

At peak periods, up to a dozen Nozomi trains depart Tokyo every hour — one of the most frequent high-speed train services anywhere, popular with business travelers who need a fast, frequent option without booking days ahead.

What is a Nozomi Mizuho ticket?

It's a fixed-price add-on for Japan Rail Pass holders, sold per ride since October 2023, that lets them board Nozomi and Mizuho trains: about $26 Tokyo–Nagoya, $31 Tokyo–Kyoto or Shin-Osaka and $41 Tokyo–Hiroshima, the same price for any car or seat type.

How long is the Nozomi from Tokyo to Osaka?

The fastest Nozomi takes 2 hours 21 minutes from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, covering 515 km, and every Nozomi is scheduled to make the trip in under 2 hours 30 minutes. Kyoto is about 2 hours 10 minutes from Tokyo, and Nagoya about 1 hour 35 minutes.

Can I bring large luggage on the Nozomi?

Bags up to 160 cm in total length, width and height need no booking. Bags from 161 to 250 cm need a reserved seat with an oversized-baggage area booked in advance, and anything over 250 cm can't be taken on board. This rule has applied on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen since May 2020.

How much is a Nozomi ticket?

Nozomi tickets start from approx. $137 one-way from Tokyo to Kyoto and approx. $142 from Tokyo to Osaka (lowest fares in the search above, October 2026). The cost of a Green Car seat is higher than a Standard reserved seat, and reserved fares rise slightly in peak holiday weeks.

Nozomi S Work car (a Standard car set aside for working) with passengers using laptops at their seats (illustrative image)
Shin-Osaka — journey's end

Ready to ride the Nozomi bullet train?

Search live Nozomi fares and reserve your seat in a few taps.

Book Nozomi tickets ↗