How fast is the Shinkansen?

The fastest trains reach 320 km/h on the Tohoku line and 285 km/h on the Tokaido line. On the timetable, Tokyo to Kyoto takes around 2 hours 15 minutes on the Nozomi, and Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, at the top of Honshu, about 3 hours on the Hayabusa.

How much is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto?

Booked online through smartEX, an ordinary reserved seat on the Nozomi costs ¥13,970 for an adult and ¥6,980 for a child aged 6 to 11, in the regular season. Prices are slightly higher at the station and in peak seasons.

Do children ride the Shinkansen free?

Children under 6 ride free, up to two per paying passenger, if they do not take their own reserved seat. Children aged 6 to 11 pay half the fare and charges. The Green Car charge is not discounted.

Can I bring a stroller on the Shinkansen?

Yes. Strollers do not count as oversized baggage, so no special seat is needed. Fold it and use the overhead rack, the luggage area or the space behind the last row.

Do I need to reserve Shinkansen seats?

Not always, but it is wise with a family. Some trains, such as the Hayabusa, Komachi, Tsubasa and Kagayaki, are all reserved, and Nozomi trains are all reserved during the peak holiday periods.

Can I eat on the Shinkansen?

Yes. Eating and drinking at your seat is normal, and most people buy an ekiben lunch box at the station before boarding. Take your rubbish with you or use the bins on the deck.

Shinkansen in Japan: Every Line, Fares and Tips for Families

09/20/202510/10/2026

A white N700 Shinkansen bullet train standing at a station platform

Quick answer

The Shinkansen is Japan's bullet train network, with nine main lines running from Kagoshima in the south to Hakodate in the north, most of them starting from Tokyo Station.
Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 hours 15 minutes on the Nozomi, and costs ¥13,970 for an adult reserved seat booked online (child ¥6,980).
Children aged 6 to 11 pay half.

Contents

What Is the Shinkansen?

The Shinkansen is Japan's network of high-speed railway lines, run by the JR Group companies on their own tracks, separate from ordinary trains. It is the fastest way between most Japanese cities, it runs every few minutes on the busiest line, and delays are rare.

It is also the easiest way to travel with children. The seats are wide, there is room to walk the aisle with a restless toddler, every other car has toilets, and there is no airport security.

Most visitors ride it at least once, usually from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka. Below are the lines one by one, followed by fares, child fares, tickets, the JR Pass, luggage and strollers.

This page is part of our Japan travel tips for first-timers.

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Shinkansen Lines at a Glance

Times are for the fastest trains and are approximate. Many trains take longer.

Line	Route	Main trains	Fastest from Tokyo
Tokaido	Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka	Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama	Kyoto about 2 h 15 min
Sanyo	Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata	Nozomi, Mizuho, Sakura, Hikari, Kodama	Hiroshima about 4 h
Kyushu	Hakata, Kumamoto, Kagoshima-Chuo	Mizuho, Sakura, Tsubame	Change at Hakata or Shin-Osaka
Tohoku	Tokyo, Sendai, Morioka, Shin-Aomori	Hayabusa, Yamabiko, Nasuno	Shin-Aomori about 3 h
Hokkaido	Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto	Hayabusa, Hayate	Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto about 4 h
Akita (mini)	Morioka to Akita	Komachi	Akita about 3 h 40 min
Yamagata (mini)	Fukushima, Yamagata, Shinjo	Tsubasa	Yamagata about 2.5 to 3 h
Joetsu	Tokyo, Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata	Toki, Tanigawa	Niigata about 1.5 h
Hokuriku	Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Tsuruga	Kagayaki, Hakutaka, Tsurugi, Asama	Kanazawa about 2.5 h

There is also the short Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki.

The Shinkansen Lines, One by One

Most visitors only ride the Tokaido line between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The other lines matter if you are heading north or to Kyushu.

Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka)

Almost every visitor uses this line. Trains leave Tokyo Station every few minutes for Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. The Nozomi is fastest, the Hikari stops a little more often and is covered by the JR Pass, and the Kodama stops everywhere.

On a clear day, Mt. Fuji appears on the right-hand side heading west, near Shin-Fuji.

The N700 Shinkansen on the Tokaido line — The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

Sanyo Shinkansen (Osaka to Hiroshima and Fukuoka)

The Sanyo line continues west from Shin-Osaka through Kobe, Himeji, Okayama and Hiroshima to Hakata in Fukuoka. Many Nozomi trains run straight through from Tokyo, so Hiroshima is about four hours from Tokyo without changing.

It is the line for the Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima, and for Himeji Castle.

Kyushu Shinkansen (Fukuoka to Kagoshima)

From Hakata, the Mizuho and Sakura run south through Kumamoto to Kagoshima-Chuo, and some run through from Shin-Osaka. The Tsubame stops at every station. The red-and-white 800 series trains have wood and woven fabric inside.

From Tokyo, you change at Hakata or Shin-Osaka.

The red and white 800 series Shinkansen running past a coastal town in Kyushu — The Kyushu Shinkansen between Hakata and Kagoshima

Tohoku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Sendai and Aomori)

Japan's longest line runs north from Tokyo through Sendai and Morioka to Shin-Aomori. The green Hayabusa (E5 series) is the fastest, reaching Shin-Aomori in about three hours, and it is all reserved.

The Yamabiko and Nasuno make more stops. Hayabusa trains have a Gran Class car.

The green E5 series Hayabusa Shinkansen at a platform — The E5 Hayabusa on the Tohoku Shinkansen

Hokkaido Shinkansen Through the Seikan Tunnel

Opened in 2016, the line runs from Shin-Aomori through the 53.85 km Seikan Tunnel under the sea to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, near Hakodate. Hayabusa trains run through from Tokyo in about four hours.

The extension to Sapporo is under construction and will not open for some years, so for Sapporo you change to a limited express or fly.

Akita Shinkansen and the Komachi

The Akita line is a "mini Shinkansen". The red Komachi (E6 series) runs coupled to a Hayabusa from Tokyo to Morioka, then splits off onto converted ordinary tracks to Akita, more slowly.

It is all reserved. Stops include Kakunodate, with its samurai houses and spring cherry blossoms, and Tazawako, for Lake Tazawa and the Nyuto Onsen hot springs.

The red E6 series Komachi Shinkansen in autumn forest — The Komachi on the Akita Shinkansen

Yamagata Shinkansen and the Tsubasa

The Yamagata line is the other mini Shinkansen. The Tsubasa runs coupled to a Yamabiko from Tokyo to Fukushima, then on its own to Yamagata and Shinjo.

New E8 series trains have been replacing the older E3 since March 2024, and all seats are reserved. It is the line for Zao Onsen and its winter "snow monsters".

Joetsu Shinkansen (Tokyo to Niigata)

The Joetsu line runs from Tokyo, sharing the Tohoku tracks to Omiya, then north-west to Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata. The Toki reaches Niigata in about 1.5 hours.

In winter, it is the quickest way from Tokyo to ski slopes. GALA Yuzawa has its own station next to the lifts.

Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Kanazawa and Tsuruga)

The Hokuriku line runs through Karuizawa and Nagano to Toyama and Kanazawa, and since March 2024 on to Tsuruga in Fukui. The Kagayaki is fastest, reaching Kanazawa in about 2.5 hours.

It is all reserved. The E7 and W7 trains have a Gran Class car. Kanazawa, with Kenrokuen Garden and the old tea house streets, is the stop most visitors aim for.

The E7 series Shinkansen with its blue and copper stripes — E7 and W7 trains run on the Hokuriku and Joetsu lines

Shinkansen Fares and Child Fares

A Shinkansen ticket is two parts added together, the basic fare for the distance and a limited express charge for the train. A reserved seat costs a little extra over a non-reserved one, and prices go up a few hundred yen in peak seasons.

These are JR Central's smartEX online prices for an ordinary reserved seat on the Nozomi in the regular season.

From Tokyo to	Adult	Child (6 to 11)	Time on the Nozomi
Nagoya	¥11,100	¥5,550	about 1 h 35 min
Kyoto	¥13,970	¥6,980	about 2 h 15 min
Shin-Osaka	¥14,520	¥7,250	about 2 h 30 min
Hiroshima	¥19,560	¥9,780	about 4 h

For the Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu and Hokuriku lines, check the fare on JR East's site when you search for your train.

Child fare rules (JR).

Ages 12 and over pay the adult fare (12-year-olds still in primary school pay the child fare).
Ages 6 to 11 pay half the fare and half the limited express charge. The Green Car charge is the same for children as for adults.
Under 6 ride free, up to two per paying adult or child, if they sit on a lap or share a seat. A child under 6 who takes their own reserved seat pays the child fare.

On a two-hour ride with a 4- or 5-year-old, a child ticket for their own seat is often worth it.

How to Book Shinkansen Tickets

You can buy tickets at the station on the day, but with a family, book seats together in advance.

Online. SmartEX for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines, and JR East's online reservation for the lines north and west of Tokyo. Both have English versions.
At the station. The reserved-seat ticket machines, or the JR ticket office (Midori no Madoguchi).
Through a travel site. See how to book Shinkansen tickets on Klook.

Reserved seats go on sale at 10:00, one month before the travel date. During Golden Week, Obon (mid-August) and New Year, Nozomi trains are all reserved.

Our guides to Shinkansen tickets and how to ride the Shinkansen cover the machines, the gates and finding your car.

The Shinkansen and the Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass covers every Shinkansen line, including seat reservations, with one exception, the Nozomi and Mizuho on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines. To ride those, you buy an extra "ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS" Nozomi/Mizuho ticket for each trip, for example ¥4,960 from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. Otherwise, take the Hikari or Sakura.

A 7-day pass costs ¥50,000 online, so it only pays off with several long journeys in a week. Our Japan Rail Pass guide does the sums for a Tokyo-based family.

Seat Classes (Ordinary, Green Car and Gran Class)

Ordinary car. Seats are in rows of five (three and two), with good legroom. Most lines have both reserved and non-reserved cars, and some trains are all reserved.
Green Car. Wider seats in rows of four and a quieter cabin. It helps with a sleeping baby or on a long day. See our Shinkansen Green Car guide.
Gran Class. Leather seats in rows of three and a dedicated attendant. You find it on Hayabusa trains (Tohoku and Hokkaido lines) and on the Hokuriku and Joetsu lines. See Shinkansen Gran Class.

Rows of seats inside a Shinkansen ordinary car — Ordinary car seats, three and two across

Luggage, Strollers and Oversized Bags

Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu lines. Bags up to 160 cm in total dimensions (length plus width plus height) go at your feet, on the overhead rack, or in the luggage area on the deck.

A bag of 161 to 250 cm needs a "seat with an oversized baggage area", the last row of a car with the space behind it, reserved when you buy your ticket at no extra cost. Without a reservation, there is a ¥1,000 fee. Nothing over 250 cm is allowed.

Strollers are exempt from this rule, as are sports equipment and musical instruments. Fold the stroller and put it on the rack, in the luggage area, or behind the last row.

Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu and Hokuriku lines. There is no oversized-baggage reservation. Use the racks, the space behind the last row, and the luggage areas on some trains, first come, first served.

On busy days, board early or send big suitcases ahead with a luggage delivery service.

Riding the Shinkansen with Kids

Reserve together. Pick a row of three (A, B, C) for a parent and two children, or the last row of a car if you have a stroller.
Toilets. On the Tokaido line, toilets are in the odd-numbered cars, and car 11 has a large multipurpose toilet.
Food. Eating on the Shinkansen is normal. Buy an ekiben (station lunch box) and drinks before you board.
Boarding. Trains stop only for a minute or two at busy stations. Stand at your car number on the platform, and let children board first with an adult.
Noise. Talking is fine. Long phone calls are taken on the deck between cars.

ONO

Buy reserved seats in advance. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, I recommend a window seat on the Mt. Fuji side.

JR Central's own advice is seat E in ordinary cars and seat D in the Green Car. Going from Tokyo towards Kyoto and Osaka, they are on the right.

If you would rather not juggle tickets, platforms and suitcases on a day out from Tokyo, our custom private tours can include the train, or a car from your hotel instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is the Shinkansen?: The fastest trains reach 320 km/h on the Tohoku line and 285 km/h on the Tokaido line. On the timetable, Tokyo to Kyoto takes around 2 hours 15 minutes on the Nozomi, and Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, at the top of Honshu, about 3 hours on the Hayabusa.
How much is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto?: Booked online through smartEX, an ordinary reserved seat on the Nozomi costs ¥13,970 for an adult and ¥6,980 for a child aged 6 to 11, in the regular season. Prices are slightly higher at the station and in peak seasons.
Do children ride the Shinkansen free?: Children under 6 ride free, up to two per paying passenger, if they do not take their own reserved seat. Children aged 6 to 11 pay half the fare and charges. The Green Car charge is not discounted.
Can I bring a stroller on the Shinkansen?: Yes. Strollers do not count as oversized baggage, so no special seat is needed. Fold it and use the overhead rack, the luggage area or the space behind the last row.
Do I need to reserve Shinkansen seats?: Not always, but it is wise with a family. Some trains, such as the Hayabusa, Komachi, Tsubasa and Kagayaki, are all reserved, and Nozomi trains are all reserved during the peak holiday periods.
Can I eat on the Shinkansen?: Yes. Eating and drinking at your seat is normal, and most people buy an ekiben lunch box at the station before boarding. Take your rubbish with you or use the bins on the deck.

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