Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto in 7 days: JR Pass or regular tickets?
Tokyo to Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, then Kyoto back to Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen. The Kanazawa to Kyoto part is not priced. Below, regular Shinkansen tickets are compared with the 7-day Japan Rail Pass in four ways, using fares from JR's official pages.
Official online · 7-day ordinary pass
Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car
Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥26,190
Regular tickets ¥28,770 vs ¥54,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the official online price (pass ¥50,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥26,190.
Overseas agent · 7-day ordinary pass
Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car
Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥29,190
Regular tickets ¥28,770 vs ¥57,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the overseas agent price (pass ¥53,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥29,190.
- Source: Types and prices | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Official online purchasing service (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation). Per the JR Group release of 9 Apr 2026, online prices stay unchanged 'for a limited time' after the 1 Oct 2026 increase; the end of this price freeze will be announced later (no end date published as of 2026-10-26). validFrom is the date of the previous price change named in that release.
- Source: Price Changes for the Japan Rail Pass (April 9, 2026, JR Group) (JR Group) · Verified on · Overseas JR-designated sales offices/agencies (Exchange Order), for purchases on or after 1 Oct 2026 (local time at the place of purchase). The same amounts are shown on https://japanrailpass.net/en/purchase/price/ .
Part of this trip is not priced
- Kanazawa to Kyoto: There is no verified fare for this pair in our fare table, so it is left out of both sides of the comparison.
The totals on this page cover only the legs listed in the table below.
The legs
| Leg | Trips | Basic fare | Express charge | Nozomi/Mizuho | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Tokyo → KanazawaHokuriku Shinkansen | 1 | ¥7,700 | ¥6,900Kagayaki / Hakutaka | — | 2 h 28 minKagayaki / Hakutaka, typical |
| 2. Kyoto → TokyoTokaido Shinkansen | 1 | ¥8,360 | ¥5,490Hikari | ¥5,810Pass ticket ¥4,960 | 2 h 36 minHikari, typicalNozomi fastest 2 h 7 min |
Express charge = reserved-seat limited express charge, normal season, on the JR-Pass-covered train. “Pass ticket” is the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket a pass holder buys per ride. The calculator uses the same station-pair fare for either direction.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.6: Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki/Hakutaka/Asama/Tsurugi) and Joetsu Shinkansen (Toki/Tanigawa) tables (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.9: Green Car / Gran Class charges for Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku and Hokkaido Shinkansen (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Jikokuhyo Tokyo-eki (Tokyo Station timetables): Tokaido/Sanyo, Tohoku/Hokkaido, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen, weekday departures and per-train stop lists (JR East) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. Tokyo departures only (outbound direction). Per-train pages change URL every month, so the station index is cited. Tokyo-Kanazawa: Kagayaki 13 runs, 144-154 min (median 148), quickest Kagayaki 503 (144 min, = JR West's stated 2 hrs. 24 min. for Tokyo-Ishikawa). Hakutaka 13 runs, median 183 min.
- Source: JR West Group Fact Sheets 2026, p.6 Airport Networks (as of March 31, 2026) and Hokuriku Shinkansen travel time table (JR West) · Verified on · English PDF. "Travel time for the Shinkansen is the shortest on Nozomi, Mizuho, and Kagayaki trains." Tokyo-Fukuoka 4 hrs. 45 min., Tokyo-Hiroshima 3 hrs. 43 min., Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe Area-Fukuoka 2 hrs. 21 min. (fare 16,020 yen = Shin-Osaka-Hakata Nozomi), Tokyo-Ishikawa 2 hrs. 24 min. ("Time required for fastest Kagayaki train").
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.2: Shinkansen fare and limited express charge quick-reference table (Tokaido/Sanyo Nozomi; Hikari/Kodama from Tokyo) (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.3: Tokaido/Sanyo Hikari/Kodama table (continued) and Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Green Car charges (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Use of NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on
- Source: NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket: available sections, types, prices (for adults) (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Tax included. The same prices apply to Green Car tickets, reserved seat tickets in an ordinary car and non-reserved seat tickets in an ordinary car.
- Source: Eki jikokuhyo: Shin-Osaka Station, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen, for Okayama/Hakata/Kagoshima-Chuo (4 Nov 2026) (JR West (JR Odekake Net)) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. JR West states that times shown are a guide (目安). Tokyo-Kyoto (both directions): Hikari 58 runs, 144-171 min (median 156); Nozomi 226 runs, 127-135 min (median 132), quickest Nozomi 293 (127 min).
- Source: Eki jikokuhyo: Shin-Osaka Station, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen, for Nagoya/Tokyo (4 Nov 2026) (JR West (JR Odekake Net)) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. JR West states that times shown are a guide (目安).
- Source: Eki jikokuhyo: Hakata Station, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen, for Hiroshima/Shin-Osaka (4 Nov 2026) (JR West (JR Odekake Net)) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. JR West states that times shown are a guide (目安).
Regular tickets vs the JR Pass
| Pattern | Regular tickets | Nozomi tickets | Official online | Overseas agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass-covered trains, ordinary car | ¥28,450 | ¥0 | ¥50,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥21,550 | ¥53,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥24,550 |
| Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car | ¥28,770 | ¥4,960 | ¥54,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥26,190 | ¥57,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥29,190 |
| Pass-covered trains, Green Car | ¥39,780 | ¥0 | ¥70,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥30,220 | ¥74,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥34,220 |
| Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, Green Car | ¥40,100 | ¥4,960 | ¥74,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥34,860 | ¥78,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥38,860 |
Pass columns = pass price + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets. Regular tickets are summed leg by leg for one adult, normal season; round trips count twice. Green Car = basic fare + (limited express charge − ¥530) + Green Car charge.
Nozomi/Mizuho tickets for a pass holder on this itinerary: ¥4,960 (ordinary car; the same total applies in the Green Car).
Left out because a value is not yet verified
- Kanazawa to Kyoto: There is no verified fare for this pair in our fare table, so it is left out of both sides of the comparison.
Nothing is estimated.
- Source: Types and prices | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Official online purchasing service (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation). Per the JR Group release of 9 Apr 2026, online prices stay unchanged 'for a limited time' after the 1 Oct 2026 increase; the end of this price freeze will be announced later (no end date published as of 2026-10-26). validFrom is the date of the previous price change named in that release.
- Source: Price Changes for the Japan Rail Pass (April 9, 2026, JR Group) (JR Group) · Verified on · Overseas JR-designated sales offices/agencies (Exchange Order), for purchases on or after 1 Oct 2026 (local time at the place of purchase). The same amounts are shown on https://japanrailpass.net/en/purchase/price/ .
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.2: Shinkansen fare and limited express charge quick-reference table (Tokaido/Sanyo Nozomi; Hikari/Kodama from Tokyo) (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.3: Tokaido/Sanyo Hikari/Kodama table (continued) and Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Green Car charges (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.9: Green Car / Gran Class charges for Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku and Hokkaido Shinkansen (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Revision of Nozomi/Mizuho reserved-seat limited express charges and Green Car charges on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen (press release, 16 Oct 2026) (JR Central / JR West) · Verified on · Japanese PDF. Its 'current' (現行) sample totals were used to cross-check the Kippu no Rule figures; its revised amounts apply only from 2027-07-01 (Nozomi/Mizuho charge) and 2027-12-15 (Green Car charge) and are NOT used in the fares below.
- Source: Use of NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on
- Source: NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket: available sections, types, prices (for adults) (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Tax included. The same prices apply to Green Car tickets, reserved seat tickets in an ordinary car and non-reserved seat tickets in an ordinary car.
Change the legs, the date or the pass length
Notes on this itinerary
- Nozomi/Mizuho do not run on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, so Tokyo to Kanazawa uses the same train type in every pattern.
- Because Kanazawa to Kyoto is missing from the comparison, the regular-ticket total here is lower than the real cost of the whole trip.
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.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.6: Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki/Hakutaka/Asama/Tsurugi) and Joetsu Shinkansen (Toki/Tanigawa) tables (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.9: Green Car / Gran Class charges for Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku and Hokkaido Shinkansen (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Jikokuhyo Tokyo-eki (Tokyo Station timetables): Tokaido/Sanyo, Tohoku/Hokkaido, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen, weekday departures and per-train stop lists (JR East) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. Tokyo departures only (outbound direction). Per-train pages change URL every month, so the station index is cited. Tokyo-Kanazawa: Kagayaki 13 runs, 144-154 min (median 148), quickest Kagayaki 503 (144 min, = JR West's stated 2 hrs. 24 min. for Tokyo-Ishikawa). Hakutaka 13 runs, median 183 min.
- Source: JR West Group Fact Sheets 2026, p.6 Airport Networks (as of March 31, 2026) and Hokuriku Shinkansen travel time table (JR West) · Verified on · English PDF. "Travel time for the Shinkansen is the shortest on Nozomi, Mizuho, and Kagayaki trains." Tokyo-Fukuoka 4 hrs. 45 min., Tokyo-Hiroshima 3 hrs. 43 min., Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe Area-Fukuoka 2 hrs. 21 min. (fare 16,020 yen = Shin-Osaka-Hakata Nozomi), Tokyo-Ishikawa 2 hrs. 24 min. ("Time required for fastest Kagayaki train").
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.2: Shinkansen fare and limited express charge quick-reference table (Tokaido/Sanyo Nozomi; Hikari/Kodama from Tokyo) (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Kippu no Rule (October 2026 edition) p.3: Tokaido/Sanyo Hikari/Kodama table (continued) and Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Green Car charges (JR West) · Verified on · JR West 'Kippu no Rule' October 2026 edition (【2026年10月号】), read from the e-book's Japanese text layer. This URL always serves the latest edition. Normal season, adult, one way.
- Source: Use of NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on
- Source: NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket: available sections, types, prices (for adults) (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Tax included. The same prices apply to Green Car tickets, reserved seat tickets in an ordinary car and non-reserved seat tickets in an ordinary car.
- Source: Eki jikokuhyo: Shin-Osaka Station, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen, for Okayama/Hakata/Kagoshima-Chuo (4 Nov 2026) (JR West (JR Odekake Net)) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. JR West states that times shown are a guide (目安). Tokyo-Kyoto (both directions): Hikari 58 runs, 144-171 min (median 156); Nozomi 226 runs, 127-135 min (median 132), quickest Nozomi 293 (127 min).
- Source: Eki jikokuhyo: Shin-Osaka Station, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen, for Nagoya/Tokyo (4 Nov 2026) (JR West (JR Odekake Net)) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. JR West states that times shown are a guide (目安).
- Source: Eki jikokuhyo: Hakata Station, Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen, for Hiroshima/Shin-Osaka (4 Nov 2026) (JR West (JR Odekake Net)) · Verified on · Times read from the operator's November 2026 weekday timetable (trains running on Wed 4 Nov 2026): one train's arrival time minus its departure time at the two stations. 'Typical' = the median of all runs of that train type; 'fastest' = the quickest scheduled run. JR West states that times shown are a guide (目安).
- Source: Revision of Nozomi/Mizuho reserved-seat limited express charges and Green Car charges on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen (press release, 16 Oct 2026) (JR Central / JR West) · Verified on · Japanese PDF. Its 'current' (現行) sample totals were used to cross-check the Kippu no Rule figures; its revised amounts apply only from 2027-07-01 (Nozomi/Mizuho charge) and 2027-12-15 (Green Car charge) and are NOT used in the fares below.
FAQ
Is the 7-day JR Pass worth it for this itinerary?
On the JR-Pass-covered trains: Regular tickets ¥28,450 vs ¥50,000 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the official online price. Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥21,550. Riding Nozomi/Mizuho on the legs marked for it: Regular tickets ¥28,770 vs ¥54,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the official online price (pass ¥50,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥26,190. Kanazawa to Kyoto is not included because its fare is not in our verified fare table.
How much are the Nozomi/Mizuho tickets for a JR Pass holder on this itinerary?
¥4,960 in total for the ordinary car (one NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket per ride, on top of the pass). Regular tickets on Nozomi/Mizuho cost ¥28,770 for the same legs, against ¥28,450 on the pass-covered trains.
How much do regular Shinkansen tickets cost for this itinerary?
¥28,450 for one adult on the JR-Pass-covered trains (ordinary reserved seat, normal season, priced leg by leg) and ¥39,780 in the Green Car (basic fare + limited express charge − ¥530 + Green Car charge). On Nozomi/Mizuho on the legs marked for it, it is ¥28,770. Kanazawa to Kyoto is not included because its fare is not in our verified fare table.
Route guides for these legs
Tours at your stops
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