Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama
Three train names, one line, and you only want to board the right one.
Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama are the three service types on the Tokaido Shinkansen, the bullet train line linking Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. They share the same track and differ in how many stations they stop at. Nozomi stops at the fewest, Hikari adds a few more, and Kodama stops at every station 1.
How much time does each save?
The fastest Nozomi takes 2 hours 21 minutes between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka 2. Hikari takes a little longer, and Kodama takes the longest. For a family with luggage, the difference is a reason to pick the train with a convenient departure time, not only the shortest run.
Why does the JR Pass leave out Nozomi?
Nozomi and Mizuho trains are not covered by the JR Pass. Holders can buy a special ticket, which is 4,960 yen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka 3. Hikari and Kodama remain open to the pass, so pass holders can simply take a Hikari. The rail pass guide covers the sums.
What should a Malaysian traveller know?
Reserve your seat, especially in school-holiday weeks. A bag over 160 cm in total dimensions needs a reserved seat with baggage space, charged at the regular reserved-seat fare 4. Read reserved and non-reserved seats and the full Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama guide.
If elders travel with you, a Green Car seat gives more space. The Shinkansen entry explains the wider network.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- JR Central Annual Report 2025accessed 2026-10-20
- JR Central Annual Report 2025accessed 2026-10-20
- Japan Rail Pass official siteaccessed 2026-10-20
- JNTO, Shinkansenaccessed 2026-10-20
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