The rule
The Japan Rail Pass cannot be used on Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen, reserved or non-reserved. Without a special ticket, a pass holder on those trains pays the basic fare and the limited express charge in full. Hikari, Kodama and Sakura on the same lines are covered.
The NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket
- The NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket is sold only to Japan Rail Pass holders, and one ticket is needed for each ride on a Nozomi or Mizuho.
- It is valid for the section printed on it. Riding beyond that section means paying the extra fare and charge.
- The price is the same for a Green car, a reserved seat in an ordinary car and a non-reserved seat in an ordinary car. Holders of the ordinary pass cannot buy Green car tickets.
- It is bought in Japan, at reserved-seat ticket machines, JR ticket offices and station counters, or at some travel agencies. It cannot be reserved online before arrival. Sales open one month before boarding.
- On peak days such as long holidays all Nozomi trains are reserved-seat only, so the reserved version is the one to buy.
- A delay of more than two hours on a Nozomi or Mizuho can be refunded through a manned gate.
Prices by section
The ticket prices below are for the sections used by the calculator. They are compared with the regular fares for the same trip on Nozomi and on Hikari or Sakura. The full price table covers every section.
| Section | NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket, adult | Child | Regular fare on Nozomi | Regular fare on Hikari / Sakura |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo – Nagoya | ¥4,180 | ¥2,090 | ¥11,300 | ¥11,090 |
| Tokyo – Shin-Osaka | ¥4,960 | ¥2,480 | ¥14,720 | ¥14,400 |
| Tokyo – Okayama | ¥5,930 | ¥2,960 | ¥17,770 | ¥17,130 |
| Tokyo – Hiroshima | ¥6,500 | ¥3,250 | ¥19,760 | ¥18,910 |
| Shin-Osaka – Hiroshima | ¥4,170 | ¥2,080 | ¥10,950 | ¥10,420 |
| Shin-Osaka – Hakata | ¥4,960 | ¥2,480 | ¥16,020 | ¥15,280 |
Ticket prices include tax. Regular fares are for an ordinary reserved seat, one way.
What it means for a pass holder
On a pass, a Tokyo to Shin-Osaka ride on Hikari adds ¥0 to the cost and the same ride on Nozomi adds ¥4,960. Without a pass, the Nozomi fare is only ¥320 above the Hikari fare. A round trip on Nozomi therefore adds ¥9,920 to the pass side, and the Tokyo to Shin-Osaka to Hakata round trip adds ¥19,840. The calculator on the home page includes these tickets when a trip is set to Nozomi.
Charge increase in 2027
JR Central and JR West announced on October 16, 2026 that the reserved-seat limited express charge for Nozomi and Mizuho goes up for tickets bought from July 1, 2027. Green car charges on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are revised for rides from December 15, 2027. Hikari, Kodama and Sakura reserved charges are not part of the first change.
| Route | Nozomi now | Nozomi from July 1, 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo – Nagoya | ¥11,300 | ¥11,880 | +¥580 |
| Tokyo – Shin-Osaka | ¥14,720 | ¥15,420 | +¥700 |
| Tokyo – Okayama | ¥17,770 | ¥18,530 | +¥760 |
| Tokyo – Hiroshima | ¥19,760 | ¥20,620 | +¥860 |
| Shin-Osaka – Hiroshima | ¥10,950 | ¥11,210 | +¥260 |
| Shin-Osaka – Hakata | ¥16,020 | ¥16,300 | +¥280 |
Adult, one way, ordinary reserved seat, normal season.
Updated: November 4, 2026