Nozomi (train)

Nozomi (Japanese: のぞみ; "Wish" or "Hope") is the fastest train service operating on Japan's Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines. Nozomi services reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata. The fastest Nozomi service covers the 515-kilometre (320 mi) journey between Tokyo and Osaka in 2 hours 21 minutes, while the fastest Tokyo–Hakata service takes 4 hours 45 minutes. As of 2025, 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. On the San'yō Shinkansen, all trains stop at Shin-Kōbe, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Kokura plus at least one random intermediate stop between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata. Foreign tourists traveling with a Japan Rail Pass are required to purchase a special ticket to use the Nozomi service.