The Shinkansen is Japan's high-speed rail network, the bullet trains that link Tokyo with Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Sendai, Aomori, Fukuoka and Kagoshima at speeds of up to 320 km/h. For a visitor it is usually the fastest way to cross the main island of Honshu door to door: a Nozomi from Tokyo reaches Shin-Osaka in about two and a half hours, with stations in the middle of each city and no airport security queue. If you are planning a first trip to Japan, learning how the bullet trains work is the single biggest time saver you can make.
This guide explains the lines, the train types and what each one is good for, how tickets and seat reservations work, when the Japan Rail Pass pays off (and when it does not), the luggage rule that catches many foreign travellers out, and two sample routes. Fares and rules below were checked against JR's official pages in October 2026.
Shinkansen essential facts (October 2026)
- First line: Tokaido Shinkansen, Tokyo to Osaka, opened in 1964
- Top speed: 320 km/h (Hayabusa on the Tohoku Shinkansen)
- Tokyo to Shin-Osaka: about 2 hours 30 minutes by Nozomi
- 7-day JR Pass: ¥50,000 ordinary when bought on the official site
- Big suitcases: over 160 cm total need a reserved oversized-baggage seat on some lines
- Booking window: reserved seats open one month ahead
- Mount Fuji view: seat E, heading west from Tokyo
- Newest section: Kanazawa to Tsuruga, opened 16 March 2024
How the Shinkansen network is laid out
Japan's bullet trains run on separate lines with their own names, and almost all of them start or end at Tokyo Station. Knowing which line serves your destination tells you which company runs it, which trains to look for and whether your rail pass covers every service on it.
Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka
The Tokaido Shinkansen, run by JR Central, is the original 1964 line between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, calling at Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya and Kyoto on the way. At Shin-Osaka it joins the Sanyo Shinkansen, run by JR West, which continues through Kobe (Shin-Kobe), Okayama and Hiroshima to Hakata in Fukuoka. Many trains run straight through, so you can stay in one seat from Tokyo to Hiroshima or Hakata.
Trains on this corridor leave Tokyo every few minutes through most of the day, which is why travellers rarely struggle to get a seat outside holiday peaks. The fastest service is the Nozomi; the Hikari stops more often; the Kodama stops at every station. Between Shin-Osaka and Hakata you will also see the Mizuho and Sakura, which continue onto the Kyushu Shinkansen. For sights at the eastern end, see our guide to the top attractions in Tokyo; at the western end, Kyoto and Osaka are both one stop apart on the Nozomi.
Two practical points apply here. The oversized-bag rule is in force on both lines, so reserve ahead if you travel with a large case, and JR Pass holders need a special ticket to ride the Nozomi or Mizuho.
Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen: Sendai, Morioka, Aomori, Hakodate
JR East runs the Tohoku Shinkansen north from Tokyo through Omiya, Sendai and Morioka to Shin-Aomori. Its flagship Hayabusa, built on the green-nosed E5 trainsets, was cleared to run at 320 km/h between Utsunomiya and Morioka from 2013, which makes it the fastest service in the country. The full Tokyo to Shin-Aomori run takes roughly three hours. Other names on the departure boards are the Hayate, Yamabiko, Nasuno, Komachi and Tsubasa. The Hayabusa is all-reserved, and the JR Pass covers every service on these lines once you have a seat reservation.
North of Shin-Aomori, the Hokkaido Shinkansen, operated by JR Hokkaido, passes under the Tsugaru Strait through the Seikan Tunnel and ends at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, outside Hakodate. It does not reach Sapporo yet. The extension has been pushed back several times because of difficult tunnelling and labour shortages, and in March 2025 the transport ministry's expected opening moved to the end of fiscal 2038. Until then, travellers to Sapporo change to a limited express at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto or simply fly. The Yamagata and Akita mini-shinkansen also branch off this line; they run on narrower, upgraded conventional track for the final stretch, so they are slower once they leave the main line.
Hokuriku and Joetsu Shinkansen: Nagano, Kanazawa, Fukui, Niigata
From Tokyo, the Hokuriku Shinkansen heads for Nagano, Toyama and Kanazawa, then continues along the Sea of Japan coast. JR East and JR West share the line. On 16 March 2024 it was extended 125 km from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, adding stations at Komatsu, Kaga Onsen, Awara Onsen, Fukui and Echizen-Takefu. That makes the hot-spring towns of Kaga and Awara, and the dinosaur museum country around Fukui, a straight ride from Tokyo. The fastest service is the Kagayaki, which is all-reserved and stops only at the main stations; the Hakutaka makes more stops, and you will also see the Asama and Tsurugi.
Travellers heading from Kanazawa to Kyoto or Osaka now change at Tsuruga to the Thunderbird limited express, as no single train runs the whole way. Allow time for the transfer, and keep that change in mind if you are carrying heavy bags. The separate Joetsu Shinkansen, run by JR East with Toki and Tanigawa trains, goes from Tokyo to Niigata, passing the Echigo-Yuzawa ski area, a popular day trip for snow in winter. The JR Pass covers all services on both lines.
Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen: Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki
JR Kyushu operates both lines on the southern island. The Kyushu Shinkansen runs from Hakata in Fukuoka through Kumamoto to Kagoshima-Chuo, the gateway to the active volcano Sakurajima. Its Mizuho and Sakura trains continue onto the Sanyo line, so Hiroshima and Osaka connect to Kagoshima without a change, while the Tsubame handles the stopping runs within Kyushu.
The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen opened on 23 September 2022 between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki. At about 66 km it is the shortest line in the network, and it is not yet connected to the rest. To reach Nagasaki from Hakata you ride the Relay Kamome limited express to Takeo-Onsen, then cross the platform to the Kamome bullet train. It is a smooth change, but it is a change, so book both legs together. The oversized-bag rule applies on both Kyushu lines.
Nozomi, Hikari or Kodama: which bullet train to take
On the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, pick by how many stops you can live with and which ticket you hold. All three share the same tracks and similar trains; the difference is where they stop.
Tokaido Shinkansen train types compared
| Train | Stops | Tokyo to Shin-Osaka | With a JR Pass | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozomi | Major stations only | About 2 h 30 min | Needs a special ticket (¥4,960 for this trip) | Regular ticket holders in a hurry |
| Hikari | Major stations plus some smaller ones | About 3 hours | Fully covered | JR Pass holders |
| Kodama | Every station | Much longer | Fully covered | Small towns, Shin-Fuji, Mishima |
If you hold a normal ticket bought for the day, the Nozomi is the obvious pick because the fare difference over a Hikari is small and the frequency is far higher. Pass holders usually take the Hikari and accept the extra half hour. The Kodama is worth choosing only when your stop is not served by the faster trains, such as Mishima for the Izu Peninsula or Shin-Fuji.
How to buy Shinkansen tickets and reserve seats
A Shinkansen trip uses two charges: the basic fare for the distance and a limited express charge for the high-speed train. At a ticket machine or counter they are usually issued together, and you feed both through the gate (or one combined ticket, depending on the machine). Reserved seats open one month ahead.
You have four ways to buy. Red or green ticket machines at major JR stations have an English menu and accept cash and most cards. Staffed ticket offices (look for the Midori-no-Madoguchi sign or the JR ticket office) help with complicated routes, but queues at Tokyo and Kyoto stations can run long in spring and autumn. Each JR company also has its own online booking service with an English site: JR Central and JR West's smartEX for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines, and JR East's site for the northern lines. Finally, local IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA can be linked to some online bookings, which lets you tap straight through the gate.
Each train has non-reserved cars, usually the first few cars on the Tokaido line, and reserved cars. Non-reserved seats work well midweek and mid-morning. On Friday evenings, weekends and during Golden Week in early May, Obon in mid-August and the New Year holiday, book reserved seats as early as you can. Some trains, including the Hayabusa and Kagayaki, have no non-reserved cars at all.
Ordinary car
The ordinary car is the standard fare. Most lines seat three plus two across the aisle, legroom is generous by airline standards, and you can choose between reserved and non-reserved cars.
Green Car
For a first-class surcharge, the Green Car gives you wider seats in a two plus two layout. It is a quieter car where space is easier to find at peak times, and the Green JR Pass covers it.
Gran Class
Gran Class is the premium cabin, a single car on some northern and Hokuriku trains, fitted with single and paired leather seats. Even a Green JR Pass leaves you paying an extra charge to sit here.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it for bullet trains?
Only if you cover long distances in a short time. Since the big price rise of October 2023, a simple Tokyo to Kyoto and back trip no longer justifies a 7-day pass; buying single tickets is cheaper. The pass starts to pay off when a week includes something like Tokyo to Hiroshima and back with a detour north, or a loop that adds Kanazawa and Sendai.
The official Japan Rail Pass website listed these prices in October 2026. Buying through an overseas agent and exchanging a voucher in Japan costs a little more.
Japan Rail Pass adult prices, October 2026
| Pass | Ordinary (official site) | Green (official site) | Ordinary (overseas agent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | ¥50,000 | ¥70,000 | ¥53,000 |
| 14 days | ¥80,000 | ¥110,000 | ¥84,000 |
| 21 days | ¥100,000 | ¥140,000 | ¥105,000 |
Two details change the maths. First, the Nozomi and Mizuho are only open to pass holders who buy a special ticket for each ride; the official price from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka is ¥4,960, and to Nagoya ¥4,180. Second, the pass is a national JR pass, so private railways, subways and most city buses are not included. Regional passes from JR East, JR West or JR Kyushu often give better value when your trip stays in one part of the country. Before you commit, add up the single fares for your exact route with a fare calculator; it takes five minutes and regularly saves travellers a lot of money.
Shinkansen luggage rules for big suitcases
On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, any bag whose length, width and height add up to between 161 and 250 cm counts as oversized. You must reserve a seat that comes with an oversized baggage area, which costs the same as a normal reserved seat. Bags over 250 cm in total are not allowed on board.
If you board with an oversized bag and no reservation, JR Central charges a ¥1,000 fee and the conductor decides where the bag goes; if the dedicated spaces are full, you may be asked to take a later train. A standard large check-in suitcase sits close to the limit, so measure yours before you travel. Bags of 160 cm or less need no booking and fit in the overhead rack or at your feet. Each passenger may carry two pieces of up to 30 kg each. The simplest fix for families is Japan's luggage-forwarding service (takkyubin): send the big cases from one hotel to the next, usually arriving the following day, and ride with a day bag.
Sample bullet train routes for a first trip
Two routes cover what most first-time visitors want. Both start in Tokyo, where most long-haul flights arrive at Narita or Haneda.
7 days: the classic Tokaido and Sanyo route
- Day 1–2, Tokyo: Settle in, then buy or reserve the Kyoto leg at the station a day ahead. Choose seat E for the Fuji side.
- Day 3–4, Kyoto: Morning train from Tokyo; look out for Mount Fuji about 40 minutes after departure on a clear day.
- Day 5, Hiroshima and Miyajima: Direct trains from Kyoto run straight through Shin-Osaka; a day trip works, an overnight is calmer.
- Day 6–7, Osaka: Finish in Osaka and fly out of Kansai, which saves the long ride back to Tokyo.
5 days: Tokyo, Kanazawa and the Japan Sea coast
Day 1 is the Kagayaki from Tokyo to Kanazawa; reserve ahead, because it has no unreserved cars. Spend days 2 and 3 on the gardens and teahouse districts of Kanazawa, then take a short hop to a ryokan in Kaga Onsen. On days 4 and 5, ride the 2024 extension south through Fukui to Tsuruga and change there for the Thunderbird to Kyoto or Osaka.
Bullet train etiquette and practical tips
Shinkansen travel is easy once you know a few house rules. These are the points travellers most often ask about.
- Be on the platform early. Trains stop for a short time at busy stations and leave on the minute. Floor markings show where your car number will stop, so queue there.
- Eating is normal. Buying an ekiben (station lunch box) before boarding is part of the experience. Take your rubbish with you or use the bins at the end of the car.
- Keep calls outside the cabin. Switch phones to silent and take calls in the vestibule between cars. Speak quietly with your travel companions.
- Turn the seats for groups. Rows can be rotated to face each other. Ask the people behind before reclining, and return seats to face forward when you leave.
- Fuji is weather-dependent. The mountain is hidden by cloud on many days. Clear winter mornings give the best odds; summer haze often blocks the view.
- Keep your ticket to the exit. You need it to leave the station gates at the far end. Lost tickets mean paying the fare again.
Rules for entering Japan depend on your passport, so check the requirements on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website before booking, and see our visa services page for help. For longer stays and settling in, our guide to moving to Japan covers the practical side.
Planning a trip to Tokyo? Read our Tokyo travel guide, compare hotels in Tokyo or search flights.
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