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Kyoto to Shin-Osaka: Shinkansen time, fare and JR Pass

Kyoto and Shin-Osaka are on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Here are the official travel times and one-way fares, and what changes with a JR Pass.

Travel time

Typical Kyoto to Shin-Osaka travel time by train type
TrainTime
HikariCovered by the JR Pass: typical time (median of scheduled runs)14 min
NozomiFastest scheduled run (needs a Nozomi/Mizuho ticket on top of the pass)12 min

One-way fare (one adult, normal season)

Kyoto to Shin-Osaka one-way Shinkansen fares
TicketFare
Hikari, ordinary reserved seat¥2,870
Nozomi, ordinary reserved seat¥3,080
Hikari, Green Car¥3,640
Nozomi, Green Car¥3,850

Fare = basic fare ¥580 + limited express charge (¥2,290, or ¥2,500 on Nozomi). Green Car = basic fare + (limited express charge − ¥530) + Green Car charge ¥1,300.

With a JR Pass

  • Hikari is covered by the pass.
  • Nozomi needs an extra Nozomi/Mizuho ticket on top of the pass: not yet verified.
  • A Kyoto–Shin-Osaka round trip alone on Hikari (¥5,740) is ¥44,260 below the 7-day ordinary pass price of ¥50,000 on the official online site.

Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are not covered by the JAPAN RAIL PASS. A Pass holder may ride them by buying an [ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride before boarding; one price applies to Green Car, ordinary reserved and non-reserved seats (Green Car seats only for Green Pass holders). Examples: Tokyo-Nagoya 4,180, Tokyo-Kyoto/Shin-Osaka 4,960, Tokyo-Hiroshima 6,500, Shin-Osaka-Hakata 4,960 yen. For non-Pass travellers, JR Central and JR West will raise the Nozomi/Mizuho reserved-seat charge for tickets bought from 1 Jul 2027 (e.g. Tokyo-Shin-Osaka total 14,720 to 15,420 yen).

Seasons and fare notes

Season: All limited express charges here are for an ordinary-car reserved seat in the normal season. JR's fare guide states that the reserved-seat charge is 400 yen higher in the busiest season, 200 yen higher in the busy season and 200 yen lower in the off-peak season (the guide notes that JR Hokkaido conventional lines have no busy/off-peak adjustment, and JR Kyushu conventional lines and the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen have no off-peak adjustment). Non-reserved seats cost the normal-season reserved charge minus 530 yen regardless of date.

Data notes for this route

Operating distance 39.0 km (552.6 - 513.6). The table prints 870 yen (italic, *) for Hikari/Kodama, which is the non-reserved special charge; the page footnote gives 2,290 yen (normal season) for a Hikari/Kodama reserved seat. The JR Pass NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket is not sold for Kyoto-Shin-Osaka (shown as "-" in the official table), so no Pass surcharge is stored. The fare table states that fares in barrier-free-charge areas already include that charge. greenCarFare is the official Tokaido/Sanyo Green Car charge band for the operating distance printed in the table (100 km: 1,300 / 200 km: 2,800 / 400 km: 4,190 / 600 km: 5,400 / 800 km: 6,600 / 801 km+: 7,790 yen). faresValidFrom is the verification date: amounts are those printed in the October 2026 edition of JR West's Kippu no Rule (確認日時点の掲出額). JR Central/JR West have announced a Nozomi/Mizuho reserved-seat charge rise for tickets bought from 2027-07-01 and a Green Car charge rise for travel from 2027-12-15 (not reflected here).

FAQ

Does the JR Pass cover Nozomi between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka?

Not by the pass alone. Hikari is covered. We have no verified Nozomi/Mizuho ticket price for Kyoto–Shin-Osaka, so none is shown.

How much is the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka?

¥2,870 one way for one adult on Hikari, ordinary reserved seat, normal season (basic fare ¥580 + limited express charge ¥2,290). On Nozomi it is ¥3,080.

How much is the Green Car from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka?

¥3,640 one way on Hikari: basic fare + (limited express charge − ¥530) + Green Car charge ¥1,300. On Nozomi it is ¥3,850.

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