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What is Shinkansen?
Major Shinkansen Lines
Source: Wikipedia
| Line | Start | End | Operating speed | Length | Operator | Opened |
| Tokaido Shinkansen | Tokyo | Shin-Osaka | 285 km/h (177 mph) | 515.4 km (320 mi) | JR Central | 1964 |
| San'yō Shinkansen | Shin-Osaka | Hakata | 300 km/h (186 mph) | 553.7 km (344 mi) | JR West | 1972–1975 |
| Tōhoku Shinkansen | Tokyo | Shin-Aomori | 320 km/h (199 mph) | 674.9 km (419 mi) | JR East | 1982–2010 |
| Jōetsu Shinkansen | Ōmiya | Niigata | 275 km/h (171 mph) | 269.5 km (167 mi) | 1982 | |
| Hokuriku Shinkansen | Takasaki | Tsuruga | 260 km/h (162 mph) | 470.6 km (292 mi) | JR East JR West | 1997–2024 |
| Kyushu Shinkansen | Hakata | Kagoshima-Chūō | 260 km/h (162 mph) | 256.8 km (160 mi) | JR Kyushu | 2004–2011 |
| Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen | Takeo-Onsen | Nagasaki | 260 km/h (162 mph) | 66.0 km (41 mi) | 2022 | |
| Hokkaido Shinkansen | Shin-Aomori | Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | 260 km/h (162 mph) | 148.8 km (92 mi) | JR Hokkaido | 2016 |
Tōkaidō Shinkansen Bullet Train Types
Source: Wikipedia
| Bullet Train Types | Detail | Note |
| Nozomi | -The quickest train, with 4 departures every hour and only 4 stops. -Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto in just 2 hours and 20 minutes | Nozomi's reserved seats are more expensive |
| Hikari | -The second quickest train, with 2 departures every hour and up to 10 stops -Takes 2 hours and 40 minutes to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto | / |
| Kodama | -The slowest train, stopping at all stations between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka with 2 departures every hour. -Takes 4 hours from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka | Not recommended unless you need to stop at a station not served by the other two trains |
*The fare for all 3 Shinkansen trains is the same for non-reserved seats. However, reserved seats are more expensive, with the Nozomi's reserved seats being the most expensive of the three train services.
Shinkansen Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka
Source: from JR Rail Pass Offical Website
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto
Kyoto is about 370 kilometers west of Tokyo. The route from Tokyo to Kyoto is one of the most popular Shinkansen routes and is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which is the oldest and most famous Shinkansen line.
How Much is Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto
There are 3 types of bullet trains to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto. The Nozomi operates as the quickest option on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line, with a slightly higher fare. It's worth mentioning that the JR Pass allows for travel on all lines, including Nozimi.
| Train Types | Non-Reserved Seat Ticket Price | Reserved Seat Ticket Price | Average Time |
| Nozomi | JPY13,320 ($118.74) | JPY14,170 ($126.32) | 2 hrs 15 mins |
| Hikari | JPY13,320 ($118.74) | JPY13,850 ($123.46) | 2 hrs 40 mins |
| Kodama | JPY13,320 ($118.74) | JPY13,850 ($123.46) | 3 hrs 40 mins |
Special Note👀
- The price for a single trip for non-reserved seats is the same across all 3 Shinkansen lines.
- When you travel in the off-peak season, you can reduce the cost of a reserved seat by JPY 200. However, during the high-demand season, you'll need to pay an additional JPY 200, and during the very high-demand season, the surcharge increases to JPY 400.
- For a reserved seat, the price increases by approximately 420 JPY for the Hikari and Kodama trains, and around 630 JPY for the Nozomi train.
- Holders of the JR Pass can travel at no extra cost on the Hikari and Kodama services.
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto Timetable
| Train type | Fastest trip | Longest trip | Earliest departure | Latest departure |
| Morning trains | 2 hrs 8 min | 2 hrs 15 min | 06:00 | 11:48 |
| Afternoon trains | 2 hrs 11 min | 2 hrs 15 min | 12:00 | 17:54 |
| Evening trains | 2 hrs 9 min | 2 hrs 15 min | 18:00 | 20:54 |
| Night trains | 2 hrs 7 min | 2 hrs 11 min | 21:03 | 21:24 |
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka
Shinkansen trains from Tokyo to Osaka leave from Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Shin-Yokohama Stations, arriving at Shin-Osaka Station, which is not the main station in Osaka but is designed for Shinkansen services. From Shin-Osaka, passengers can access various trains to central Osaka, the airport, Kyoto, and Nara.
How Much is Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka
| Train types | Non-reserved seat ticket price | Reserved seat ticket price | Average Time |
| Nozomi | JPY13,870 ($123.64) | JPY14,720 ($131.22) | 2 hrs 22 mins |
| Hikari | JPY13,870 ($123.64) | JPY14,400 ($128.37) | 3 hrs |
| Kodama | JPY13,870 ($123.64) | JPY14,400 ($128.37) | 3 hrs 50 mins |
Special Note👀
- The price for a single trip for non-reserved seats is the same across all 3 Shinkansen lines.
- When you travel in the off-peak season, you can reduce the cost of a reserved seat by JPY 200. However, during the high-demand season, you'll need to pay an additional JPY 200, and during the very high-demand season, the surcharge increases to JPY 400.
- Tickets from Tokyo or Shinagawa station to Shin-Osaka cost the same, while those from Shin-Yokohama station are cheaper.
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka Timetable
Nozomi Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka runs every 10 minutes and operates between 6 a.m. and 21:03. Here is the timetable for Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka:
| Train type | Fastest trip | Longest trip | Earliest departure | Latest departure |
| Morning trains | 2 hrs 22 min | 2 hrs 54 min | 06:00 | 11:48 |
| Afternoon trains | 2 hrs 27 min | 2 hrs 54 min | 12:00 | 17:54 |
| Evening trains | 2 hrs 27 min | 3 hrs | 18:00 | 20:54 |
| Night trains | 2 hrs 21 min | 2 hrs 24 min | 21:03 | 21:24 |
How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka
Source: Photo by Aimee Gardner
Buy Shinkansen Tickets on Trip.com Website
Trip.com offers Shinkansen Tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto with non-reserved seats, reserved seats for ordinary cars and green cars. Passengers can also book Shinkansen Tickets from Kyoto to Tokyo and Osaka to Tokyo.
Buy Shinkansen Tickets at the Station
Go to any major JR station in Tokyo, such as Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, or Ueno Station, queue at the ticket office (みどりの窓口, Midori no Madoguchi) and tell the staff your destination (Kyoto or Osaka), preferred departure time, and whether you want a reserved or non-reserved seat.
Step-to-Step Guide to Buy Shinkansen Tickets by Vending Machine
Step 1: Change Language and select one of three choices
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Step 2: Choose your departure station
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Step 3: Select your date, time, number of people, and seat type
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Step 4: Remember to reserve a seat if you have a lot of baggage
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Step 5: Choose your seats
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Step 6: Opt for the basic ticket fare
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Step 7: Confirm and pay Shinkansen tickets
Photo by Aimee Gardner
Online Booking
You can also buy Shinkansen tickets online. JR East offers an online reservation service for certain trains, and there are also third-party websites and travel agencies that offer online booking options for foreign tourists. Websites like JR-Central's "Smart EX" service or the "Japan Rail Pass" official site can be used for this purpose.
How to Reserve Shinkansen Tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka
Reserving Shinkansen tickets in Japan can be done in several ways. Here are the common methods to reserve your seat:
| Reserve Methods | Platforms | Detail |
| Trip.com | Trip.com website | Trip.com offers reserved tickets for ordinary car and green car from Tokyo to Kyoto. |
| At the Station | Ticket office | Visit the ticket office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) at any JR (Japan Railways) station |
| Vending machines | Use the ticket vending machines available at most major stations. The machines have an English language option for easier navigation. | |
| Online Reservations | JR East Shinkansen Reservation | You can book tickets for the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines. |
| JR West Online Reservation | For the Sanyo Shinkansen (Osaka to Fukuoka) and part of the Kyushu Shinkansen line | |
| SmartEX | Operated by JR Central, SmartEX is an app that allows you to book tickets for the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, which connects Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakata. | |
| Japan Rail Pass | If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can reserve seats at no additional cost. | |
| Eki-net | Eki-net is JR's online service for train reservations. | |
Luggage Rule on Shinkansen
Photo by Carey Finn
Since 2020, JR has decided to bring in limits for extra-large luggage on certain routes, including Tōkaidō Shinkansen (between Tokyo and Osaka, including Kyoto), the San’yō Shinkansen (between Shin-Osaka and Fukuoka, including Himeiji and Hiroshima) and the Kyūshū Shinkansen (between Hakata and Kagoshima).
Size Restrictions
Passengers are allowed to bring up to two pieces of baggage on board. Each piece of luggage must not exceed a total of 160 cm when adding the width, height, and depth, and should not weigh more than 30 kilograms.
Oversized Luggage
As of 2020, Japan Railways introduced a reservation system for oversized luggage on certain Shinkansen lines, which requires passengers to book a seat with oversized luggage space if their baggage exceeds 160 cm but is within 250 cm (width + height + depth).
What happens if you don’t reserve?
If you fail to reserve a space for your luggage, you will be issued with a fine of 1000 yen. And you will have to upgrade to a reserved seat for your over-sized luggage.
Oversized Luggage don't require reservation
- Baby strollers
- Musical instruments
- Sports equipment
Why Choose Shinkansen to Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka
Choosing the Shinkansen, also known as the bullet train, to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka is a popular option for several reasons:
- 1. Speed: The Shinkansen is one of the fastest trains in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 320 km/h. It can take you from Tokyo to Kyoto in about 2 hours and 7 minutes and to Osaka in about 2 hours and 21 minutes, making it significantly faster than driving or taking a bus.
- 2. Frequency: Shinkansen trains run very frequently, with departures every 10-15 minutes during peak times. This means you don't need to plan your schedule around the train times as much as you would with less frequent services.
- 3. Comfort: Shinkansen trains are known for their comfort and smooth rides. Seats are spacious and well-maintained, with ample legroom. There are also restrooms, power outlets, and sometimes even Wi-Fi service on board.
- 4. Convenience: The Shinkansen stations are centrally located in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, making it easy to get to and from the train stations. They are well-connected to local transportation networks, such as subways and buses.
- 5. Reliability: Japanese trains are famous for their punctuality. The Shinkansen is no exception, with an impressive track record for on-time performance. This reliability makes it easier to plan your trip without worrying about unexpected delays.
- 6. Safety: Japan's rail system is one of the safest in the world, with an excellent safety record. The Shinkansen uses advanced technology and rigorous maintenance schedules to ensure the safety of its passengers.
- 7. Scenic Views: Depending on the route and the time of day, traveling by Shinkansen can offer scenic views of the Japanese countryside, including mountains, rivers, and rural areas.
- 8. Baggage: Unlike airlines, there are no strict baggage limits on the Shinkansen, and you don't need to check your bags. This can save time and hassle, especially for travelers with larger luggage.
- 9. Eco-Friendly: Trains are generally more environmentally friendly than cars or airplanes, producing less carbon emissions per passenger.
- 10. Experience: Riding the Shinkansen is a quintessential Japanese experience. It's not just a mode of transportation; it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and technology.
Main Facilities on Shinkansen
The Shinkansen is known for its punctuality, speed, and safety. It offers various classes of service, typically including Standard (Economy), Green (First Class), and Gran Class (Luxury Class). Here are the facilities on a Shinkansen train:
| Main facilities | Detail |
| Various Seating | 3 types of seats, Green and Gran Class seats are more spacious and offer greater comfort |
| Restrooms | Clean and well-maintained Western-style toilets, often with separate facilities for men and women |
| Washrooms | Sink areas for freshening up, equipped with mirrors and hand soap |
| Luggage Storage | Overhead racks for small bags and designated areas for larger suitcases at the ends of the carriages |
| Food and Beverages: | Vending machines or trolley services offering drinks and snacks |
| Power Outlets | Outlets for charging electronic devices, although availability may vary by train model and class |
| Wi-Fi | Many Shinkansen trains offer free Wi-Fi service |
| Information Displays | Electronic displays in multiple languages (Japanese and English) for upcoming stops, transfer options, and safety instructions |
| Smoking Areas | Some Shinkansen trains offers designated smoking compartments. |
| Accessibility | Facilities for passengers with disabilities, including wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms. |
| Emergency Facilities | Emergency buttons and intercoms to contact staff in case of an incident. |
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FAQs about Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka
Do I need to reserve a seat on Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka?
While not mandatory, it is highly recommended to reserve a seat on Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka, which are very crowded and popular during peak hours.Can I use the Japan Rail Pass on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka?
Yes, you can use the Japan Rail Pass on on Hikari, Kodama, and Nozomi trainsCan I use my IC Card (Suica, Pasmo, etc.) for the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka?
Yes, but you’ll need to link your Shinkansen ticket to your IC card before going through the Shinkansen barriers.How can I purchase Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka?
Tickets can be purchased at ticket counters, vending machines at train stations, online through various booking platforms, or through travel agencies like Trip.com.