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¥ Japan Trip Math

Shinkansen vs flying: the rail side of the comparison

Train or plane between Tokyo and Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka or Hokkaido? The Shinkansen half of that sum is fixed and published. Here it is, with the airport transfer times we have verified, so the only number you need to look up is the airfare.

What this page compares, and what it does not

This is not a comparison of official airfares. Airfares change with the date and the booking, so we do not list them. We show the railway's published fares and scheduled times, and the time it takes to get between airports and city stations, from official pages. Compare them with the airfare you are actually quoted. Check-in and security times are set by airlines and airports and are not covered here.

Fastest Shinkansen from Tokyo

Tokyo – Osaka
2 h 21 min on Nozomi, ¥14,720 reserved
Tokyo – Hiroshima
3 h 43 min on Nozomi, ¥19,760 reserved
Tokyo – Fukuoka (Hakata)
4 h 45 min on Nozomi, ¥23,810 reserved
Tokyo – Sapporo (to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto)
3 h 57 min on Hayabusa, ¥24,200 reserved

Fastest scheduled run, one adult, one way, normal season. Timetable of Wednesday 4 November 2026.

The rail numbers

Shinkansen from Tokyo: fares, times and trains per day
RouteFastest trainReserved fare (fastest train)JR Pass trainCheapest regular ticketDirect trains (weekday)
Tokyo – Shin-OsakaTokaido ShinkansenNozomi, 2 h 21 min¥14,720Hikari, typically 2 h 54 min¥13,870non-reserved, Hikari152113 Nozomi, 28 Hikari and 11 Kodama
Tokyo – HiroshimaTokaido + Sanyo ShinkansenNozomi, 3 h 43 min¥19,760Hikarifew or no direct runs; change trains¥18,380non-reserved, Hikari5252 Nozomi
Tokyo – Hakata (Fukuoka)Tokaido + Sanyo ShinkansenNozomi, 4 h 45 min¥23,810Hikarifew or no direct runs; change trains¥22,220non-reserved, Hikari3737 Nozomi
Tokyo – Shin-Hakodate-HokutoTohoku + Hokkaido ShinkansenHayabusa, 3 h 57 min¥24,200Hayabusa, typically 4 h 10 min¥24,200reserved, Hayabusa1010 Hayabusa

Fares are basic fare + limited express charge, one adult, one way, normal season. Reserved fares are ¥400 higher on the busiest days and ¥200 lower on off-peak days (see the seasonal calendar); non-reserved fares do not change. Direct trains are counted on the official Tokyo Station timetable.

How the travel date changes the rail fare

Unlike airfares, the Shinkansen reserved-seat price moves by fixed steps set in JR's seasonal calendar, and you can see the whole year in advance. The table applies those steps to the reserved fare on the fastest train for each route.

Reserved fare on the fastest train by season, one adult, one way
RoutePeak-plus (busiest)Peak (busy)RegularOff-peak
Tokyo – Shin-OsakaNozomi¥15,120¥14,920¥14,720¥14,520
Tokyo – HiroshimaNozomi¥20,160¥19,960¥19,760¥19,560
Tokyo – Hakata (Fukuoka)Nozomi¥24,210¥24,010¥23,810¥23,610
Tokyo – Shin-Hakodate-HokutoHayabusa¥24,600¥24,400¥24,200¥24,000

The busiest (peak-plus) days include early May, mid-August and the New Year; every date is listed on the seasonal calendar. Tokyo – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto follows the JR East / Hokkaido calendar; the other three follow the Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu calendar.

If you have a JR Pass

A JR Pass changes the comparison completely, because the rail fare is already paid. The table shows what a round trip on each route costs on regular tickets next to the 7-day ordinary pass (¥50,000 on the official website). Pass holders ride the JR-Pass train for free; on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines that means Hikari, or a NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket on top for Nozomi.

Round trip on regular tickets compared with the 7-day JR Pass
RouteRound trip, reserved, fastest trainRound trip, reserved, JR-Pass trainShare of the 7-day pass price (JR-Pass train)
Tokyo – Shin-Osaka¥29,440¥28,80058%
Tokyo – Hiroshima¥39,520¥37,82076%
Tokyo – Hakata (Fukuoka)¥47,620¥45,50091%
Tokyo – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto¥48,400¥48,40097%

Normal season, one adult. Whether the pass pays off depends on every leg of your trip; add them in the JR Pass calculator.

Getting to and from the airports

A flight's time starts at the airport, not in the city. Shinkansen trains leave from Tokyo Station and Shinagawa and arrive at city stations. These are the airport transfer times we have verified on official pages; they are the transfer only, not waiting or check-in time.

Airport transfer times from official pages
Airport toServiceTimeAdult fare
Haneda Airport → ShinagawaKeikyu Airport Line11 min¥330
Haneda Airport → Tokyo Station (Yaesu North, Tekko Building)Airport Limousine bus55 min¥1,200
Kansai International Airport → Shin-OsakaLimited Express Haruka (reserved seat)51 min¥3,070

More options and the notes on each time are in our airport guides: Haneda, Narita and Kansai Airport.

Tokyo – Osaka

  • Rail: the fastest scheduled Nozomi takes 2 h 21 min from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, ¥14,720 for a reserved seat.
  • With a JR Pass: Hikari typically takes 2 h 54 min, at no extra charge.
  • Airport transfers on this site: Haneda Airport → Shinagawa 11 min by Keikyu Airport Line; Haneda Airport → Tokyo Station (Yaesu North, Tekko Building) 55 min by Airport Limousine bus; Kansai International Airport → Shin-Osaka 51 min by Limited Express Haruka (reserved seat).
  • Osaka (Itami) Airport transfers are not on this site yet.

Full fares, the JR Pass and trains per day: Tokyo to Shin-Osaka guide.

Tokyo – Hiroshima

  • Rail: the fastest scheduled Nozomi takes 3 h 43 min from Tokyo to Hiroshima, ¥19,760 for a reserved seat.
  • With a JR Pass: there is no regular through Hikari; pass holders change trains, or buy a NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket (¥6,500) to ride Nozomi through.
  • Airport transfers on this site: Haneda Airport → Shinagawa 11 min by Keikyu Airport Line; Haneda Airport → Tokyo Station (Yaesu North, Tekko Building) 55 min by Airport Limousine bus.
  • Hiroshima Airport transfers are not on this site yet.

Full fares, the JR Pass and trains per day: Tokyo to Hiroshima guide.

Tokyo – Fukuoka (Hakata)

  • Rail: the fastest scheduled Nozomi takes 4 h 45 min from Tokyo to Hakata (Fukuoka), ¥23,810 for a reserved seat.
  • With a JR Pass: there is no regular through Hikari; pass holders change trains, or buy a NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket (¥8,140) to ride Nozomi through.
  • Airport transfers on this site: Haneda Airport → Shinagawa 11 min by Keikyu Airport Line; Haneda Airport → Tokyo Station (Yaesu North, Tekko Building) 55 min by Airport Limousine bus.
  • Fukuoka Airport transfers are not on this site yet.

Full fares, the JR Pass and trains per day: Tokyo to Hakata (Fukuoka) guide.

Tokyo – Sapporo

  • Rail: the fastest scheduled Hayabusa takes 3 h 57 min from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, ¥24,200 for a reserved seat.
  • With a JR Pass: Hayabusa typically takes 4 h 10 min, at no extra charge.
  • Airport transfers on this site: Haneda Airport → Shinagawa 11 min by Keikyu Airport Line; Haneda Airport → Tokyo Station (Yaesu North, Tekko Building) 55 min by Airport Limousine bus.
  • The Shinkansen ends at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto; the limited express on to Sapporo (fare and time) is not yet verified on this site, so no Tokyo – Sapporo rail total is shown.
  • New Chitose Airport transfers are not on this site yet.

Full fares, the JR Pass and trains per day: Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto guide.

Checklist for your own comparison

  1. Take the airfare you are quoted for your date, including any baggage fee the airline charges.
  2. Add the transfer from your start point to the airport and from the arrival airport to your hotel (times above, where we have them).
  3. Add the check-in and security time your airline asks for.
  4. Compare with the Shinkansen fare for your date (the fare finder applies the seasonal calendar) and the station nearest your hotel.
  5. If you hold a JR Pass, the rail fare may already be paid: check with the JR Pass calculator.
  6. Big suitcase? On the Shinkansen, 161–250 cm needs a free seat reservation on the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu lines (rules).

FAQ

Is the Shinkansen cheaper than flying in Japan?

It depends on the day: Shinkansen fares are fixed by JR (with small seasonal adjustments), while airfares change with demand and booking date. This page gives the fixed rail side and the airport transfer times we have verified, so you can compare them with the airfare you are quoted.

How long is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka?

The fastest scheduled Nozomi takes 2 h 21 min from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka; a typical Hikari (covered by the JR Pass) takes 2 h 54 min. A reserved seat costs ¥14,720 on Nozomi (normal season, one adult).

How long is the train from Tokyo to Fukuoka?

The fastest scheduled Nozomi takes 4 h 45 min from Tokyo to Hakata, ¥23,810 for a reserved seat (normal season, one adult). No through Hikari runs, so JR Pass holders change trains.

Can I take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sapporo?

Not on one train. The Hokkaido Shinkansen runs as far as Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto: the fastest Hayabusa from Tokyo takes 3 h 57 min and costs ¥24,200 reserved. The onward limited express to Sapporo is not yet verified on this site, so we do not show a Tokyo – Sapporo rail total.

Can I bring a large suitcase on the Shinkansen?

Yes, up to 250 cm in total. On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines a bag of 161-250 cm needs a reserved seat with an oversized baggage area (no extra charge), or you pay ¥1,000.

Does the JR Pass cover the fastest trains?

Not on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines: Nozomi and Mizuho need a NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket. Hayabusa on the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen is covered.

Shinkansen practical guides

All sources for this page

Plan the rest of your trip

The same checklist on every page: tours, insurance, mobile data and the JR Pass.

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