Shinkansen: One of Japan’s Main Modes of Transportation — 8 of the Busiest Shinkansen Lines

The Shinkansen is one of Japan’s most popular and fastest modes of transportation, used by both locals and tourists.

Before traveling, it is helpful to know the country’s eight major Shinkansen lines, which are among the busiest in Japan.

Tokaido Shinkansen

The Tokaido Shinkansen connects three of Japan’s largest metropolitan areas: Tokyo/Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka/Kyoto. It is the most heavily used Shinkansen line in Japan.

When it first opened in 1964, the Tokaido Shinkansen became the world’s first high-speed railway line. Today, it is operated by JR Central and connects Tokyo with Osaka.

There are three main train services on the Tokaido Shinkansen:

1. Nozomi is the fastest service on the Tokaido Shinkansen and stops only at major stations. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to travel from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka.
2. Hikari is the second-fastest service after Nozomi and stops at more stations. The journey from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka takes approximately three hours.
3. Kodama is the slowest service on the Tokaido Shinkansen. It stops at every station along the route and takes approximately four hours to travel from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka.

It is also worth noting that Mizuho and Nozomi are the only Shinkansen services for which JR Pass holders are required to pay an additional fee.

However, both services are fully covered by passes such as the JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass and JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass. 

Sanyo Shinkansen

The Sanyo Shinkansen connects Osaka, via Shin-Osaka Station, with Fukuoka, via Hakata Station, on the island of Kyushu. Officially opened in 1975 as Japan’s second Shinkansen line, it is operated by JR West.

Five types of train services operate on the Sanyo Shinkansen:

1. Nozomi stops only at major stations and takes approximately 2.5 hours to travel from Shin-Osaka to Hakata.
2. Hikari services originating in Tokyo travel as far as Okayama and stop at every station between Shin-Osaka and Okayama.
3. Mizuho is the fastest service on the Sanyo Shinkansen, operating between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo.
4. Sakura follows a similar route to Mizuho but stops at more stations.
5. Kodama is the slowest service on the Sanyo Shinkansen and stops at every station between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. The journey takes almost five hours.

Tohoku Shinkansen

The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Aomori on the island of Honshu and is operated by JR East.

The source states that six train services operate on this line, although it lists the following five:

1. Hayabusa is the fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen and stops only at major stations between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori.
2. Komachi runs coupled with Hayabusa between Tokyo and Morioka before separating and continuing independently between Morioka and Akita.
3. Yamabiko is the second-fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen, with Morioka as its northernmost destination.
4. Tsubasa runs coupled with Yamabiko between Tokyo and Fukushima before separating and continuing independently between Fukushima and Shinjo.
5. Nasuno is the slowest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen and stops at every station between Tokyo and Koriyama.

Joetsu Shinkansen

The Joetsu Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Niigata. Operated by JR East, the line provides convenient access to hot spring destinations and ski resorts in Gunma and Niigata prefectures.

Two train services operate on this line:

1. Toki is the faster service on the Joetsu Shinkansen and operates between Tokyo and Niigata.
2. Tanigawa is the slower service and stops at every station between Tokyo and Echigo-Yuzawa.

Hokuriku Shinkansen

The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture. The line is jointly operated by JR East and JR West and is planned to be extended to Kyoto and Osaka in the 2040s.

Four train services operate on the Hokuriku Shinkansen:

1. Kagayaki is the fastest service on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and stops only at major stations between Tokyo and Tsuruga, with some services operating between Tokyo and Kanazawa.
2. Hakutaka operates along the Hokuriku Shinkansen. It skips many stations between Tokyo and Nagano but stops at most stations beyond Nagano.
3. Asama operates between Tokyo and Nagano.
4. Tsurugi operates between Tsuruga and Toyama, although some services operate only between Tsuruga and Kanazawa.

Kyushu Shinkansen

As its name suggests, the Kyushu Shinkansen operates on the island of Kyushu. It connects Hakata Station in Fukuoka with Kagoshima-Chuo Station in Kagoshima and is operated by JR Kyushu.

Three train services operate on this line:

1. Mizuho is the fastest service on the Kyushu Shinkansen and stops only at Hakata, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima-Chuo.
2. Sakura is the second-fastest service and stops at more stations than Mizuho.
3. Tsubame is the slowest service on the Kyushu Shinkansen. Most Tsubame trains operate between Hakata and Kumamoto, while some continue as far as Kagoshima.

Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen

The Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen is a branch of the Kyushu Shinkansen network. It connects Takeo Onsen with Nagasaki.

In the future, the line is expected to provide a connection between Nagasaki and Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Only one Shinkansen service operates on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen: Kamome. A limited express service called Relay Kamome also connects Hakata with Takeo Onsen.

Hokkaido Shinkansen

The Hokkaido Shinkansen connects Aomori on Honshu with Hakodate on Hokkaido via the Seikan Tunnel. The line is operated by JR Hokkaido and is planned to be extended to Sapporo in the 2030s.

The fastest services on this route connect Tokyo with the Hakodate area in approximately four hours. However, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, the Shinkansen terminus, is located outside central Hakodate.

Most trains operating on this line are Hayabusa services connecting Tokyo with the Hakodate area.