The 500 Series: Riding Japan's Jet-Fighter Shinkansen

With its long needle nose and cockpit-style windscreen, the 500 Series is one of Japan's most recognisable trains. In 1997, the 500 Series became the first train in Japan to run Nozomi services at 300 km/h in regular service, and it remains a rail-fan favourite. You can still ride it on Sanyo Kodama services, though not for much longer. Find out more in our latest JRPass guide. 

Special update: You can now buy single rail tickets for Japan’s Golden Route on JRPass.com - single fares, one-way, fully digital, including the Shinkansen 'bullet' train. 

Quick Answer — What Is the 500 Series?

The 500 Series Shinkansen is the jet-like 1990s bullet train built for JR West that once ran Nozomi services at 300 km/h between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Since December 2008, the 500 Series has run Kodama stopping services on the Sanyo line, fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. JR West has announced that regular services end on 13 January 2027, with special runs until around July 2027.

The Design That Broke the Mould

The 500 Series looks like a jet fighter because it was shaped like one. German industrial designer Alexander Neumeister oversaw the design concept, and nothing on the Shinkansen network had looked like it before.

Several features give it that aircraft look:

• A round body: The near-circular cross-section resembles an aircraft fuselage more than earlier flat-sided Shinkansen.
• An extended nose: Each end car is 27 metres long, two metres longer than the middle cars, with much of that length in the tapered front.
• A cockpit-style cab: The driver sits under a bubble-shaped window set far back along the nose, which inspired the "jet fighter Shinkansen" nickname.

The shape also solved a real problem. A train entering a tunnel at speed pushes a pressure wave ahead of it, and reducing that tunnel boom explains why Shinkansen noses grew longer and sharper. The nose is widely credited with taking inspiration from the kingfisher's beak, and the train won the Japan Railfan Club's Blue Ribbon Award in 1998.

Glory Days

The 500 Series made history in March 1997 as Japan's first train to run at 300 km/h in regular passenger service, between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. At its debut, it ranked among the world's fastest trains in regular commercial operation, and its average speed between Hiroshima and Kokura earned a Guinness World Records entry.

From November 1997, it also ran on the Tokaido Shinkansen at up to 270 km/h, linking Tokyo and Hakata in as little as 4 hours 49 minutes. Only nine 16-car sets were built, at an estimated ¥5 billion each.

Why It Left the Spotlight

The 500 Series left Nozomi duty because it didn't fit a standardised fleet, not because anything was wrong with it. Its round body and long nose cost space, and the railways wanted interchangeable trains.

Three practical issues stood out:

• Seats and doors: The long end cars had fewer seats and one door per side, so layouts didn't match the 300 and 700 Series during disruptions.
• Cabin space: The curved body made the interior feel narrower, especially in window seats.
• Cost: With so few sets built, it was an expensive fleet to keep separate.

By 2007, newer Shinkansen types such as the N700 could also reach 300 km/h using the standard layout. The last 500 Series Nozomi ran on 28 February 2010. Between 2008 and December 2010, eight of the nine sets were shortened to eight cars, capped at 285 km/h and moved to Sanyo Kodama duty, replacing the ageing 0 Series. JR West is now replacing them with shortened N700 sets, citing the trains' age.

Riding It Today

You can still ride the 500 Series until regular services end on 13 January 2027. It runs Kodama stopping services on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, and cars 1-3, 7 and 8 are usually non-reserved, so pass holders can simply board.

The Kodama stops at every station, so for pass holders the differences between Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama services mostly come down to speed and coverage. 

In western Japan, the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass covers the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata (7 days, US$153). Travellers without a pass can book single Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka online, from around US$95, then join a westbound Kodama.

Here is what to expect on board:

• Kids' cockpit: Car 8, at the Shin-Osaka end, has a mock driver's cab for children.
• Seating: Non-reserved cars use 3+2 seating, while reserved cars 4 to 6 have roomier 2+2 seats.
• Speed: On Kodama duty, the 500 Series tops out at 285 km/h.

The fleet is shrinking. Set V4 made its last run on 30 August 2026, and not every Kodama uses a 500 Series, so check the assigned train type before you travel. JR West's farewell site for the 500 Series and Doctor Yellow (in Japanese) lists special tours, which are typically sold separately from the pass.

The Hello Kitty Chapter

The Hello Kitty years were the most playful chapter in the 500 Series story. They turned a record-breaking speed machine into a train that families went out of their way to ride. From 30 June 2018 to 17 May 2026, set V2 ran Sanyo Kodama services in pink and white with bow motifs, and it carried about one million passengers.

The fun carried on inside. Car 1 swapped its seats for a Hello Kitty shop, and car 2 had a photo spot, so a ride felt like a day out in itself.

It wasn't V2's first pop-culture costume. From 2015 to 2018, it ran as the "500 Type Eva", a tie-in with the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. Together, those two liveries made the 500 Series a pop-culture icon as well as an engineering one.

A Pilgrimage for Rail Fans

The 500 Series draws dedicated fans with its record-breaking past, futuristic design, and firm end date. Japan's rail photographers, known as tori-tetsu, have made its final months a popular pilgrimage. These tips help you join them:

• Pick busy stations: Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Hakata see plenty of traffic between 500 Series appearances.
• Try the smaller stops: Kodama trains often wait there for faster trains to pass, giving you unhurried time for photos.
• Look for the farewell logo: Since July 2026, some sets carry a "Thank You Since 1997" logo on cars 1 and 7.
• Mind platform etiquette: Stay behind the yellow line, and skip tripods on crowded platforms.

For an overnight stay, Hiroshima and Okayama are two of the easiest places to stay in the Chūgoku region, since the Hotel Granvia in each city connects directly to the station.

Once the last trains run, the pilgrimage moves to the Kyoto Railway Museum, (pictured below) where the original lead car is displayed alongside the first 0 Series Shinkansen. It's a 2-minute walk from Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station, and adult admission is ¥1,500.

FAQs

Take a look at these answers to some common questions travellers planning a 500 Series ride usually ask.

Q: Can you still ride the 500 Series?
A: Yes, until 13 January 2027 on Sanyo Kodama services, though not every Kodama uses one.

Q: Why is the 500 Series famous?
A: Its jet-like design and Japan's first 300 km/h service made it a fan favourite.

Q: Is it covered by the JR Pass?
A: Yes, 500 Series Kodama services are fully covered with no extra fare.

Q: Why was the 500 Series retired from Nozomi service?
A: It left Nozomi duty in 2010 for capacity and fleet standardisation reasons, not because of any failure.

Q: Do you need a reserved seat on the 500 Series?
A: No. Cars 1-3, 7 and 8 are usually non-reserved.

Q: When will the 500 Series be fully retired?
A: JR West plans full retirement around July 2027, after special runs.

Q: Is the Hello Kitty Shinkansen still running?
A: No, it made its final run on 17 May 2026.

Q: Which car has the children's cockpit?
A: Car 8, at the Shin-Osaka end of the train.

Q: How fast does the 500 Series go on Kodama services?
A: It is limited to 285 km/h, down from 300 km/h on Nozomi duty.

Q: Where can you see a 500 Series after it retires?
A: The original lead car of the first set is displayed at the Kyoto Railway Museum.