515 km Tokyo-Osaka in 2h30 on the bullet train. Full breakdown from Nozomi to Kodama, Reserved to Green Car.
Nozomi (ใฎใใฟ): 6 stops, 2h30, ยฅ14,720 Reserved. Fastest. Hikari (ใฒใใ): 8-10 stops, 2h55, ยฅ14,170 Reserved. JR Pass covers. Kodama (ใใ ใพ): every stop, 3h55, ยฅ14,170 Reserved. Slowest but cheapest via Platt Kodama package.
JR Pass covers Hikari, saving ~ยฅ14,000 round trip. Hikari is only 25 min slower than Nozomi. Worth it for most travelers. Nozomi only if business-critical timing.
Unreserved (ยฅ13,320, cars 1-3): first-come. Full Monday morning. Reserved (+ยฅ830, cars 4-16): guaranteed window/aisle. Green Car (+ยฅ5,000, cars 8-10): 2+2, more legroom, quieter. Gran Class not available on Tokaido. Recommend Reserved for all but tightest budgets.
SmartEX app (English): Tokaido/Sanyo, credit card, mobile ticket. Reserves up to 1 month out. JR-West Online Reservation: for Sanyo portion. At the station: any Midori-no-madoguchi. Tourist offices at airports also handle JR Pass reservations.
Platt Kodama (JTB): ยฅ10,800 Tokyo-Osaka, 20% savings, but Kodama only. Must book 1+ day ahead via JTB website. Early Bird (Hikari): 30% off via SmartEX 21+ days ahead. Off-peak Saturday: no discount but less crowded Unreserved. JR Pass 7-day: only worth it if you're doing multiple long trips beyond Tokyo-Osaka.
Free WiFi (Shinkansen_Free_Wi-Fi SSID, 30-min sessions). Power outlets every seat on N700S (newest), window+aisle on older. Clean toilets every 2 cars. Vending cart with coffee/beer/snacks on Nozomi. Bento available at Tokyo/Shin-Osaka station before boarding โ 20+ varieties.
