is the fastest train service operating on Japan's Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines. Nozomi services reach speeds of up to between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata. The fastest Nozomi service covers the journey between Tokyo and Osaka in 2 hours 21 minutes, while the fastest Tokyo–Hakata service takes 4 hours 45 minutes. , services are operated primarily by the newest N700S series trainsets, with some N700A series sets also in use.
Compared with the limited-stop Hikari and local Kodama services, the express Nozomi trains stop only at major stations. On the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Nozomi services stop only at Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, and Kyōto between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka.
History
Wartime steam services
The Nozomi name was first used for long-distance express services operated between Busan in Japanese-occupied Korea and Mukden (now Shenyang) in the former Manchukuo (now China) from 1934. From 1938, the services were extended to run between Busan and Xinjing (now Changchun) in Manchukuo. The journey from Busan to Xinjing took over 29 hours, with an average speed of . The services were run down between 1943 and 1944. These adjustments were made in a bid to increase seat patronage and reduce the amount of standing passengers.
Stopping pattern
Legend
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! ●
| All trains stop
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! ▲
| Some trains stop
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! △
| Few trains stop
|}
Only basic Nozomi stopping patterns are shown. Additional Nozomi trains with differing stopping patterns are added during holiday and high-peak travel periods and are not included in this table. Some trains begin/terminate at Nagoya, Shin-Osaka, Nishi-Akashi, Himeji, Okayama, or Hiroshima.
{| class=wikitable
! Station
! Distance from<br><hr>km (mi)
! Stops
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|-
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|align=center|△
|-
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Rolling stock
Current rolling stock
- N700A series (July 2007 – present)
- N700S series (July 2020 – present)
<gallery>
File:N700-2000 series X50 Shin-Shimonoseki 20140901.jpg|N700A series, September 2014
File:Series-N700S-J2.jpg|N700S series, September 2021
</gallery>
Former rolling stock
- 300 series (March 1992 – October 2001)
- 500 series (March 1997 – February 2010)
- 700 series (March 1999 – March 2012)
<gallery>
File:Shinkansen 300kei J61.JPG|300 series, February 2011
File:Shinkansen 500 series W2 formation.jpg|500 series, June 2008
File:JR Central Shinkansen 700.jpg|700 series, January 2008
</gallery>
Formations
Current operations
As of March 2025, trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Hakata end, and car 16 at the Tokyo end. All seats are non-smoking.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car
! 1
! 2
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 3
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 4
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 5
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 6
! style="background:#DCEEFF" | 7
! style="background:#E6FFE6" | 8
! style="background:#E6FFE6" | 9
! style="background:#E6FFE6" | 10
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 11
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 12
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 13
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 14
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 15
! style="background:#FFF2E6" | 16
|-
! Class
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | Ordinary non-reserved
| colspan="4" style="background:#FFF2E6; text-align:center" | Ordinary reserved
| style="background:#DCEEFF; text-align:center" | S Work reserved
| colspan="3" style="background:#E6FFE6; text-align:center" | Green reserved
| colspan="6" style="background:#FFF2E6; text-align:center" | Ordinary reserved
|-
! Facilities
| Toilet
|
| style="background: #FFFAF5" | Toilet
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |
| style="background: #FFFAF5" | Toilet
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |
| style="background: #DCEEFF" | Toilet
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | Conductor's office
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | Toilet
| style="background: #F5FFF5" |
| style="background: #FFFAF5" | Toilet, wheelchair space, multi-purpose room
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |Toilet
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |Toilet
| style="background: #FFFAF5" |
|}
On N700A trains, power outlets are located at the window seats and car end seats on standard cars, and at each seat in Green cars. On N700S trains, power outlets are located at each seat.
The seventh car is designated as the S Work (Shinkansen Work) car, which is intended for business travelers. Unlike standard cars, where a quiet, library-like atmosphere is encouraged, the S Work car permits phone calls, video conferences, and laptop use. Passengers are asked to refrain from chatting with strangers in order to maintain a work-focused environment. Seats recline less than in other cars to provide additional usable tray-table space. Some seats are designated S Work P (Premium), in which the tray tables are angled toward the passenger to improve comfort when using a laptop and the middle seat is blocked, providing additional personal space, a privacy partition, and a beverage holder, as the angled tray tables are not suitable for holding drinks. The S Work car also offers WiFi that is faster, more secure and has no time limits.
In 2021, payphones were removed from cars 4, 9, 15 (previously present on N700A trains only) and car 12 (previously present on all trains). In March 2024, smoking rooms in cars 3, 7, 10, and 15 were deactivated on trains.
<gallery class="center">
File:Shinkansen N700 series Green seat.JPG|N700A series Green car interior
File:Shinkansen N700 series Standard-sized car seat.JPG|N700A series ordinary car interior
File:Tokaido Shinkansen N700S green car sheet.jpg|N700S series Green car interior
File:Series-N700S 743-27 Inside.jpg|N700S series ordinary car interior
</gallery>
See also
- List of named passenger trains of Japan
References
- JR Timetable, March 2008 issue