Nozomi & Mizuho Shinkansen
Japan's fastest bullet trains. Learn why they're excluded from the JR Pass and whether the upgrade is worth it for your trip.
The Nozomi and Mizuho are the fastest and most frequent Shinkansen services in Japan. While not covered by the standard JR Pass, holders can now purchase special upgrade tickets to ride these premium trains.
नोज़ोमी और मिज़ुहो क्या हैं?
Nozomi टोकैडो और सान्यो शिंकानसेन लाइनों पर चलती है, टोक्यो को क्योटो, ओसाका, हिरोशिमा और हाकाटा (फुकुओका) से जोड़ती है। यह इन मार्गों पर सबसे तेज़ और सबसे लगातार सेवा है।
Mizuho runs on the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, connecting Shin-Osaka with Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo. It's the fastest service for southern Japan.
Both train types make fewer stops than Hikari, Sakura, or Kodama trains, resulting in faster travel times. The trains themselves travel at the same speed - they simply skip more stations.
JR पास से बाहर क्यों? Nozomi and Mizuho are premium services primarily used by business travelers. JR excludes them to manage capacity and maintain service quality.
How much faster is Nozomi?
Compare travel times between different Shinkansen services on popular routes.
| Route | Nozomi/Mizuho | Hikari/Sakura | Kodama |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo → Kyoto | 2h 15min | 2h 25min | 3h 50min |
| Tokyo → Shin-Osaka | 2h 30min | 2h 35min | 4h 00min |
| Kyoto → Hiroshima | 1h 35min | 2h 00min | - |
| Shin-Osaka → Hakata | 2h 20min | 2h 35min | - |
हिकारी, सकुरा और कोडामा ट्रेनें बिना किसी अतिरिक्त शुल्क के JR पास से पूरी तरह से कवर की जाती हैं।
नोजोमी मिजुहो अपग्रेड टिकट
जेआर पास धारक अब नोजोमी और मिजुहो ट्रेनों की सवारी के लिए विशेष अपग्रेड टिकट खरीद सकते हैं।
Where to purchase the upgrade
The "Only with Japan Rail Pass Nozomi Mizuho Ticket" can be purchased at:
JR ticket offices
Midori-no-madoguchi counters
Ticket machines
Reserved seat ticket machines
Travel centers
JR Travel Service Centers
Is the upgrade worth it?
For most travelers, the time savings don't justify the extra cost. Here's why.
Reasons to upgrade
तेज़ यात्रा
कम स्टॉप का मतलब है अपने गंतव्य पर जल्दी पहुँचना
अधिक प्रस्थान
नोज़ोमी और मिज़ुहो हिकारी या सकुरा की तुलना में अधिक बार चलती हैं
सीधे मार्ग
कुछ लंबी दूरी के मार्गों पर कम ट्रांसफर की आवश्यकता हो सकती है
Reasons to skip
केवल एक सवारी
प्रत्येक अपग्रेड टिकट केवल एक ट्रेन सवारी के लिए मान्य है
बचाए गए समय के लिए महंगा
बचाए गए 15-25 मिनट लागत को उचित नहीं ठहरा सकते हैं
Japan purchase only
Upgrades can only be bought in Japan after JR Pass activation
Limited availability
Reserved seats may be sold out during peak seasons
Our recommendation
For the vast majority of travelers, we recommend using the Hikari or Sakura trains included with your JR Pass. The 10-15 minute time difference on most routes is minimal, and you'll save ¥4,000-7,000 per ride.
Consider upgrading only if you're on a very tight schedule, traveling during peak hours when Hikari is fully booked, or if the time savings is genuinely critical for your itinerary.
Green car options
Upgrade options depend on your JR Pass type:
- Ordinary JR Pass: Reserved and non-reserved standard seats only
- Green JR Pass: Can upgrade to Green car (except Gran Class)
Refunds & changes
- Refunds only at the purchase location
- Handling fee: ¥340 for reserved seats, ¥220 for non-reserved
- No refunds after travel has started
- Changes allowed before departure only
Get your Japan Rail Pass
The JR Pass gives you unlimited access to Hikari, Sakura, Kodama, and thousands of other JR trains. Start planning your trip today.