The Shinkansen, straight ahead
From Tokyo, it races to Kyoto and Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, Kanazawa, Sendai and Hakodate. No need to fly to cross the country.
Ticket-office fares, reserved seat, adult, regular season (October 2026). Osaka: Shin-Osaka station. Hakata: Fukuoka's station.
Three trains on the same line
The fastest, major stations only. With the JR Pass, you need an extra special ticket.
Tokyo – Kyoto in 2 hr 12
A few more stops. Included in the JR Pass.
Tokyo – Kyoto in about 2 hr 37
Every station. Included in the JR Pass.
Tokyo – Kyoto in about 3 hr 37
- Hayabusa and Kagayaki, heading north: all seats are reserved. Sendai in 1 hr 33, Kanazawa in 2 hr 31, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto in 4 hr 13.
- New Year, Golden Week, Obon and some long weekends: the Nozomi too.
- Missed your train? Take a non-reserved seat on a later train, the same day.
An N700 Shinkansen at Tokyo station
PlanJapanGetting around · The ShinkansenYour seat, one month ahead
Reserved seats open at 10 am, Japan time, one month before departure. Tokyo → Kyoto by Nozomi, adult, regular season, from cheapest to most expensive:
- EX Hayatoku 21 · 12,430 ¥
On smart EX, from one month to 21 days before. Limited seats, no changes, not at peak times. Tokyo – Hiroshima: 15,390 ¥.
- Non-reserved seat · 13,320 ¥
On the day, no booking. At peak times, Nozomi trains have no non-reserved cars.
- Reserved seat on smart EX · 13,970 ¥
Online, with a credit card; QR-code ticket, free changes before departure. The smartEX app is on the US, Canadian and Australian App Stores; from the UK, use the website.
- Reserved seat at the ticket office · 14,170 ¥
Or at the machines, with an English menu. In high season, 200 ¥ more; in peak season, 400 ¥.
Mount Fuji, on the right
Ordinary car: seat E. In the Green Car, four seats per row: seat D. You need a clear sky.
Mount Fuji from the train windowPlanJapanGetting around · The Shinkansen