The logo of Hikari Rail Star
Sanyo Shinkansen is operated between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. But Sanyo Shinkansen is connected with Tokaido Shinkansen (from Nagoya, Kyoto and Tokyo) at Shin-Osaka and Kyushu Shinkansen (from Kumamoto and Kagoshima) at Hakata.
Most of trains run from Tokyo (Nozomi and Hikari) are operated by Tokaido Shinkansen fleet, 700 series or N700 series. If you look for the images of these trains, please see Tokaido Shinkansen image gallery.
Most of trains to Kyushu, such as Kumamoto or Kagoshima-chuo (Mizuho and Sakura) are operated by Kyushu Shinkansen fleet, N700 series. If you look for the image of this train, please see N700 series for Kyushu Shinkansen Mizuho and Sakura.
In this post, I show you the images of 700 series and 500 series. These train sets are used as âKodamaâ (stops at all stations) of Sanyo Shinkansen.
And you can find 800 series of Kyushu Shinkansen segment (Hakata â Kagoshima-Chuo) at Kyushu Shinkansen.
*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. Donât 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
Comments
Hi,Takeshi
Thank you very much for your previous answer,
So,the Non-Reserved Seat in car 4-6 of the Kodama 855 is Non-Reserved with 3+2 seats,
Am I understand correctly.
Regards,
Fai
Hi Fai,
No, those are 2+2. Kodama 855 is operated by same 500 series but it offers all seats as non reserved.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,Takeshi
Iâm planning a trip from Shin-Yamaguchi to Hagi by train via Asa and in both Hyperdia and JR-West timetable finder said that Kodama 855 (500-Series) from Shin-Yamaguchi to Asa has only Non-Reserved Seat.My question is,Does the train have the 2+2 seats with Non-Reserved?
Iâm using JR-West Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi and I donât want to pay extra to reserve the seat.
Thank you in advance
Regards,
Fai
Hi Fai,
At this point, Kodama 855 is operated as all non reserved seat train. Usually Kodama by 500 series has reserved car from car 4 to 6. And these are 2+2 seat layout. But Kodama 855 offers non reserved seat from car 4 to 6 as well now.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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.
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 arenât 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 guessâŚ
I am sure JR cannot make any profit on Kodama. But overall Shinkansen is very profitable in JR Group.
Takeshi / JP Rail