Japan Trains

Nozomi, meaning "Wish" or "Hope," is the fastest train service on Japan's Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.

Using N700 series trains, it reaches speeds of 300 km/h between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.

Covering the 515 km between Tokyo and Osaka in just 2 hours and 21 minutes, it's the quickest option.

Nozomi makes fewer stops than other services like Hikari and Kodama, stopping only at key stations such as Shinagawa, Nagoya, and Kyoto on the Tokaido line, and Shin-Kobe, Hiroshima, and Okayama on the Sanyo line.

Kodama, meaning "Echo," is the slowest Shinkansen service on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, stopping at every station.

It primarily serves smaller cities like Atami, with shorter routes such as Tokyo to Nagoya or Shin-Osaka, and late-night runs.

While Nozomi and Hikari are faster options for major cities, Kodama is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, making it a more affordable alternative.

Kodama trains use the same 700 and N700 series trains as Nozomi and Hikari, but older 100 and 300 series were used until 2012.

In 2008, modified 500 series trains joined the Kodama service.

Many Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama trains also continue to Hakata-Minami.

Hikari, meaning "Light," is a high-speed train service on Japan's Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.

It’s slower than the Nozomi but faster than the all-stop Kodama, striking a balance between speed and accessibility.

Hikari is the fastest service covered by the Japan Rail Pass, which doesn’t apply to Nozomi or Mizuho trains unless a special supplementary ticket is purchased.

Sakura, meaning "Cherry Blossom," is a high-speed Shinkansen service that has operated between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo since March 12, 2011.

Previously, Sakura was a limited express sleeper train run by JR Kyushu, connecting Tokyo with Nagasaki and Sasebo in Kyushu.

This sleeper service was discontinued in 2005 due to timetable changes.

Mizuho, meaning "abundant rice" and symbolizing "harvest," is a limited-stop Shinkansen service operating between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo since March 12, 2011, following the completion of the Kyushu Shinkansen.

The name was previously used for a limited express sleeper service run by JNR from 1961, connecting Tokyo to Kumamoto, before it was discontinued in December 1994.

Tsubame, meaning "swallow" in Japanese, is a train service operated by JR Kyushu on the Kyushu Shinkansen since 2004.

The name has a long history, previously used for limited express trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Line since 1930.

Tsubame Shinkansen services are operated using eight-car N700 series trains or six-car JR Kyushu 800 series trains.

Hayabusa, meaning "Peregrine Falcon," is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East and JR Hokkaido, running between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto since March 26, 2016.

Previously, the name was used for a limited express sleeper service from Tokyo to Kumamoto, which was discontinued in 2009.

The fastest Hayabusa journey from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto takes about 3 hours and 57 minutes.

The service uses 10-car E5 or H5 series trainsets, with all seats being reserved and non-smoking.

Tsubasa, meaning "wing" in Japanese, is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Yamagata Shinkansen since July 1992.

The name was previously used for a limited express service from Ueno to Akita, discontinued in 1992 when the Shinkansen service began.

Initially operated by 7-car 400 series trains, Tsubasa now uses 7-car E3 or E8 series sets.

These trains couple with E2 series trains from Tokyo to Fukushima, reaching speeds of up to 275 km/h.

On the Yamagata Shinkansen, however, speeds are limited to 130 km/h due to sharp curves and level crossings.

All seats are non-smoking.

Komachi is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East, running between Tokyo and Akita since March 1997.

It’s the only Shinkansen on the Akita line, using E6 series trains.

From Tokyo to Morioka, Komachi pairs with the Tohoku Shinkansen’s E5 series Hayabusa, and formerly with E2 series trains for E3 series.

Beyond Morioka, the train runs on converted narrow-gauge tracks, limiting its speed to 130 km/h, compared to 320 km/h on the Tohoku Shinkansen.

The service is named after Ono no Komachi, a famous poet from the region, with "Komachi" also symbolizing beauty in Japanese.

Yamabiko is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Morioka.

The name "Yamabiko" translates to "echo," especially one heard in the mountains.

Since March 26, 2016, H5 series trainsets have been introduced on some Yamabiko services, replacing older models.

Nasuno is a Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Tohoku Shinkansen, connecting Tokyo with Koriyama, stopping at all stations along the route.

The service is named after the Nasu Highlands and Nasu Onsen, located between Utsunomiya and Koriyama.

There are around 16 daily round trips, with trains starting or ending at Oyama, Nasushiobara, or Koriyama.

Until September 2012, double-decker E4 series trains, known as Max Nasuno, were also part of the service.

Toki is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Joetsu Shinkansen in Japan.

The name "Toki" comes from the Japanese crested ibis, a bird for which Niigata is well known.

Since March 3, 2019, Toki services have been operated using E7 series 12-car trainsets.

Tanigawa is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Joetsu Shinkansen in Japan.

Since March 3, 2019, the service has been using E7 series trainsets.

Asama is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Hokuriku Shinkansen in Japan, introduced in October 1997.

The name "Asama" comes from Mount Asama, an active volcano near Karuizawa.

All 16 Asama services stop at major stations including Tokyo, Ueno, and Nagano, with 11 trains making additional stops at Kumagaya, Honjo-Waseda, and Annaka-Haruna.

The service uses 12-car E7 or W7 series trainsets, with car 11 being a "Green" car and car 12 a "Gran Class" car.

All cars are non-smoking, though Gran Class on Asama does not include a dedicated attendant.

Kagayaki, meaning "Radiance," is a high-speed Shinkansen service jointly operated by JR East and JR West on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Tsuruga.

Introduced on March 14, 2015, the name was previously used for a limited express service by JR West from 1988 to 1997.

Kagayaki is the fastest service on the Hokuriku line, with ten daily round trips (nine to Tsuruga, one to Kanazawa).

Most trains stop only at Omiya, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, and Fukui, while some also stop at Ueno and other stations.

The service reaches speeds of up to 260 km/h, with the quickest journeys between Tokyo and Tsuruga taking 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Hakutaka, meaning "white hawk," is a high-speed Shinkansen service jointly operated by JR East and JR West on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Tsuruga.

The service was introduced on March 14, 2015, but the name has a history, having been used for a limited express service by JNR from 1965 to 1982, and later by JR West and Hokuetsu Express until March 2015.

Hakutaka trains use 12-car JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series trainsets, based at the Nagano and Hakusan depots.

Since the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga on March 16, 2024, the Hakutaka service now continues past Kanazawa to reach Tsuruga.

Hayate is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated by JR East on the Tohoku Shinkansen since 2002 and by JR Hokkaido on the Hokkaido Shinkansen since March 26, 2016.

It runs as far as Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, serving as the second-fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen.

The Hayate service was introduced with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe on December 1, 2002.

The name "Hayate," meaning a strong or swift wind, was chosen through public input, symbolizing speed and power.

This was the first time the name had been used for a train service in Japan.

The Hokuto is a limited express train service operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) that runs between Sapporo and Hakodate in Hokkaido. The journey on the Hokuto takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes.

The Super Hokuto services began on March 1, 1994, reducing travel time by about 30 minutes due to higher speeds through the numerous curves along the line between Sapporo and Hakodate.

Since 2020, all trains have been renamed to Hokuto after the original KiHa 183 series trains were replaced with the KiHa 261 series.