Platt Kodama, one way deal among Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka by the Shinkansen

Rail pass for residents
Shinkansen is the high speed train service in Japan. Kodama is the slowest train on Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line.
Shinkansen is the high speed train service in Japan. Kodama is the slowest train on Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line.

When you move among Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka, you may think to take the Shinkansen (a.k.a. bullet train). If you have a round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto/Shin-Osaka, JR pass is the best choice. But even 7 days JR pass price is almost equal to the round trip fare and the seat fee of the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. JR pass is not the best choice for one way movement.

Platt Kodama may be the solution for the traveler who make only one way trip from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka (or versa). Because it is a sort of the Shinkansen one way trip discount ticket among Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.

I would like to show you this ticket in this post.

What is Kodama?

Before I explain this deal, I want to tell you about Kodama.

The Shinkansen runs on the exclusive track. The Shinkansen trains does not share the track with any conventional local commute trains and other conventional express trains. But on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, there are three types of trains running, Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama. These three trains look exactly same and offers exactly same interior. The only difference is the trip time and stop stations. Kodama is the slowest train and make stops at all stations.

Please read the link below to learn more about the Tokaido Shinkansen.

So if you use this deal, you have to accept the extra trip time. You cannot take the fastest train.

What is Platt Kodama?

Platt Kodama is a sort of the discount tickets for taking Kodama only among the stations between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, such as Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Nagoya and Kyoto. This deal is not available further than Shin-Osaka to west destination, such as Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata.

Kodama is the slowest Shinkansen train and the trip time is much longer than Nozomi and Hikari. But you can get the lower rate than the regular fare.

I mentioned that Platt Kodama is a sort of the discount tickets. But technically this is not a ticket but a package tour product. You cannot purchase this at the ticket window in JR stations. You have to go to JR Tokai Tours that is JR Central’s travel agent.

Sales location

You may find the location of JR Tokai Tours office in Tokyo, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka at the link below:

JR Tokai Tours official site

Condition of use

There are several conditions. When you use Platt Kodama, please understand these conditions before you use purchase this deal.

  • Must purchase it be the day before you use. You cannot buy it on the travel date.
  • Fixed trip plan. You have to take the train that is shown on the ticket. You cannot take any other trains.
  • Seat assigned. You cannot use any other seat and cannot change the seat.
  • No stopover allowed. Once you get off the train, your ticket is expired.
  • No trip plan changed. You cannot change the trip plan and refund without handling charge.

Please find the detailed information in the link below:

Platt Kodama, Guidance of Plans (PDF file)

And you will receive a drink voucher. You can get a free drink at Kiosk before on board. And also if you add 1,000 yen for Tokyo to/from Nagoya, 1,500 yen Tokyo to/from Shin-Osaka or Kyoto, you can take Green seat.

Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen 700 series. These seat configuration are the standard on Shinkansen. Green (left) and Ordinary (right
Green (left) and Ordinary (right)

Green seat is much more spacious and very comfortable.

Compare Kodama, Hikari and Nozomi in the trip time

Please see the Tokaido Shinkansen timetable in the link below:

JR Central official site – The Tokaido and the Sanyo Shinkansen timetable

I have picked up three trains in early morning. (The timetable is varied by the season.)
Please find those trains below in the timetable.

Train nameTokyoNagoyaKyotoShin-Osaka
K633
(Kodama 633)
06:5609:4810:4611:00
N203
(Nozomi 203)
07:0008:4209:1909:33
H461
(Hikari 461)
07:0309:1109:4910:05

As you see, Nozomi is 1.5 hours faster than Kodama if you travel from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. Even Hikari is 1 hour faster than Kodama. But one way trip traveler does not pick up Hikari because it is slower than Nozomi. If you use JR pass, Hikari is a primary choice but I cannot find any reasons why one way traveler use Hikari.

Compare Platt Kodama and the regular fare

You can find the price comparison between Kodama single fare and Platt Kodama in the official site. But I would like to show you the fare comparison between Nozomi regular fare and Platt Kodama. As you see, if you take Kodama, you will spend 1.5 hours extra for Tokyo to/from Kyoto or Shin-Osaka. I think you want to know how much you can save to give up 1.5 extra hours.

SegmentRegular fare
for Nozomi
Platt KodamaYour saving
Tokyo to/from Shin-Osaka14,720 yen10,700 yen4,020 yen
Tokyo to/from Kyoto14,170 yen10,500 yen3,670 yen
Tokyo to/from Nagoya11,300 yen8,500 yen2,800 yen
Nagoya to/from Shin-Osaka6,680 yen4,500 yen2,180 yen
Nagoya to/from Kyoto5,910 yen4,400 yen1,510 yen

*These above rates and prices are regular season rates. Rates and prices are varied by season. You can find the complete price table of Platt Kodama in the official site. Nozomi regular rate is also varied by the season. And the seasonality of Nozomi regular rate is different from the seasonality of Platt Kodama. Approximate seasonality of Nozomi is the following:

Peak seasonSpring break (late March to early April)
Golden Week (late April to early May)
Summer break (late July to late August)
Winter break (late December to early January)
Shoulder seasonAll days except weekend and holiday in the following period:
from mid January to February
June
September
November to mid December

The periods are adjusted in each year. You can find the exact fare of Nozomi at Hyperdia. Hyperdia complete guide

Assessment

I would like to show you extra time and saving cost again.

Tokyo to/from Shin-Osaka 4,020 yen for 1.5 hours
Tokyo to/from Kyoto 3,670 yen for 1.5 hours
Tokyo to/from Nagoya 2,800 yen for 1 hour 10 minutes
Nagoya to/from Shin-Osaka 2,180 yen for 21 minutes
Nagoya to/from Kyoto 1,510 yen for 21 minutes

It is hard to say that you can accept this trade off. You cannot purchase a ticket at the station and must purchase day before. These conditions may be considerable for you.

I am glad if this post gave you some idea to build your trip plan.

Comments

  1. Passapol says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Just wonder, is it possible to buy a Platt Kodama for smaller stations other than the stations listed in the website ex. Odawara or Mishima?
    I was looking for it everywhere, but failed to find it, so if I want to buy a Platt Kodama ticket; for example, Tokyo – Odawara, is there anyway to buy it?

    Thanks for your answer.
    Passapol

    • Hi Passapol,

      Unfortunately Platt Kodama is available at Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka only. And Tokyo/Shinagawa to/from Shin-Yokohama, Shizuoka to/from Hamamatsu, Kyoto to/from Shin-Osaka are not available because of short distance trip.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Shun Fong says:

    Can purchase the Platt Kodama tickets in advance? Can I have a friend purchase it for me? I am planning to use it from Tokyo to Osaka on Jul 24, during Tenjin Matsuri. I wanted to make sure that I have the tickets since we have 4 people traveling.

  3. May says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be traveling from Kyoto to Nagoya. Am on a tight budget and was looking at alternative ways to get me to Nagoya with minimal transfer,. Instead of the Platt Kodama, do you think this is a good option:

    https://www.jrtbinm.co.jp/en/kyoto/index.html

    One-way HAYAURI 1 (Kyoto to Nagoya) for 1400 yen.

    Thank you.

  4. IIN CHRISNA SIDI says:

    Hi, Takeshi-san,
    Greetings from Indonesia 🙂
    This site is a really really big help for me when planning my trip to Osaka-Kanazawa-Takayama-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka. Thank you!!

    Anyway, I’m planning to buy Platt Kodama ticket from Nagoya to Kyoto the night before the travel. But I only reach Nagoya station from Takayama around 9pm and I am wondering whether Central North ticket gate is still open by that time. I was looking everywhere for their operation hours but I couldn’t find it. Any chance you know about this information?

    Thank you!

    • Hi IIN CHRISNA SIDI san,

      Unfortunately you cannot purchase Platt Kodama at the ticket window. This is sold only at JR Tokai tours. This is not ticket window but travel agent. There are several JR Tokai tours office around Nagoya station but all offices are closed by 19:00. You cannot purchase it when you arrive in Nagoya. If you move to Nagoya next day, you have to purchase a regular ticket.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Elaine says:

    Can we buy Platt Kodema tickets online?

  6. Purple says:

    HI there, greetings and appreciate two questions.

    1. From their link, we won’t be able to take Shinkansen from Tokyo Station but only from Shinagawa Station to Osaka
    2. If so, can I purchase tickets at Tokyo Station Office a day or two earlier but I’ll travel to Shinagawa Station on the travelling date

    Thanks a million

  7. Foli says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I be travelling from Nagoya to Kyoto – i understand that there 3 ways of doing that:->

    1) Platt Kodama
    2) Kintetsu Railway
    3) Highway Bus

    I like to understand which method will be easier as i be travelling with 2 kids (9 and 11 year old) as well as 2 elder folks (67 and 72 years old) together with my wife (6 of us)

    Thanks,
    Foli

    • Hi Foil,

      Platt Kodama is most recommended. Kids cannot move on the bus but they can do on the train. And kids may get motion sickness in the bus.
      If you take Kintetsu railway, you have to change trains at least once. Shinkansen (Kodama) is the direct way to get Nagoya.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Riza says:

    Greeting from Indonesia

    I want to know is it possible for me to buy platt kodama at tokyo for a ride from osala to tokyo? And is it possible to buy the ticket like 2 or 3 days before the ride date (not a day before) ?

    Regards

    • Hi Riza,

      You can purchase it at Tokyo station. You have to purchase it by the day before travel date. Of course you can purchase it a few days before. It cannot be bought in travel day.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

    • Marilou says:

      Hi takeshi,
      Next month, oct.25,2017 we will arriving in tokyo, will stay there until the 28th of october,
      Is it possible to ask my airb&b host to buy a kodama shinkansen ticket for us, then will pay him upon arrival to his flat? Is okay to purchased the tickets 4 or 5 days prior to our departure?
      Thank you

  9. Ting says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Is there a website that I can buy Shinkansen (not Platt Kodama) ticket online? I don’t seem to be able to find one.

    Thanks.

  10. Ting says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    If I go and buy the Platt Kodama ticket the day before, is it possible that tickets for the next day might be sold out? Also to buy in Osaka, is it just to go to the Shinkansen ticket counter?

    Thanks.

    • Hi Ting,

      It may be sold out. That is a risk which you have to take if you use this deal.
      You cannot purchase Platt Kodama in Osaka station. You have to go to JR Tokai tours in Shin-Osaka station. You cannot purchase it in even Shinkasnen ticket window in Shin-Osaka station. Only JR Tokai tours sells this deal. Please see the post above to find the location of JR Tokai tours in Shin-Osaka station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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