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:
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.
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 name | Tokyo | Nagoya | Kyoto | Shin-Osaka |
---|---|---|---|---|
K633 (Kodama 633) | 06:56 | 09:48 | 10:46 | 11:00 |
N203 (Nozomi 203) | 07:00 | 08:42 | 09:19 | 09:33 |
H461 (Hikari 461) | 07:03 | 09:11 | 09:49 | 10:05 |
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.
Segment | Regular fare for Nozomi | Platt Kodama | Your saving |
---|---|---|---|
Tokyo to/from Shin-Osaka | 14,720 yen | 10,700 yen | 4,020 yen |
Tokyo to/from Kyoto | 14,170 yen | 10,500 yen | 3,670 yen |
Tokyo to/from Nagoya | 11,300 yen | 8,500 yen | 2,800 yen |
Nagoya to/from Shin-Osaka | 6,680 yen | 4,500 yen | 2,180 yen |
Nagoya to/from Kyoto | 5,910 yen | 4,400 yen | 1,510 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 season | Spring 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 season | All 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
Hi Takeshi,
I will arrive in KIX at 6pm on a Saturday. JR Tokai Tours at Shin-Ōsaka Station will be closed at 5pm. Can I still purchase a Platt Kodama for travel on Sunday from Shin-Ōsaka to Nagoya?
Hi Roger,
Unfortunately not. In Osaka area, JR Tokai Tours in Shin-Osaka is only place to purchase Platt Kodama. You cannot use this deal for your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi!
We will be travelling via Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto in about 5 weeks, 2 adults and 2 children – is it possible to purchase this Platt Kodak’s ticket from Tokyo beforehand and then use it to board at Odawara? Also, what is the cost of s children’s ticket?
Thanks for your very informative post!
Regards
Loretta
Hi Loretta,
Platt Kodama is not available for Odawara to Kyoto. Even if you buy Tokyo to Kyoto Platt Kodama, you cannot use it from Odawara. Unfortunately you have to use a regular ticket. Please use hyperdia to find the fare.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Child rate is half of adult fare. And it is applied to the child who is 6 to 11 years old. Adult rate is applied for 12 years old and up. It is free of charge for 5 years old or less. But one of adult fare passengers must share the seat. You have to pay a child fare if you want to get one seat for child who is 5 years old or less.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
I will be travelling from Tokyo to Kakegawa / Hamamatsu Station (either of them). Where and how can i purchase online? Can you suggest other routes to take so i can travel there on a budget?
Thanks,
kay
Hi Kay,
You may take the express bus. This is most affordable way:
http://www.jrtbinm.co.jp.e.aco.hp.transer.com/
If you want to take a train, the Shinkansen is the choice but it’s more expensive. You can purchase a ticket at any major JR station.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Can I buy the Platt Kodama ticket 2days before the travel date?
Thank you
Hi Korn,
As long as the ticket is available, you can buy it until one day before the travel date.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you, May I have some more questions?
1. I installed an application “smartex” of Shinkansen and discovered this “Hayatoku-family KODAMA Shinkansen”
https://smart-ex.jp/en/product/hayatoku/exkodama_family/
This tickets more cheaper than Platt Kodama and more comfort because online&credit card allowed … Am I right?
(We have 2 passengers)
2. We have a plan to go to Hakone from Shinagawa too but prefer the cheaper way so we’ll try the JR Tokaido Main Line for Odawara (or Atami).
The question is “What kind of this train’s seats ? Is it a local train? (Like Yamanote)
Thank you
Hi Korn,
1. I did not know this deal. It is cheaper than Platt Kodama as you think.
2. Most of Tokaido line local train have almost same seat layout as Yamanote line. If you add 980 yen (780 yen on weekend and holidays), you can take a green seat.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/jr-train-seat-guide-worthwhile-buying-green-ordinary.html#Green_class_seat_on_the_ordinary_train
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for your quick response.
No worries, Korn.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello, we are travelling as 2 families with children, total 10 people to Japan in Jul-19. We would like to purchase Platt Kodama tickets from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo. Does everybody have to go to Shin-Osaka station to purchase the tickets? Or it is OK to have 1 person to go to the station to purchase. Thanks and regards, Chien
Hi Liang,
Only one person of your group is okay.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for your quick response. One last question, do I need to bring all the 10 passports of the passengers along to JR Tokai Tours office when purchasing the tickets?
Hi Liang,
Usually the name will be on the ticket. So I recommend you to bring all passports to show all passengers’ name.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, my friend and I are planning to use travel with Platt kodama from Osaka to Chureito Pagoda this end of Oct. We have rented an accommodation there, which station would be the best for transit?
Hi L,
You should go to Tokyo and take a bus to Kawaguchiko. Mishima is the nearest station to get Fuji. But as long as you use Platt Kodama, Tokyo is the nearest option. You cannot get off at Mishima by Platt Kodama.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-fuji-area-various-sample-itineraries-of-fuji-five-lakes-and-5th-station.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks for the suggestion! Actually our rented accommodation is at Fujiyoshida, a few mins walk away from Fujisan Station, there are buses going to there right?
Hi L,
Some buses skip Mt. Fuji station (Fujisan station). Please see the link below to find the timetable of the bus.
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/1
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi,
I went on the Japanese site to look for seats on my desired date (May 5, 2019), but there were none available. Would they similarly be sold out if I went directly to the office to buy it when I arrive in Japan on May 1?
Hi Sheryl,
Unfortunately even if you go to the office, it is same. It is booked out because of Golden Week. It is the busiest period.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
thank you so much for this article. I found it very helpful for traveler on a budget like myself.
I have plan to travel from Osaka to Tokyo by shinkansen. We are a group of 10 people, so this Kodama plan with its wonderful pricing is very attractive for us 🙂
Can I just confirm that I can not buy the ticket for Kodama online? and that I can only purchase it at the JR Tokai Tours ticketing office in Shin-Osaka station?
Thank you!
Hi Monna,
Unfortunately online is available in Japanese only.
JR Tokai Tours is only place to buy this deal in Shin-Osaka. JR Tokai Tours is not a ticketing office but the travel agent. In Shin-Osaka station, there are several ticketing offices and windows. Please do not mix up.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you!
What is the chance in getting tickets when we buy 5 days in advance? Will the train be mostly occupied on monday morning?
Hi Monna,
Usually it’s not hard to purchase it. But if you travel in the peak period, it may be hard to buy. Please see the link below to find the peak period:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/2019-busiest-period-to-travel-by-train-tips-to-book-your-seat-in-even-during-the-busy-period.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, I’ll be travelling from Osaka to Tokyo on 5/6 May. May I confirm the total travelling time? Thanks
Hi Kelly,
The fastest train “Nozomi” takes you from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo in 2.5 hours.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello.im just wondering if this work for osaka to tokyo too?or its only tokyo to osaka?
Hi Ahmad,
You can use it for either ways.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for the reply. Im just wondering too if the seating will be random. Like I’m going with my girlfriend, will there be possibility of being separated?
Hi Ahmad,
Usually not. You will be told by the staff if the seat will be separated before you purchase it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com