The logo of Hikari Rail Star
Sanyo Shinkansen is operated between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. But this Shinkansen is connected with Tokaido Shinkansen (from Nagoya, Kyoto and Tokyo) at Shin-Osaka and Kyushu Shinkansen (from Kumamoto and Kagoshima) at Hakata. So both Shinkansen trains are operated on Sanyo Shinaknsen very often. So you may take other trains than below trains. So please read these following posts too.
Tokaido Shinkansen image gallery
Kyushu Shinkansen (You can see the images of 800 series of Kyushu Shinkansen.)
N700 series for Kyushu Shinkansen Mizuho and Sakura
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images below.
700 series
Reserved ordinary seat of Hikari Rail Star gives you the best value.
Hikari Rail Star is operated by modified 700 series. The interior is different from Tokaido Shinkansen 700 series. This is only 8 cars train formation (Tokaido 700 series 16 cars formation) and no Green seat in this formation. But reserved ordinary seat gives you 2+2 seat configuration. The seat pitch is same as common ordinary seat, the width is completely different. Don’t take non reserved seat when you take this train.
After Mar 12, 2011, Kyushu Shinkansen Mizuho and Sakura go through Sanyo Shinkansen. Since then, the trips of Hikari Rail Star were reduced. Sakura and Mizuho are operated by newer N700 series. These trains give you same or better quality of service than Hikari Rail Star. Please be careful that you cannot take Mizuho by Japan Rail Pass.
Images
Reserved ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+2.)
Non reserved ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+3. Middle seat on 3 is a bit wider than other seats.)
500 series
500 series was the coolest and the fastest Shinkansen both Tokaido and Sanyo.
500 series was used for Nozomi. This train was seen on both Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. But now this series was refurbished and used for Kodama. You can see this train as Kodama between Shin-Osaka and Hakata only.
Images
Reserved ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+2.)
Non reserved ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+3. Middle seat on 3 is a bit wider than other seats.)
Sanitary space
Smoking space
100 series
100 series is historical Shinkansen train.
This is the second generation Shinkansen train and is the oldest trains on both Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. This series had double decker car and dining car in 16 cars formation. But it is shortened to 4 or 6 cars formation. You may see this train as short distance Kodama on Sanyo Shinkansen only. This train will be taken out of service on March 2012.
Images
Ordinary seat (Seat pitch 1040mm/Seat configuration 2+2.)
Sanitary space
You may also like these posts:
- Tokaido Shinkansen image gallery. Check the interior and accommodations.
- Kyushu Shinkansen N700 series for Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame image gallery
- Direct access to Fukuoka (Hakata), Kumamoto, Kagoshima from Osaka. Kyushu Shinkansen
- Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen (Bullet Train), Most popular train to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata from Tokyo.
- Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen image gallery. Check the interior and accommodations.
3 Comments to “Sanyo Shinkansen image gallery. Check the interior and accommodations.”
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ken says:
Hello Takeshi-san
Back from your wonderful country;
A question about the kodama shinkansen, one thing catch my attention : they were almost always empty , with about 4 or less passengers per car (I watch them and even took them, and that was the norm), are they still profitable with so few passengers? why aren’t they cheaper than hikari in order to be more attractive to the passengers?
And thank you for this very useful web page.-
Hello Ken san,
Welcome back!
I am not sure. But I guess this is political matter. Some Shinkansen station is located at very inconvenient place. You know why? This is a political issue. And also when JR started to operate Shikansen, they have committed to local that some Shinkansen trains stopped there. This is the reason why they need to operate Kodama, I guess…
I am sure JR cannot make any profit on Kodama. But overall Shinkansen is very profitable in JR Group.
Takeshi / JP Rail
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I travelled on one of the 100-series Kodamas back in 2007 and it still had the dining car complete with spotless kitchen so it must have been a 16-car rack. The carriages also had an indicator showing the train speed in km/hr in a big red LED display. I wish now I had thought to get pictures of it, especially the kitchen area.