Save money and time to go to Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka from Tokyo by train. Overnight rapid train Moonlight Nagara

Maibara, Ogaki
185 series still run as limited express train Odoriko. This fleet is used for rapid Moonlight Nagara too.
185 series still run as limited express train Odoriko. This fleet is used for rapid Moonlight Nagara too.
185 series still run as limited express train Odoriko. This fleet is used for rapid Moonlight Nagara too.

JR East and JR Central have announced Moonlight Nagara is no longer service on January 22nd, 2021. Since 185 series using for Moonlight Nagara will be retired in March, 2021, this train has been discontinued.

Moonlight Nagara (ムーンライトながら) is the overnight rapid service train that is operated between Tokyo and Ogaki (大垣). This train is operated as the seasonal train. It is usually operated in spring break (two weeks from late March to early April), summer break (late July to the end of August) and Christmas to New Year holidays. These periods are the seasons when “Seishun 18 ticket” is sold. This ticket covers any rapid and local train’s non reserved seat throughout Japan for 5 days at 11,850 yen. This train can be used by this ticket with additional charge for reserved seat fare. Therefore this train runs for busy period only and it is very hard to book.

This train is fully covered by Japan Rail Pass. But online reservation is not available for overseas visitor and ticket is on sale one month prior to departure date. It is very hard to book and not realistic to put this train in your plan.

Anyway it may be considerable for overnight transfer between Tokyo and Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka. Let’s see the details about this train.

Route and timetable

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Monterey Hotel Yokohama
Located downtown by the harbour
Tokyu Hotel Nagoya
Located in most popular area Sakae

This train connects Tokyo with Ogaki. Ogaki is 30 minutes away from Nagoya to the west. This train is a rapid service train. That means a kind of local train. But this train stops at only 8 stations. It is very similar to limited express train service.

This train is connected with other local trains to/from Osaka/Kyoto at Ogaki. But if you will use Japan Rail Pass, you can take Shinkansen from/to Nagoya. But if you go to Himeji or other cities to the west from Himeji, Sunrise Seto or Sunrise Izumo is better. This train is a scheduled train, more comfortable and faster. But if you are looking for overnight transfer to Nagoya, this train is better choice. If you want to go to Takayama as soon as possible by Japan Rail Pass, this train is connected with the first Wide View Hida to Takayama that depart from Nagoya at 07:43am.

If you are single ticket traveller, you can take the first Nozomi from Tokyo is connected with Wide View Hida. You don’t need to take overnight train. Japan Rail Pass user can take Hikari or Kodama. The first Hikari is not connected with the first Wide View Hida.

Stations 
Tokyo (東京)X
Shinagawa (品川)X
Yokohama (横浜)X
Odawara (小田原)*
Numazu (沼津)X
Shizuoka (静岡)X
Hamamatsu (浜松)X
Toyohashi (豊橋)*
Nagoya (名古屋)X
Gifu (岐阜)X
Ogaki (大垣)X

*Only train to Ogaki stop at Odawara and train to Tokyo stop at Toyohashi.

This train is a seasonal train. It is operated in the peak season only. Please check the most updated schedule and timetable at Seasonal Trains Schedule.

Accommodation and train formations

This train is operated by 185 series. 185 series was used for many limited express train around Tokyo area. At this point, this fleet is used for only Odoriko as limited express train. But this fleet is still very good as the rapid train. All cars are reserved ordinary seat. It does not have any berth, compartment, and even green cars. And this train does not have any non reserved cars either. You need to get a reserved seat before you ride.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Images
Reserved ordinary seat
185 series - Limited Express Odoriko 185 series - Limited Express Odoriko 185 series - Limited Express Odoriko 185 series - Limited Express Odoriko 185 series - Limited Express Odoriko

Train formation

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RRRRRRRRRR

R=Reserved ordinary seat

Comments

  1. Sda says:

    In between 25 th – 31st March, what’s the smart way to travel from Nagoya to Tokyo.
    Pls adv mode of transport and associated Fares if possible. Thank You

  2. irene says:

    Tks Takeshi. How do i purchase on line? and i need to purchase 1 month before i travel right?
    does it have a signboard to follow when we reach to ogaki?

  3. IRENE says:

    I would like to travel from tokyo on 19th March to Kyoto by this moonlight nagara night train.

    1) how much is the fare as i cant find it at the hyperdia link but i found it at another website which the fare is JPY7980 + JPY510 (reserve seats from tokyo to ogaki)? Is it correct the fare is JPY7980 + JPY510 from tokyo to kyoto?
    2) understand that from tokyo, we have to stop at ogaki station. And from ogaki station to kyoto how much is the fare and do you have the map?

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Irene,

      You have to pay 7980 yen base fare + 510 yen reserved ticket for Tokyo to Kyoto trip via Ogaki. You need only one base ticket.
      All you have to do is just transfer trains at Ogaki. Most of passengers transfer to the train to Kyoto. Just follow them. It’s quite easy.

      By the way, this train is seasonal train. At this point, this train will run on Mar 19 or not. It will be announced in late January usually.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. Justine says:

    Thank you for your advice! I bought seishin juhachi kippu and moonlight nagara reservation from toyohashi last week, 27 days in advance! My lack of Japanese meant I couldn’t get a separate ticket/reservation from nagoya to toyohashi so I’ll go to Toyohashi for the evening and enter the station after midnight. I hope they stamp my pass with the correct day!

    Thank you so much for your help.

    Also, neither my suburban station or Nagoya station have green ticket window midori no madoguchi – only JR/shinkansen and JTB/JR Tokai Tours shops which also sell train tickets, and are white coloured! Are things different in JR Central Japan?

  5. Justine says:

    Thank you for your advice! I bought seishun juhachi kippu and moonlight nagara reservation from toyohashi last week, 27 days in advance! My lack of Japanese meant I could get a separate ticket/reservation from nagoya to toyohashi so I’ll go to Toyohashi for the evening and enter the station after midnight. I hope they stamp my pass with the correct day!

    Thank you so much for your help.

    Also, neither my suburban station or Nagoya station have green ticket window midori no madoguchi – only JR/shinkansen and JTB shops which also sell train tickets, and are white coloured! Are things different in JR Central Japan?

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Justine,

      I researched about Midori no Madoguchi in JR Central area. You are right! JR Central use white colored sign and no use the name “Midori no Madoguchi”.

      I didn’t know that. Thank you very much for sharing info. It’s good to know and I revise my post.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. JustineH says:

    Hi Takeshi 🙂

    Great website! Lots of ideas for my Obon vacation 🙂

    This is probably a stupid question, but does taking an overnight train count as one or two days for the seishun 18 kippu? Of course it is stamped the day you get on the train, but would it be stamped when you leave the station the following day? I would try for Nagoya-Tokyo, then use my toica card in tokyo, saving days for later use 🙂

    Thank you! 🙂

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Justine,

      Are you taking Moonlight Nagara? If so, this train depart Nagoya at 23:20. And next stop at Toyohashi at 0:18.
      If you start to use Seisyun 18 at Nagoya, you will spend 1 days for only Nagoya-Toyohashi. Obviously this is not smart way to use. You can use your toica for this segment and start to use Seisyun 18 from Toyohashi. You can continue to use Seisyn 18 after arrival at Tokyo. 🙂

      P.S.
      As probably you know Moonlight Nagara is very popular. This train has only reserved seat. So you must get a ticket to take this train. Especially in obon season, this train is sold out everyday. You got to be Midori no Madoguchi 10:00 am on the day prior to one month.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. Signe says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Me and my friend is at the moment traveling Japan. I read from the questions and answers above that one can travel from Tokyo to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka overnight. But is it also possible to travel (with seishun 18 kippu) from kyoto – hiroshima overnight? All possible options and tips will be recived with a big smile and gratitude.
    And of course, thanks for making such a helpful website, it makes the travel much easier.

    Signe and Trine

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Signe,

      Unfortunately, there is no option about Kyoto-Hiroshima. If you want to use Seishun 18 kippu, daytime local / rapid train is only your choice.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Fabian says:

    Hello Takeshi!

    Im married with a japanse girl but shes not been in Japan for 20 years. We are finally going there on a vacation trip.

    We have family in Tokyo but we really want to spend a day or two in Kyoto/Osaka.

    I´m interested in using the Seishun 18 Kypuu and Moonlight Nagara. Do you know the dates of Seishun 18 and Moonlight Nagara for 2013?

    We will arrive in Japan on April 3.

    In advance, thank you very much for the help!

    Fabian

  9. Katha says:

    Hi Takeshi! First of all, thank you so much for this website, it is really helpful! Im gonna visit my boyfriend in Osaka by the end of december and we would like to celebrate the new year in Tokyo. The problem is that he has to work until the 30th of december so it´d make sense to travel overnight. Is there any night train that connects Osaka and Tokyo on which the “Seishun 18 Kippu”-ticket is valid? I can only find information about moonlight expresses starting in Tokyo… If there is, do you have a useful link with a timetable for me? Would be just to nice if you had an answer!
    Best regards from Germany,
    Katha

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Katha,

      I’m very happy to hear that my website help you to plan your trip.

      Regarding overnight transfer, please see the following post:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/overnight-transfer-between-tokyo-and-kyotoosaka.html

      There are some trains and highway buses services. However it may be sold out already. As probably you know, New Year’s Day is the biggest day in Japan. In this year 2012, December 28, 29 and 30 will be the busiest day in the entire year. If you want to book, ask your boyfriend in Japan to book right now.

      Unfortunately if you cannot make it, try to get the earliest Shinkansen to Tokyo. You can be in Tokyo around 9:00 am. Shinkansen will be very busy too. All transportation will be packed. It is like Christmas holidays in western countries.

      I hope you will make it. 🙂

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. Jamie Ang says:

    Dearest Takeshi san,

    First of all, I have to comment that this layout/website of yours helped me out alot in my planning! Really helpful links and information!

    I have a couple of questions as a first time visitor to Japan:
    I am traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka and back to Tokyo between 22nd March 2012 to 31st March 2012, which happen to coincident with the operations of this Overnight Nagara train service. Considered the option of JR pass for 7days unlimited but if this overnight train can save us money with other short trips within the cities, I would love to explore this option more, but have to know if there’s any inconvenience/restrictions.

    1) How much is this ticket for two-ways?

    2) Can I purchase this ticket online, or I can only do it when I am there, if so can I be sure to definitely secure two tickets for this?

    3) When arriving at Ogaki at almost 6am in the morning (according to your link https://jprail.com/travel-informations/schedule-of-2012-spring-seasonal-trains-of-japan-railways.html) Is the connecting train from Ogaki to Kyoto/Osaka already available?
    Also for Ogaki-Tokyo arriving 5.05am, other train services will be in line already?

    4) How is this and the “Sunrise Izumo / Sunrise Seto differ (in your link https://jprail.com/destinations/overnight-transfer-between-tokyo-and-kyotoosaka.html) and which would you recommend?

    Sorry for bombarding the questions, I really do appreciate your time and effort for this- could probably save me the cost of the bullet train pass! Thank you so much! Hope to hear from you soon!

    Best Regards
    Jamie

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Jamie,
      Thanks for your comment!
      1) If you take Moonlight Nagara by Japan Rail Pass, the pass completely cover it. No extra charge. If you buy a single ticket, base fare and reserved seat charge around 500 yen. Please check the base fare at Hyperdia.
      http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
      If you use this train for both way, it is cheaper than Japan Rail Pass.
      2) No you cannot purchase a ticket for Nagara. Please refer the following post:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/how-to-reserve-seat.html
      Basically you can book after you arrive in Japan. Both Moonlight and Sunrise are very hard to book it because it is very popular.
      3) When you arrive at Ogaki, the next local train is available in next a few minutes. I think most of passengers on Nagara rush to the next train. This train is very popular for rail buff. Just follow them. You cannot miss it.
      When you arrive at Tokyo, not many trains are available. But most of trains start to operate around 05:30.
      4) It is same. Sunrise Izumo for Tokyo-Izumoshi, Sunrise Seto for Tokyo-Takamatsu. Same car and same accommodation.

      I understand many tourist want to take Overnight train to save money and time. But it is very hard to book after arrival in Japan honestly.

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Jamie Ang says:

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thank you so much for your fast and detailed response! It makes me understand the possibility of getting the tickets, which is quite uncertain. So my next question will be, are there other daytime options from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka via non-bullet train? Or do you think that buying a JR pass is the most suitable way for us? Within Kyoto and Osaka via non-bullet train is about 30mins and less than 1000yen right? (according to your link on how to transfer between Kyoto and Osaka? I am assuming this is easier to book that’s why my main concern is this Tokyo-Kyoto two way journey. Need your kind advice! Thank you so much for your help!

        • JPRail says:

          Hi Jamie,
          There is no other options between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka other than local commute train. If you really want to save a money, you can do it. However you need to transfer the trains more than 6 times. It takes more than 8 hours! Do you want to spend 10 hours on commute train? Yes. It is not realistic. And you cannot save your time either.
          If you use Japan Rail Pass for transfer between Tokyo and Osaka by Shinkansen, you cannot save so much. Because return single fare is almost same as Japan Rail Pass 7 days ordinary pass. But how about other place, like Takayama, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Nikko? I rally recommend you to use Japan Rail Pass and visit more places in Japan. You can maximize the value of your pass.
          Takeshi / JP Rail

          • Jamie Ang says:

            Hi Takeshi

            Thank you so much for the detailed advice, we have purchased the JR pass and will visit 6 cities instead of 3 under your advice and others, really appreciate your time and help in this! It made planning so much easier! Thank you!!

            Best Regards
            Jamie

            • JPRail says:

              Hi Jamie,
              You are welcome. I’m very happy to hear that my advice is helpful for your planning.
              Enjoy your trip.
              Takeshi / JP Rail

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