The Nozomi Shinkansen 新幹線 のぞみ号

The Nozomi Shinkansen: all about the fastest super-express bullet train

The Nozomi is the super-express bullet train service on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, faster than the Kodama and Hikari services, and is the only shinkansen service not fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, as it requires a supplement fee. 

All about Japans fastest super-express bullet train!

Japan Railways: Nozomi Shinkansen Train 新幹線 のぞみ号

The Nozomi (Japanese for "Hope" or "Wish") is Japan's fastest bullet train, being the super-express service on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen that runs between Tokyo and out west to Kyushu.

The most important stops

The super-express Nozomi stops at fewer stations on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen than the other two kinds of Shinkansen: the express Hikari, and the stop-at-every-station Kodama.

Nozomi bullet train at Tokyo Station

Nozomi bullet train at Tokyo Station

Japan Experience

The different types of Nozomi Trains

There are four models of Nozomi currently running: the 300-, 500-, 700- and N700 series. The N700 series is the latest, and has electrical sockets in all Green Car seats, and in the window seats and end-of-car seats of the ordinary cars. The N700 Nozomi trains also have Wi-Fi on the Tokaido Line section.

The Nozomi achieves speeds of up to 285 km/h on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line (i.e., Tokyo to Nagoya) and 300 km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line (Nagoya to Hakata).

Some typical travel times on the Nozomi:

  • Tokyo to Nagoya: about 1 hour and 40 minutes
  • Tokyo to Kyoto: about 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Tokyo to Shin-Osaka: about 2 hours 35 minutes
  • Tokyo to Hiroshima: about 4 hours
  • Tokyo to Hakata: about 5 hours 15 minutes.
Train Personnel

Train Personnel servicing the Nozomi Shinkansen.

@Japan Visitor

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