Can you use the Japan Rail Pass on the Nozomi and Mizuho trains?

Find out why Nozomi and Mizuho are excluded, how the special pass-holder ticket works, and which Shinkansen trains the pass covers without extra cost.

Published October 20, 2026 at 6:07 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Not with the pass alone. The Japan Rail Pass does not cover Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines. Pass holders can buy a special ticket, sold only to them, for each ride, or they can use the covered alternatives such as Hikari, Kodama and Sakura. Prices and conditions can change, so check the official pass site.

What the exclusion means in practice

Nozomi and Mizuho are the fastest Shinkansen (bullet train) services on the main route that runs from Tokyo through Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and on to Kagoshima. The official Japan Rail Pass site states that these trains are not covered on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. That applies to seats of every type: reserved, non-reserved and Green Car.

The wording matters because the same lines also carry covered trains. The pass is valid on Hikari and Kodama trains on the Tokaido line, as confirmed by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Sakura trains run on the Sanyo and Kyushu lines and are generally treated as covered. A pass holder who steps onto a Nozomi with only the pass and a seat reservation risks paying the full fare.

The special Nozomi and Mizuho ticket

Pass holders do have a way to ride the fastest trains. The official site describes a ticket called the "ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS" NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket, which must be bought for each ride before boarding. It works only together with a valid pass, and it cannot be combined with other tickets or discounts.

Prices are set per section. The official site lists, tax included, 4,180 yen for Tokyo to Nagoya, 4,960 yen for Tokyo to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka, 6,500 yen for Tokyo to Hiroshima, 4,960 yen for Shin-Osaka to Hakata and 5,150 yen for Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo. These are the same for Green, reserved and non-reserved standard seats, and they can be revised, so confirm current amounts on the official pages before you plan around them.

How and where to buy the ticket

The special ticket is sold from one month before the boarding day up to the day itself. Locations listed by the official site are the JR reserved-seat ticket machines, the Midori-no-madoguchi ticket offices (JR reservation counters found in major stations), Travel Service Centers, and JR-designated travel agencies. JR Central notes that these tickets cannot be reserved online before arrival in Japan.

Bring your pass and passport to the counter, say which train and section you want, and have the ticket issued. Green pass holders can buy Green Car, reserved standard and non-reserved standard versions, while standard pass holders can buy reserved and non-reserved versions but not Green Car. Availability is limited, so tickets can be unavailable even when seats look open.

Hikari, Kodama and Sakura as pass-covered options

For many itineraries, the free alternative is simple. Hikari trains make fewer stops than Kodama but more than Nozomi, so the ride between Tokyo and Kyoto takes somewhat longer, usually a few tens of minutes. Kodama stops at every station on the Tokaido line and is the slowest, mostly useful for small stations. Sakura serves the Sanyo and Kyushu lines in a similar role to Hikari.

Seat reservations on covered trains are free with the pass, and non-reserved cars are available on many of them. During the busiest travel periods all seats on Nozomi are reserved, and the covered trains can be crowded too, so reserving ahead is wise. Check the timetable on the operator's site to see which Hikari runs suit your plan, since stopping patterns vary from train to train.

Who might want the special ticket

The ticket makes the most sense on long hops where saved time is worth the money. The official JNTO guide to the pass notes that the extra tickets have benefits, for example allowing a ride from Tokyo to Hiroshima without changing trains. Travelers with tight schedules, older travelers who prefer fewer transfers, and families with luggage may value that.

On the other hand, a traveler with a flexible schedule and a short ride, say Tokyo to Nagoya, can often take a Hikari and spend nothing extra. Families with children should check the child prices, which the official site says are available for the special ticket too, and anyone traveling with large suitcases should also read the official baggage guidance for Shinkansen on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines.

Mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is boarding a Nozomi because it is first to arrive at the platform. Signs and timetables show the train name; check the display and the ticket before boarding. Another mistake is buying a special ticket for a train that is not a Nozomi or Mizuho, which is not needed. A third is overlooking the validity rules: the special ticket is valid for one day, on the section, direction and route printed on it.

Travelers sometimes assume a delay will be refunded automatically. The official site says that for a delay of over two hours you pass through a manned gate and tell JR staff, who may refund the ticket. Refunds before travel are possible minus a handling fee, listed as 340 yen for Green or reserved tickets and 220 yen for non-reserved ones.

Planning tips and next steps

Look at your route first. If it touches Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, list the legs where you might want the faster train and add their special ticket costs to your pass budget. Check the timetable for covered trains on the same legs, and note departure times that suit you. Leave a few days around holiday periods, when reservations fill up.

The pass site and JR Central both publish up-to-date conditions. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. If the extra tickets add up to a large amount, compare the total against separate tickets or a regional pass, which may turn out better for a trip focused on one area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a pass holder boards a Nozomi by mistake?

The pass does not cover that ride, so staff may ask for the full fare and any charges for the section. The special ticket must be bought before boarding. If a mistake happens, speak to the conductor or station staff early and ask what options exist. Checking the train name before boarding avoids the problem.

Is the Nozomi much faster than the Hikari?

The Nozomi makes the fewest stops and is the fastest on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, while Hikari stops at more stations. The time difference between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka is typically a few tens of minutes. Timetables on the operator's website show the exact stopping patterns and ride times for each day.

Can you ride a Nozomi with a regional pass instead?

Regional passes have their own rules, and conditions differ by pass. Each is valid only in a defined area and on defined trains. Read the conditions of the specific pass on the issuing railway company's site, because the Nozomi rules for the national pass do not automatically apply to others.

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