Can You Ride the Nozomi with a JR Pass? The NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket, Prices and When Hikari Is Better (2026)
With a plain Japan Rail Pass you can't board the Nozomi or the Mizuho, not even in the non-reserved cars. Since October 2023, though, pass holders can buy a special NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride. Tokyo to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka costs ¥4,960.
Whether it's worth paying depends on how much the time matters to you. The Hikari runs the same line and is fully covered; on Tokyo–Kyoto it took about 25 minutes longer in the timetable we sampled. We checked the official JR Pass pages on Nov 6, 2026.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. The NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket itself is sold only by JR, and we say so.
Why doesn't the JR Pass cover the Nozomi?
Nozomi and Mizuho are the fastest services on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, and the pass excludes them. The official site says the pass can't be used for any seat on these trains, reserved or non-reserved. They need the separate special ticket.
Every other Shinkansen is covered with no extra charge, including the Hikari and Kodama on the same line, the Sakura on the Kyushu Shinkansen, and the Hayabusa and Kagayaki in eastern Japan.
japanrailpass.net "Use of NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains": the [ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket, bought "each time you use" a Nozomi or Mizuho. Prices: Tokyo–Nagoya ¥4,180, Tokyo–Kyoto ¥4,960, Tokyo–Shin-Osaka ¥4,960, Tokyo–Hiroshima ¥6,500, Shin-Osaka–Hakata ¥4,960, Hakata–Kagoshima-Chuo ¥5,150.
The same price applies to Green, reserved and non-reserved. Only Green Pass holders can buy the Green version.
How much is the Nozomi supplement?
Tickets for children are also sold. Child prices and all sections are in the official price PDF linked from the JR Pass site.
How to buy the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket
- Go to a JR reserved-seat ticket machine or ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi or Travel Service Center). The official page lists only these places in Japan; it doesn't list an online option.
- Show or scan your JR Pass and choose the Nozomi or Mizuho you want, with the section and seat type.
- Pay for the ticket. You can buy it from one month before boarding until the day itself, and only for days inside your pass's valid period.
- At the gate, use the pass and the ticket together. The Nozomi ticket alone won't open the automatic gate. Insert the pass with it.Checking trains and seats on the go needs mobile data. A Japan eSIM is the simple option.Compare Japan eSIMs on Klook ↗
Seats are limited, so tickets can run out even when a train looks like it has space. During peak periods, every Nozomi seat is reserved.
Is it worth paying, or should you take the Hikari?
Hikari
Reserved seats are free with the pass. Check the timetable for a Hikari at the time you want.
Nozomi
The fastest service on the line. You pay the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket on every ride.
Our view: for one or two long rides, take the Hikari; saving about 25 minutes isn't worth ¥4,960. Pay for the Nozomi when the Hikari you need is full, when you're connecting to a tight onward plan, or when there's no Hikari at the time you need.
If your trip is mostly Nozomi rides, run the numbers: two Tokyo–Osaka supplements are almost ¥10,000 on top of the pass. Compare in the JR Pass calculator →
Changes, refunds and other rules
- Reserved and Green tickets can be changed once, to the same type, before the train leaves.
- Non-reserved tickets can be moved once to another day within the pass's validity.
- Refunds before departure: ¥340 fee (reserved or Green), ¥220 (non-reserved). No refund after you start the journey.
- Lost tickets aren't refunded, even if found later.
- If a train can't run, you can claim up to the ticket price within one year.
Are Nozomi prices going up?
Regular Nozomi and Mizuho fares rise for tickets bought from July 1, 2027 (Tokyo–Shin-Osaka from ¥14,720 to ¥15,420). When we checked on Nov 7, 2026, the JR Pass site said nothing about whether the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for pass holders changes too.
The pass itself is ¥50,000 for 7 days on the official site, and ¥53,000 at agencies for purchases from Oct 1, 2026. The official price is held "for a limited time".
No pass? Booking the Nozomi directly
smartEX
JR Central's booking service for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Tokyo–Kyoto on the Nozomi is ¥13,970 there, against ¥14,170 for a regular ticket.
Shinkansen e-tickets
Handy if you'd rather book in English with an agency. Check whether the official price is lower first.
Affiliate linkJR Pass
Worth it for longer loops. Buy on the official site for the lower price.
Affiliate linkBefore you reserve
Pick the Hikari when it fits your day; buy the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket when it doesn't. Either way, book the seat with your pass first. How to reserve seats with the JR Pass →
Affiliate link on the second button.