Tokaido Shinkansen: Japan's flagship high-speed train
- Published on : 24/12/2025
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Tokaido Shinkansen
©fikri-rasyid, unsplash
Are you traveling to Japan soon? You'll surely be taking the Tokaido Shinkansen, the high-speed bullet train that connects Tokyo to Kyoto in no time. How does it work? What are its special features? Japan Experience tells you everything you need to know about the flagship of Japanese trains.
Japan's most popular shinkansen
The Tokaido Shinkansen is Japan's busiest and most popular high-speed rail line, carrying over 150 million passengers annually.
Inaugurated in 1964 as the world's first high-speed rail line, the Tokaido Shinkansen line follows the ancient Tokaido Road, a legendary route that has connected Tokyo (formerly Edo) and Kyoto for centuries.
With trains running every few minutes, it offers quick access to the country's major cities (Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka/Kyoto) and stops at several important cities on the island of Honshu, such as Odawara, Atami, Shizuoka, and Hamamatsu. It should be noted that from Kansai, the Tokaido Shinkansen becomes the Sanyo Shinkansen, heading towards Hiroshima and Fukuoka, meaning that the line connects the entire main island of Japan in record time!
But it is above all for its technological prowess that the Tokaido Shinkansen has established itself as the flagship of the Japanese railway industry.
- Since 2015, the maximum operating speed has increased from 170 mph to 175 mph.
- One of the most frequent trains in the world, with departures every few minutes during peak hours and up to 13 trains per hour in each direction!
- Tokaido Shinkansen trains are extremely punctual, with an average delay of only 0.3 minutes per train.
- Since 2020, the series used are N700/N700A, trains that consume much less energy than the older fleets (700 series).
- By 2035, JR Central (which operates the Tokaido Shinkansen) plans to launch a maglev project connecting Tokyo to Nagoya at a commercial speed of 315 mph.
Onboard experiences
Traveling aboard the Tokaido Shinkansen is very pleasant. It must be said that regardless of the class (green cars or standard), the carriages are equipped with all the necessary comforts.
Services
- Overhead luggage racks
- Storage space for large luggage items
- Electrical outlets
- Folding tables
- Toilets in several cars
- Vending machines and food/drink carts
- Free WiFi
- Three “Green Car” (first class) cars per train for added comfort
Please note that announcements are made in Japanese and English and that trains are entirely non-smoking.
Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama
Three types of bullet trains run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line:
- Nozomi: This is the fastest train, stopping only at the six largest stations on the line (Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka). It connects Tokyo to Kyoto in 2 hours and 20 minutes and Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) in less than 2 hours and 30 minutes. Nozomi trains are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
- Hikari: This is the second fastest service, stopping at slightly more stations than the Nozomi. Hikari trains can be used with the Japan Rail Pass.
- Kodama: This is the slowest service, stopping at all stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. Kodama trains can also be used with the Japan Rail Pass.
Shinkansen stopping at Shin-Osaka Station.
@Japan Visitor
While the Hikari and Kodama trains date back to the launch of the line, when Japanese railways were still nationalized, the Nozomi shinkansen was introduced in 1992 by JR Central and JR West after the privatization of Japan Railways.
Mount Fuji
@Tommy Silver on Unsplash
Can you take the Tokaido Shinkansen with the JR Pass and regional passes?
The Japan Rail Pass is an economical way for foreign visitors to use the Tokaido Shinkansen (and other JR trains throughout the country).
Pass holders can ride Hikari and Kodama trains at no extra charge—simply present your pass at the ticket window. However, Nozomi services require payment of a limited express surcharge.
Travel across Japan with the Japan Rail Pass!
The Japan Rail Pass or JR Pass is a single pass that provides unlimited access to the JR (Japan Railways) railway network in Japan for a period of 7, 14, or 21 days. It is the most economical and by far the most convenient option for those wishing to travel by train in Japan.
Platform for the Shinkansen Bullet Train displaying certain cars with free suiting and certain cars with assigned seating.
@Wikimedia
Regional passes, which allow you to use all forms of transportation in a given region at a lower cost, are not valid on the Tokaido Shinkansen. However, some passes are valid on sections of the Sanyo Shinkansen, starting from Shin-Osaka.
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