Which train to take, how to buy or reserve a seat, where your luggage goes, and how to board with confidence.
The Shinkansen is Japan's network of high-speed intercity trains, run by the JR companies, and the simplest way to travel between major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kanazawa. On the Tokaido line it cruises at 285 km/h, and JR Central lists 2 hours 21 minutes as the fastest Tokyo to Shin-Osaka time.
First-timer advice: pick a train that fits your schedule, reserve when your plans are fixed, and allow extra time to find your gate, platform, and car.
A line is a railway corridor. Pick the line by where you are going, then check which train type runs on it.
Tokyo to Nagoya, Kyoto, or Osaka
Use: Tokaido ShinkansenOsaka trips end at Shin-Osaka, not Osaka Station.
Kyoto or Shin-Osaka to Okayama, Hiroshima, or Hakata
Use: Sanyo ShinkansenMany trains from Tokyo run straight through, so you often stay on the same train.
Tokyo to Nagano or Kanazawa
Use: Hokuriku Shinkansen
Tokyo to Sendai, Morioka, or Aomori
Use: Tohoku ShinkansenContinue on the Hokkaido Shinkansen to reach Hakodate.
Hakata to Kumamoto or Kagoshima
Use: Kyushu Shinkansen
Hakata to Nagasaki
Use: Relay Kamome, then the Nishi Kyushu ShinkansenChange at Takeo-Onsen, where the Shinkansen waits across the same platform.
Tokyo to Niigata
Use: Joetsu Shinkansen
The core first-time corridor for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Continues west from Kansai to Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
Fast travel south through Kyushu.
The short line to Nagasaki. From Hakata, take the Relay Kamome limited express to Takeo-Onsen and cross the platform.
Nagano, Kanazawa, and Fukui. The line has reached Tsuruga since March 2024.
Northern Honshu, including Sendai and Aomori.
Reaches Hakodate. Sapporo is not on the Shinkansen network yet.
Niigata and the ski-country gateways on the way.
Stops shown are key stations, not every station on the line.
Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama are train types, not separate railway lines. They all run on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, and many continue onto the Sanyo Shinkansen. They differ in how many stations they stop at, so the same track can give you a faster or slower trip.
| Train type | Stops | Best for | JR Pass | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozomi | Major stations only. The fastest of the three. | Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka trips when speed matters. | Not covered by the standard pass. A separate pass-holder ticket exists. | Usually has non-reserved cars. All seats are reserved in major peak periods. |
| Hikari | Major stations plus some extra stops, depending on the train. Second fastest. | A fast alternative to Nozomi, and the usual pass-holder choice. | Covered. | Reserved and non-reserved cars. |
| Kodama | Every station on its line. The slowest of the three. | Smaller stations that faster trains skip. | Covered. | Reserved and non-reserved cars. |
Bottom line: For a first trip between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka, Nozomi is the quick choice, and Hikari is the usual alternative that works with the JR Pass. Choose Kodama only when your station is one the faster trains skip.
Other lines use different names. Hayabusa runs on the Tohoku and Hokkaido lines, and Kagayaki and Hakutaka run on the Hokuriku line. On the Kyushu line, Mizuho, Sakura, and Tsubame fill the roles of Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama. Always read both the line and the train name on your ticket and the board.
Six trips first-time visitors often make, with the line and station names to look for. Nozomi is fastest on the Tokaido line, Hikari and Kodama take longer, so check a current timetable for your own train.
Tokaido Shinkansen
From Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station
Kyoto's Shinkansen platforms are inside the main station. Nozomi and Hikari both stop here.
Explore Kyoto →Tokaido Shinkansen
From Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station
Osaka Station is a different station. The Shinkansen arrives at Shin-Osaka.
Explore Osaka →Hokuriku Shinkansen
From Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station
Direct trains run between the two on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, so you do not normally change.
Explore Kanazawa →Sanyo Shinkansen
From Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station
Start from Shin-Osaka. Nozomi and Mizuho are not covered by the standard JR Pass.
Explore Hiroshima →Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen
From Tokyo Station to Hiroshima Station
Trains run through from the Tokaido line onto the Sanyo line, so you often stay on one train.
Kyushu Shinkansen
From Hakata Station to Kumamoto Station
Hakata is the main Shinkansen station for Fukuoka.
A map app shows current departure times for your own trip.
A Shinkansen trip can involve more than one ticket or fare component. That is normal, and you do not need to work out the pieces yourself.
Online bookings usually show one combined price. At a machine or ticket office you may receive one ticket or two. Keep every ticket until you leave your destination station. For a fuller explanation of base fares, extra charges, and gates, see train tickets in Japan.
Can you buy Shinkansen tickets on the day? Yes, if seats are available. Reservations generally open about one month before travel. Same-day tickets are easiest on trains with non-reserved cars, and a reserved seat is safer when timing matters.
Buying in person? Tell the staff your origin, destination, date, approximate departure time, number of travelers, seat preference (reserved or non-reserved, Ordinary or Green), and whether you have oversized baggage.
Often, but not always. A reserved seat guarantees a car and seat. Non-reserved cars, where a train has them, are first come, first served, so you may have to stand if they fill up.
Availability changes by train and date, and reserved and non-reserved cars vary by service. Check your specific train.
New Year, Golden Week, and Obon are the busiest travel periods in Japan. In major peak periods, JR Central makes all seats on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi trains reserved, so a non-reserved plan will not work on those trains. Reserve as soon as sales open, and do not assume this year's dates match last year's.
JR Central publishes each year's dates on its Nozomi page (opens in a new tab). Popular weekends, such as cherry blossom season, can also fill trains, even when the all-reserved rule does not apply.
Ordinary Car is the right choice for most visitors. Green Car costs more for extra space and comfort. GranClass exists only on selected services, so do not expect the same class layout across the network. An Ordinary JR Pass does not cover the Green Car.
Yes, you can bring luggage. Small bags and most standard suitcases are fine. One rule catches travelers out: on some lines, bags of 161 to 250 cm need a reserved seat with an oversized baggage area.
| Your bag | What to do |
|---|---|
| Small bag or backpackFits overhead | Overhead rack, or at your feet without blocking the aisle. |
| Standard suitcaseUp to 160 cm total | No special reservation. Overhead if you can lift it, at your feet, or in luggage space near the car doors where the train has it. |
| Oversized bag161 to 250 cm total | Reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen. |
| Very large bagOver 250 cm total | Cannot be brought on board. Send it ahead instead. |
Total size means length, width, and height added together. Measure the outside of the bag at its largest points, wheels and handles included.
| Lines | Oversized baggage rule |
|---|---|
| Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi Kyushu | A seat with an oversized baggage area must be reserved for bags of 161 to 250 cm. Bringing one without a reservation costs a ¥1,000 baggage fee. |
| Tohoku, Hokkaido, Hokuriku, and Joetsu | JR East says no luggage-space reservation is needed on these lines. Space is first come, first served, and some trains have no designated area, so a large bag may end up at your feet. |
Each operator sets its own rule and can change it. Check the current wording on the JR Central luggage page (opens in a new tab) and the JR East oversized luggage guide (opens in a new tab) before you travel.
For a one- or two-night stop, carrying your bag is usually simple. For several cities, very large bags, or tight connections, sending luggage ahead between hotels can take the stress out of station transfers. Our luggage forwarding guide explains how early to send a bag and when carrying it is simpler.
Big Shinkansen stations feel complicated, but the process is the same everywhere. Slow down at the gate and the departure board, and the rest is straightforward.
"Shin" means "new," and it often marks the Shinkansen station. It is not a rule: Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Hiroshima use their main stations. Confirm the station name on your ticket.
Many stations have separate gates for local trains and the Shinkansen. If you arrive by subway or local train, follow the Shinkansen transfer signs instead of leaving the station. If you start from the street, use the Shinkansen entrance. If you hold two paper tickets for one trip, insert them into the gate together.
An ExploreJapanDaily illustration with made-up details. Real tickets and screens look different by operator, but they show the same information.
An ExploreJapanDaily illustration with made-up trains. Real boards vary by station and alternate between Japanese and English.
Platform signs and floor markings show where each numbered car stops, and reserved and non-reserved cars are typically marked separately. Stand at the marker for your car number and let passengers step off first. At a very large station, take the extra minutes to follow the signs rather than guessing.
There is no official time that suits every station. As a planning cushion, not an operator rule, aim to be inside a major station 20 to 30 minutes before departure when you already hold a ticket. Allow more if you still need to buy, change, or collect one. Trains leave on schedule, so a late arrival at the gate can mean a missed train.
Head for the Shinkansen entrance or transfer gate. In a large station, allow extra time to find it.
Look for "Shinkansen" in English and Japanese. Do not follow local-line or subway signs just because the station name matches.
Check the departure board for your train name, number, departure time, and platform.
Use your ticket, QR code, or registered IC card, as your booking instructs. If you hold two paper tickets for one trip, insert them together.
Follow the platform number from the board. Elevator and escalator signs lead up or down to the platforms.
Platform signs and floor markings show where each numbered car stops. Your car number is on your ticket or booking.
Line up in the marked queue and let passengers step off before you board.
Stops are short, so have your bags in hand and move steadily.
Match the seat number on your ticket. Store bags overhead, at your feet, or in the space your ticket allows.
Listen for announcements, gather your belongings a few minutes early, and move toward the door as the train slows.
Most problems are easy to fix if you speak to staff early. Staff work at ticket offices and at the attended gate beside the automatic gates, and conductors walk through the train.
Two questions come up constantly: does my pass cover this train, and can I just tap my Suica?
The nationwide JAPAN RAIL PASS covers ordinary cars on JR Shinkansen trains, except Nozomi and Mizuho. That includes Hikari and Kodama. The pass does not reserve a seat for you: book a reserved seat at no extra charge, or use a non-reserved car.
Pass holders cannot ride Nozomi or Mizuho, even in non-reserved seats, unless they buy the separate NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket before boarding, for specified sections. An Ordinary pass does not cover the Green Car. The pass is a coverage tool, not an automatic saving. Regional passes are cheaper but do not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen, as the regional rail passes guide explains.
An IC card is not a Shinkansen ticket. You still need a ticket or a booking. With a SmartEX booking, you can register an IC card and tap it at the Shinkansen gate. The Shinkansen fare is charged to the credit card used for the booking, not deducted from the card balance.
If you enter through a local-line gate, such as Tokyo Station's Marunouchi entrance, tap at both the local gate and the Shinkansen gate. Collect your "Seat Information" slip at the Shinkansen gate.
For which card to buy and how mobile cards work, see IC cards in Japan. To link a card to a booking, see IC-card and QR boarding.
Children aged 6 to 11 pay half the adult fare for the basic fare, limited express, and reserved seat charges. Children aged 1 to 5 generally travel free with an adult, up to two per adult, unless they need their own reserved seat. Green Car charges are the same as an adult's.
To sit together as a family, reserve adjacent seats early, especially in peak periods.
Wheelchair accessible seats and spaces must be reserved in advance. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, JR Central accepts these reservations up to two days before boarding. Follow the elevator signs in the station, and ask staff at a ticket office or attended gate about the step-free route and boarding help.
For wider planning, see accessible travel in Japan.
Small checks that keep a simple train trip simple.
Instead: Use Shin-Osaka. Check the station name on your ticket.
Instead: Nozomi is a train type. The line is the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen.
Instead: Check your train and date. Some trains and peak periods are all-reserved.
Instead: The pass covers most JR Shinkansen, but not Nozomi or Mizuho. Check the service name first.
Instead: An IC card is not a Shinkansen ticket. Use a ticket, or a booking with a registered card.
Instead: Measure your bag. On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi Kyushu lines, reserve an oversized-baggage seat if it is over 160 cm.
Instead: Look for Shinkansen signs, not local-line or subway gates.
Instead: Reserve early for Golden Week, Obon, and New Year. Nozomi may be all-reserved.
Instead: Match the train name, number, departure time, and platform to your ticket.
Instead: Find your car number on your ticket, then use the platform markers.
Screenshot this for the day of your trip.