Travel Guide
Introduction of Trains
On Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen lines, 3 kinds of train called "Nozomi", "Hikari", and "Kodama" are running frequently.
For example, 12 trains (8 of them are Nozomi, 2 are Hikari, and the other 2 are Kodama) depart Tokyo station within an hour from 10:00 - 10:59. Because trains are operated at short intervals, you can travel easyily between the cities.
Nozomi
"Nozomi" stop stations of several big cities. Because it pass most stations, you can go fastly to the next city. Nozomi stations are shown below.
Series N700, 700, and 300 (only for extra trains) cars run as Nozomi trains.
You are required to hold railway tickets and special express tickets when you take Nozomi. Though special express tickets for free seating on Nozomi are same amounts as those of Hikari and Kodama, those for reserved seats on Nozomi are slightly more expensive than on Hikari and Kodama. For example, the difference in price is 300 JPY between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka or Shin-Osaka and Hakata, 600 JPY between Tokyo and Hakata. If you seat in Green Car, you need paying Green charge.
Hikari
"Hikari" pass some stations and stop major ones. Though Hikari stop more often than Nozomi, you can travel more faster with Hikari than Kodama. Hikari stations are shown below.
Series N700, 700 (16 and 8 cars), 500 (only for extra trains), and 300 cars run as Hikari trains. Especially Hikari trains operated with 8 coach train of series 700 cars which have specious cabin are called "Hikari Rail Star".
You are required to hold railway tickets and special express tickets when you take Hikari. Special express tickets for free seating on Hikari are same amounts as those of Nozomi and Kodama, and those for reserved seats are same as Kodama. If you seat in Green Car, you need paying Green charge.
Kodama
"Kodama" stop all stations. It require considerable time to travel with Kodama for a long haul because they may wait for Nozomi and Hikari to pass sometimes at the way stations.
Series N700, 700 (16 and 8 cars), 500 (8 cars), 300, and 100 cars run as Kodama trains.
You are required to hold railway tickets and special express tickets when you take Kodama. Special express tickets for free seating on Kodama are same amounts as those of Nozomi and Hikari. Though those of reserved seats are same as Hikari, some train does not have seats for reservation. You need paying Green charge if you seat in Creen Car, but some train does not have Green Cars.
