How to Travel Between Tokyo and Osaka via Shinkansen Bullet Train

There are multiple ways to travel between Tokyo and Osaka, including by bus, car, or plane. But the fastest and most convenient option is to take the bullet train, also known as the shinkansen.

With this in mind, I’ve written a detailed guide covering everything you need to know about these trains, including where to board, where to buy your tickets, and more.

About the Shinkansen Network & Its Trains

Shinkansen (meaning ‘new main line’) is Japan’s high-speed bullet train system, operated by Japan Railways (JR) Group. The original service opened 60 years ago, connecting Tokyo and Osaka, and since then, the network has expanded to link most major cities across the country.

These bullet trains are clean, safe, comfortable, and super fast, with top speeds of up to 320km/h. At peak times, up to 16 trains can travel between stops every hour, making the shinkansen one of the most efficient high-speed rail networks in the world. Delays are pretty rare, and when they do happen, the average wait time is just 36 seconds!

Traveling Between Tokyo and Osaka on The Tokaido Bullet Train

The shinkansen network comprises nine lines that connect various cities across Japan.

To travel between Tokyo and Osaka, you’ll use the Tokaido line, which passes by Nagoya, Kyoto, and several smaller towns along the way. When it first opened in 1964, it was the world’s first high-speed rail line, and it remains one of the busiest today.

There are three types of trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen line: the Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama. All three trains cost the same for a non-reserved seat. However, reserved seat prices vary, with the Nozomi being the most expensive.

The Nozomi (meaning “wish” or “hope”) is one of the fastest bullet trains in Japan, traveling at a maximum speed of 300 km/h. Departures are every 10 minutes, and the 2 hours and 30 minutes journey between Tokyo and Osaka only has 4 stops (Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, and Kyoto).

It’s worth noting that the Nozomi isn’t fully included in the Japan Rail (JR) Pass (read more about the JR Pass below). To ride the train from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka using a JR Pass, you’ll need to purchase a supplementary ticket costing 4,960 JPY(~$32.)

The Hikari (meaning “light”) is the 2nd fastest bullet train on the Tokaido line, reaching a max speed of 285km/h. This train departs every 30 minutes, stopping at up to 10 stations along the way before it reaches Osaka. The total journey time is around 3 hours.

If you’ve already purchased a JR pass, you can ride the Hikari for free.

The Kodama (meaning “echo”) stops at all 16 stations between Tokyo and Osaka, making it the slowest of the three options. The journey takes around 4 hours, and there are 2 departures per hour. The Kodama is also covered by the JR Pass.

Which Shinkansen Train is Best?

To summarize, all three trains cost the same for a non-reserved seat. So if you’re traveling without a JR Pass and purchasing individual tickets, the Nozomi is your best option as it’ll get you there in only 2.5 hours.

If you’re using a JR Pass, you can ride the Hikari and Kodama trains for no additional charge, but the fastest train, the Nozomi, requires a supplementary fee. So, considering both price and travel time, I recommend taking the Hikari.

The Kodama is considerably slower, so it’s only worth it if you want to get off at one of the smaller stations the other trains don’t stop at.

Shinkansen Seat Classes

Shinkansen trains are known as some of the best in the world, and no matter which travel class you choose, you’ll find good onboard amenities and comfortable seating. That said, there are typically two distinct seat classes. I’ll explain them below…

Ordinary Car

The Ordinary Car is the most basic travel class available on shinkansen trains. Seats are configured in rows of 5 (3+2) with a decent amount of leg room, space to store luggage, a tray table on the seat in front, and a place to hang your coat.

The reclining seats are 44-48cm wide, and while the armrests aren’t the biggest, journeys are surprisingly comfortable for standard class travel.

Green Car

The Green Car is the equivalent of business class. The tickets are of course more expensive, but in return, you’ll get a slightly larger seat (46-49cm wide) in a 2+2 layout, a deeper seat recline, extra leg room, bigger armrests, and on certain trains, you’ll also be given complimentary snacks and drinks. Plus you’ll have your own reading light and electric plug for charging devices.

Reservations

Most of the time, there’s no need to make a reservation to travel on a shinkansen train. You can just show up, buy a ticket (or show your JR Pass if you have one), and jump on the next available train.

However, during rush hour (between 7-9 am, and 4-7 pm) and busy periods such as cherry blossom season, New Year, and public holidays, seats can fill up fast. So, if you’re traveling during these peak times, it’s best to reserve a seat to avoid standing for your whole journey.

If you have luggage over 160cm in total dimension (30cm x 50cm x 80cm), you’ll also need to buy a reserved seat with extra luggage space. These seats are located at the rear of each carriage and have a wider compartment for bigger suitcases and other items such as strollers and oversized sports equipment.

Reserved seats cost extra, but JR Pass holders can reserve any available seats for free.

Best Seats for Views of Mount Fuji

One of the best things about traveling between Tokyo and Osaka on the Tokaido Shinkansen is that on a clear day, you can get a great view of Mount Fuji.

The train tracks run south of the mountain, so if you’re traveling from Tokyo towards Osaka, try to pick a window seat on the right side of the train to get the best view. In the right weather conditions, the mountain will appear around 45 minutes into the journey (if leaving from Tokyo Station on the Nozomi or Hikari).

If you’re traveling from Osaka towards Tokyo, you’re going to want a seat on the left-hand side of the train. You’ll be able to see Mount Fuji around 1 hour 45 minutes after leaving Shin-Osaka station.

Traveling between Tokyo and Osaka on the Bullet Train

In Tokyo, you can board or disembark the shinkansen at either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. In Osaka, there are two major train stations, but when leaving or entering the city on the bullet train, you’ll use Shin-Osaka Station in the north (not the central Osaka Station.)

Tokyo to Osaka

You can board the bullet train to Osaka from either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. 182 shinkansen trains run along the Tokaido line every day. The earliest leaves Tokyo Station at 6 am, and the latest leaves at 9:31 pm.

The Nozomi departs every 10 minutes, and the Hikari and Kodama trains leave every 30 minutes. No matter which train you take, a standard unreserved seat in the Ordinary Car costs 13,620 JPY (~$87.) Reserved seats cost extra though…an additional 720 JPY (~$4.60) on the Hikari and Kodama, and around 1,000 JPY (~$6.40) on the Nozomi.

If you have a JR Pass, the Hikari and Kodama trains are free, and there’s no extra cost for a reserved seat. JR Pass holders can also take the quicker Nozomi train, but you’ll need to buy a special supplementary ticket costing 4,960 JPY(~$32.)

Osaka to Tokyo

From Osaka, you’ll need to board the bullet train to Tokyo at Shin-Osaka station. When you get to Tokyo, you can disembark the train at either Shinagawa Station or Tokyo Station.

170 trains run along the Tokaido line between Osaka and Tokyo every day. The earliest leaves Shin Osaka Station at 6 am, and the latest leaves at 9:24 pm.

The Nozomi departs every 10 minutes, and the Hikari and Kodama trains leave every 30 minutes. No matter which train you take, a standard unreserved seat in the Ordinary Car costs 13,620 JPY (~$87.) Reserved seats cost extra though…an additional 720 JPY (~$4.60) on the Hikari and Kodama, and around 1,000 JPY (~$6.40) on the Nozomi.

If you have a JR Pass, the Hikari and Kodama trains are free, and there’s no extra cost for a reserved seat. JR Pass holders can also take the quicker Nozomi train, but you’ll need to buy a special supplementary ticket costing 4,960 JPY(~$32.)

How to Book Bullet Train Tickets

You can buy shinkansen tickets at the station or online, either on the day of travel or up to a month in advance.

Buying tickets at the station

All major JR stations, including Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Shin-Osaka, allow you to purchase tickets at the counter or via a machine.

Whichever method you choose, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Number of travelers
• Date of travel
• Departure and destination stations
• Ordinary or Green Car
• Reserved or non-reserved seat

To book a reserved seat, the following is also required:

• Train name (e.g. Hikari)
• Departure time

All ticket machines have English language options, which is handy if you don’t speak Japanese. That said, not all machines accept non-Japanese credit cards, and some don’t allow you to book reserved seats, so, you may need to visit the ticket office.

Many ticket office agents speak English, however, this isn’t always the case. So, if your language skills are limited, it’s best to write down the ticket information listed above and pass it to the agent to make the process faster. Google Translate can also be helpful in a pinch 🙂

Buying tickets online

To buy tickets for the Tokaido line on the web, your best bet is to purchase through an official JR Train Reservation platform such as SmartEx, or a reputable third-party English language website such as Klook.

SmartEx deals specifically with the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines, and it offers detailed information and features such as seat selection and luggage space reservations. This makes it a good choice for securing tickets between Tokyo and Osaka. And because it’s an official JR site, it’s usually the cheapest option.

That said, some credit cards don’t work on SmartEx. In this case, Klook is a good backup. It has a user-friendly interface and all major international credit cards are accepted.

These websites can be less confusing than some of the ticket machines found at the stations. So, if you don’t speak Japanese and or feel comfortable navigating the local ticketing systems, booking through one of these platforms might be a better option.

What is A JR Pass and Is It Worth It?

The Japan Rail Pass, or JR Pass, is a multi-use rail ticket designed exclusively for foreigners. It can be used all over Japan, on all 9 shinkansen lines, as well as several other rail and bus services operated by JR.

Ticket options range from 7, 14, and 21 days, and within that time frame, you can ride as many eligible trains as you like. So, it can be a good way to save money if you intend to take multiple rail journeys during your trip.

However, prices for the JR Pass rose by almost 70% in 2023. So, make sure to calculate how many journeys you expect to take to see if a JR Pass is still worth the cost.

As a guide, an ordinary 7-day JR Pass now costs 50,000 JPY(~$320.70.) The cost of a normal one-way shinkansen journey from Tokyo to Osaka is 13,620 JPY/(~$87.)

If you decide to buy a JR Pass, it’s cheaper to do it before you arrive in Japan. You can do this via the official JR Pass website up to one month before the ticket start date. After you’ve paid online, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you can use to collect your official JR Pass from one of the many pick-up locations across the country.

Alternatively, you can buy a JR Pass from a specially authorized vendor like Klook. They will send you a Mail Exchange Order (MCO) which can be exchanged for the official pass at a pick-up location in Japan.

A JR Pass Alternative From Klook

Klook recently introduced a new multi-journey deal called the Value Rail Pass which, depending on your travel itinerary, could work out cheaper than a JR Pass.

For 40,440 JPY (~$270) you’ll get a round trip ticket from Narita airport to central Tokyo, 3 days of unlimited rides on the Tokyo metro, 2 shinkansen tickets between Tokyo and Osaka (including the ultra-fast Nozomi train) and a 3 day Kansai Thru Pass. The Kansai Thru Pass covers unlimited travel on subways, railways, and buses across Osaka, Kyoto, and all other cities in the Kansai district.

Klook’s deal is $130 cheaper than the total cost of a 7 day JR Pass with supplementary Nozomi train fees. However, destinations outside of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and the wider Kansai region aren’t included.

Conclusion

Traveling between Tokyo and Osaka with a shinkansen is fast, convenient and cost-effective – and if you’re planning to visit Kyoto as well, you’ll be glad to know the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto offers similar convenience and speed, making it a great option for extending your trip.

If you plan on taking multiple train trips during your visit to Japan, it’s worth checking out the JR Pass or Klook’s Value Rail Pass to see if you could save money. The Hikari shinkansen is the fastest train available for JR Pass users traveling between Tokyo and Osaka, but if you’re purchasing individual train tickets, the Nozomi is the best option, as it’s it’s faster, and doesn’t cost any extra.

Most of the time, you won’t need to make a reservation before you get to the station. However, if you’re traveling during a busy festival or holiday, or you have oversized luggage, you’ll need to reserve a seat online or at the station before you depart.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you to plan your journey between Tokyo and Osaka on the bullet train. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of Mount Fuji, and enjoy the ride! 😊