• Tweet

• Tweet

We cannot think about the travel in Japan without Shinkansen. Especially Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Shin Osaka) can be used for transfer to Kyoto and Osaka from Tokyo. Most of travellers take this Shinkansen once or more. Probably you want to see the interior of Shinkansen trains. There are several types of trains to be operated on Tokaido Shinkansen. I show you all types of trains of Tokaido Shinkansen trains. And also most of Tokaido Shinkansen trains go through on Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. So if you take Sanyo Shinkansen, this post may be useful for you too.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images below.

300 series

This is the main stream of trains on Tokaido Shinkansen. This type is used for most of Hikari and Kodama. But gradually this type is taken out of service and newer 700 series is replaced with this series. This is the oldest train on Tokaido Shinkansen now. The newer 700 series or even the newest N700 series are used for some of Hikari. These series give you more comfortable and smooth ride. If you have a lot of time, try to take Hikari by 700 or N700 series.

JR Central and JR West announced this series will be stopped using by spring 2012.

Images

Green seat (Seat pitch 1160mm/Seat configuration 2+2)

Ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+3. Middle seat on 3 is a bit wider than other seats.)

Sanitary space

700 series

This type is used for most of Nozomi that is operated between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, some of Hikari and a few Kodama that is operated by early morning or late night. This 700 series is replacing with 300 series these days. This will be the main stream of trains on Tokaido Shinkansen instead of 300 series. 700 series is used for Hikari Rail Star that is operated between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. But the exterior and interior are different.

Images

Green seat (Seat pitch 1160mm/Seat configuration 2+2)

Ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+3. Middle seat on 3 is a bit wider than other seats.)

Sanitary space

N700 series

This type is the newest train and the best. This gives you the best comfortability and smooth ride. But this is used mostly for Nozomi that is operated between Tokyo and Hakata. There are a few Hikari and Kodama that are operated by this series. But is is early morning or late night and it is very limited and short distance operation. N700′s Green seat is called “Synchronized comfort seat”. This is the best seat in Shinkansen trains. All Green seat equip a power outlet, and the first row, last row and window side of Ordinary seat have a power outlet too. N700 series is only Shinkansen train that has WiFi access between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. It is not free. The easiest way to get a connection is buying one day passport from Hot Spot.

The newest train Mizuho and Sakura on Sanyo-Kyushu Shinkansen are operated by same series. But the interior is different. I don’t have any images. But you will find some on the post, Kyushu Shinkansen Mizuho and Sakura.

Images

Green seat (Seat pitch 1160mm/Seat configuration 2+2)

Ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+3. Middle seat on 3 is a bit wider than other seats.)

Sanitary space

Smoking space
Smoking is not allowed on the train is operated by N700 series. But there are some smoking area.

You may also like these posts:

---

---

8 Comments to “Tokaido Shinkansen image gallery. Check the interior and accommodations.”

1. Steve says:

   April 26, 2013 at 6:03 am

   Hello Takeshi !

   I’ll be in Japan in May month ( of cource, primary purpose of my trip is to travel by Shinkansen and other trains ). I want to make some photos in Shinkansen train depots ( locomotive maintenance facility ).
   Can you tell me where the main depots are located ? I hear about Hakata, Settsu (Osaka) and Omya (near Tokyo).

   Have a Nice Day !
   Steve

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     April 26, 2013 at 1:45 pm

     Hi Steve,

     There are many Shikansen base in Japan. But most of them is very hard to access without car. I think Hakata is the easiest. Shinkansen train is operated between Hakata and Hakata-Minami near base.
     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakata-Minami_Line

     I have never been to Shinkansen base by myself. But mostly it is very hard to see Shinkansen train from outside. Sometimes it is open for public. But only JR staff can enter there.

     Torigai base (Settsu) can be seen at the left side after 5 to 10 minutes Shinkansen departs from Shin-Osaka.

     Sorry! That’s all I can say.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
2. constantino says:

   March 22, 2013 at 7:13 am

   This is my first trip to Japan where part of my travel plans is a bullet train ride from tokyo to kyoto via the nozomi shinagawa lines leaving at 15.37. My question is, how do we get to the station if we are coming from the Ginza area where our tour operator will drop us by before we proceed to our Kyoto trip.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     March 22, 2013 at 9:00 pm

     Hi constantino,

     Take local train on Yamanote line from Yurakucho to Shinagawa. Yurakucho is the closest JR station from Ginza. Please see the following link. It may help you to understand the direction.
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/best-way-efficient-how-much-can-we-use-japan-rail-pass-in-downtown-tokyo.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. Alan says:

   April 27, 2012 at 10:49 pm

   We are planning to land at Narita on Sunday afternoon June 17 and to fly out on Saturday June 23. We would like to spend most of our time in and around Tokyo, but would like to see Mt. Fuji and Hiroshima. Obviously we need to buy JR 1-week Pass, how much time will we need to visit the other two locations? Please help.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     April 27, 2012 at 11:16 pm

     Hi Alan,
     If you want to just see Mt. Fuji, you can see it from Shinkansen when you go to Hiroshima. But I think you want to see some attraction and scenery. It depends on what you want to do in Mt. Fuji. Please see the following post:
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-use-japan-rail-pass-to-go-to-mt-fuji.html
     When you go to Hiroshima, I recommend you to stay one night there. It takes at least 5 hours to get Hiroshima from Tokyo. It is not realistic to visit there from Tokyo in one day.
     So I think you need to spend one day for Mt. Fuji and another two days for Hiroshima.
     Cheers,
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
4. ernest ho says:

   February 5, 2012 at 4:04 pm

   My arrival time in Narita airport is 15.10.on the 17th Feb. After checking the JR timetable, I do not have too many choices with a JR pass. My only option going to Hiroshima is Hikari 479 then catch the K 769.
   Do you have any other options? Looks like there are only 2 more trains going to Hiroshima from Shinosaka if I missed the K769. Am I right? It seems quite hectic.

   Thanks for checking this out for me.

   Ernest

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     February 5, 2012 at 4:28 pm

     Hi Eanest,
     Hikari 479 departs from Tokyo at 16:03. Unfortunately this one does not work for you.
     I estimate your arrival time in Tokyo will be around 17:30. Because you will land Narita at 15:10. It will take at least one hour to go through custom and immigration, and then pick up baggage. It will take another one hour to get Tokyo station by Narita Express. That is the reason why you cannot take Hikari 479.
     So my suggestion is the following:
     Tokyo 18:03 > Hikari 483 > 21:13 Shin Osaka
     Shin Osaka 21:38 Hikari 583 > 23:39 Hiroshima
     These trains are the last train to get Hiroshima from Tokyo. You may be able to get one earlier Hikari that departs from Tokyo at 17:33.
     If you cannot take these trains, you have to pay full fare to get Nozomi. As you know, Nozomi is not covered by JR pass. But it is only way to get Hiroshima on arrival day.
     Good luck!
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

1. 6 day trip, JR Pass worth it? Arr KIX Dep NRT - FlyerTalk Forums