Complete breakdown of 7 lines, Nozomi/Hikari/Kodama services, Reserved/Green/Gran Class seating, booking channels and savings tips.
Tokaido (Tokyo-Osaka, busiest). Sanyo (Osaka-Hakata). Tohoku (Tokyo-Shin-Aomori, Hayabusa 320km/h fastest). Hokkaido (Shin-Aomori-Shin-Hakodate, undersea tunnel). Joetsu (Tokyo-Niigata). Hokuriku (Tokyo-Kanazawa-Tsuruga). Kyushu (Hakata-Kagoshima). Nishi-Kyushu (Takeo Onsen-Nagasaki, newest 2022).
On Tokaido/Sanyo: Nozomi (6 stops, 2h30 Tokyo-Osaka) > Hikari (8-10 stops, 3h) > Kodama (every stop, 4h). JR Pass covers Hikari + Kodama only. On Tohoku: Hayabusa (fastest, reservation required) > Yamabiko > Nasuno. Komachi/Tsubasa are Shinkansen branch lines to Akita/Yamagata.
Unreserved (jiyū-seki): cheapest, first-come first-served, cars 1-3. Good off-peak. Reserved (shitei-seki): +¥320-730, guaranteed seat, car of choice. Green Car: 30% premium, 2+2 seating, more legroom, free drinks on some routes. Gran Class (Hayabusa only): 2+1 seating, full meal, attendant, ¥2x Reserved.
**SmartEX app**: easiest for foreigners, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu only, English, credit card. **Midori-no-madoguchi**: the JR green-stripe counter at major stations, cash/card, staff speaks some English. **JR Pass**: exchange order online first, activate at airport counter, then reservations via any JR counter (free).
**Platt Kodama** (JTB): 20% off Kodama-only tickets booked 1+ day ahead. Good for non-JR-Pass travelers with flexibility. **Tokaido Early Bird (Hikari)**: 30% off via SmartEX booked 21 days ahead. **JR East Off-peak Ticket**: 20% discount on non-peak JR East routes. **Round-trip + Stay package** (via JTB/HIS): bundled with hotel, can save 15%.
Oversized luggage (>160cm total dimensions, ≤250cm) on Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu: must reserve a luggage seat free of charge at time of ticket purchase. Forget to reserve = ¥1,000 fine. Under 160cm: overhead rack or behind last row freely.
