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.
What are Nozomi & Mizuho?
Nozomi operates on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines, connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakata (Fukuoka). It's the fastest and most frequent service on these routes.
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.
Why excluded from JR Pass? 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 | - |
Hikari, Sakura, and Kodama trains are fully covered by the JR Pass at no extra cost.
The Nozomi Mizuho upgrade ticket
JR Pass holders can now purchase special upgrade tickets to ride Nozomi and Mizuho trains.
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
Faster travel
Fewer stops means quicker arrival at your destination
More departures
Nozomi and Mizuho run more frequently than Hikari or Sakura
Direct routes
Some long-distance routes may require fewer transfers
Reasons to skip
Single ride only
Each upgrade ticket is valid for one train ride only
Expensive for time saved
15-25 minutes saved may not justify the cost
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.