Nozomi seat classes/quality

If you plan to ride bullet train(＝shinkansen=新幹線), you can't ride Nozomi by Japan Rail Pass.

Cool running!　
良い旅を！

Yes, I know that. I'm pricing out the difference between using a Nozomi for that leg, JR for the rest via individual tickets vs. a JR pass.

Hi there,

The Nozomi trains are basically the same as Hikari trains, the only difference is that Hikari trains make a couple more stops on the way.

I am quite tall myself and never had a problem in ordinary class but the extra space in Green Class is very nice. The real reason to consider going green is that a lot less people travel green givings you a much more relaxed journey.

Thanks Daniel-san. Do you think it's worth more doing a Nozomi on a Saturday evening to Osaka in regular class or taking a Hikari with a green seat? I see it's about 30 mins longer with the Hikari.

Before I can answer this, could you tell me why you would consider a Hikari Green versus a Nozomi Normal?

Comfort vs. speed basically :)

but why not either just Nozomi Green or Hikari normal, that would make sense when you talk about comfort plus speed vs price :)

It relates to my other question about doing individual tickets vs. a JR green pass. If I do a Nozomi green, it's about $100 USD more doing individual tickets. If I do Nozomi regular but green for everything else, it's about the same as a JR green pass.

I see, thank you. Got a bit confused as normally it would not really make sense but now it does.

It guess that it would depend on where else you could use a Green Pass for. What time do you think that you'll be traveling in the evening?

I get into Narita from Los Angeles around 4PM. I assume it will take a couple of hours to get through customs so I was looking at 6PM departure from Narita on Hyperdia. I would need a green ticket for Osaka-Kyoto and then Kyoto to Shinjuki-JR as then I will be traveling with a friend who will have a JR green pass.

I guess that both options would work. Note that the last train connection possible with the JR Pass (Narita Express + Hikari) departs Narita around 18:45 and there are still a couple Nozomies after that, so going for a Nozomi train may be a safer option in case of plane delays or if customs decides to have you in for a chat.

Then again going for a 7 day JR Green Pass for a Green return is also nice.

Looking at numbers it would be 37,800 yen for a Green Pass vs Osaka - Shinjuku ¥ 18,690 (green) + Narita Airport - Osaka (Narita express + Nozomi ordinary) ¥ 16,150 = ¥ 34,540.

PS for Osaka - Kyoto I would recommend just using the Shinkaisoku also known as JR Special Service, it runs quickly and directly between Osaka and Kyoto in 29 minutes and only 540yen, while you'd first have to travel to Shin-Osaka for the Shinkansen and travel from there to Kyoto.

OK that's great info to have, arigato! One more thing re: Nozomi, do you think at that time the trains will be relatively empty or is that still considered a peak time?

Weekends are always more busy on the Shinkansen then say a normal working day. People use them to travel around the country instead of commuting and I would not be surprised to see a relatively full train on a Saturday evening.

OK but I can reserve a seat on the Nozomi right? Thanks again for all of this extremely valuable info!

Yes I don't think that should be a problem at all. Happy to help :)