For a very long time—ceaselessly, actually—one of many caveats of touring with a Japan Rail Move is that you’d be unable to take the 2 quickest trains alongside the Tokaido-Sanyo-Kyushu Shinkansen line: The Nozomi and the Mizuho. This was sadly, however not existentially so; most vacationers (myself included) simply accepted it as a reality of life.
Then, when it was introduced in October 2023 that cross costs could be going up (considerably), JR softened the blow. Move customers, they defined, would now be capable of entry Nozomi and Mizuho. For a small further price, they continued, in fantastic print, with out expounding additional.
If you happen to’re asking “can I journey Nozomi with JR Move?” the reply is now “sure,” however it’s probably not that easy. (Spoiler alert: The “small” further price isn’t truly that small.)
JR Move Costs Went Up in 2023—A Lot
For a lot of vacationers, all of the sudden with the ability to take Nozomi with JR Move appeared like a worthy commerce off for the steep improve in costs that simply went into impact. With new charges of ¥50,000, ¥80,000 and ¥100,000 for the 7-day, 14-day and 21-day passes, respectively, vacationers are all of the sudden spending as much as 67% more cash to obtain the identical product they did previous to October 1, 2023.
Sadly for these optimistic vacationers, all was (and is) not what it appears. Specifically, it isn’t merely a matter of paying a couple of hundred additional yen (which is the money completely different between the Hikari and the Nozomi; there is no such thing as a distinction in worth between the Sakura and the Mizuho) with a purpose to journey the quicker prepare. Strive a couple of thousand—every time you journey. Extra in that in only a second, nonetheless.
Take the Nozomi (or Mizuho) With JR Move
Buy and acquire your Japan Rail Move
This would possibly sound like a no brainer however…nicely, some individuals haven’t any brains. Earlier than accessing Nozomi or Mizuho with JR Move, you’ll truly must have a cross in your possession. If you happen to buy the cross on-line immediately from JR, you may full this course of with solely your order quantity and passport in hand.
Make Nozomi reservations
The following step to journey Nozomi with JR Move is to order a seat on one. Relying in your choice and in addition how you purchase the cross, you might be able to do that on-line. In any other case, you may go to a Reserved Seat Ticket Machine, press the “Japan Rail Move” button and comply with the prompts.
Purchase a “particular” Nozomi ticket
Sounds simple, huh? Properly, it could be simple, however it isn’t low-cost. To be able to truly board the Nozomi or Mizuho with out getting kicked off, you’ll must pay a supplemental cost. These charges aren’t low-cost, costing ¥4,960 from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka and a whopping ¥8,140 in the event you go all the way in which to Hakata.
Board the prepare as regular
Your pockets a bit lighter, you may board Nozomi or Mizuho with JR Move simply as you’ll in the event you had bought the ticket outright. Whereas it’s unlikely that employees onboard will verify to ensure you’ve paid the complement, I’d suggest holding it in your individual simply in case.
Query your determination
Whilst you might find yourself saving over an hour in the event you’re sure for Hiroshima or Hakata from Tokyo, I simply don’t really feel that is price spending as a lot as ¥8,140, even when that’s solely about 50 USD at present alternate charges. Personally, I’d moderately take the Hikari and purchase a bento with the cash I save!
Is Nozomi Shinkansen Definitely worth the Further Charge? Is Mizuho?
As I discussed earlier, vacationers paying with money must spend only some hundred additional yen with a purpose to journey the Nozomi (as a substitute of Hikari). Particularly, on a journey from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, the additional price is ¥320; there is no such thing as a additional price to journey the quicker Mizuho as a substitute of the slower Sakura. In different phrases, quite a bit lower than the 1000’s of yen wanted for Japan Rail Move holders making the identical upgrades.
For my part (holding in thoughts that I haven’t but sprung for a higher-priced Japan Rail Move in any respect), it’s probably not price it to journey Nozomi with JR Move. Given how excessive the price of the cross is now basically, I’ll most likely simply purchase my tickets outright shifting ahead. However, if I do ever occur to buy a cross once more, I’ll simply suck it up and journey Hikari/Sakura.
Different FAQ About Using Nozomi with a JR Move
Which cross covers Nozomi Shinkansen?
As of October 2023, all nationwide Japan Rail Passes can help you journey the super-fast Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen trains. Nonetheless, these require a comparatively steep further fee for every journey, which you will or might not resolve is price the additional expense.
How a lot quicker is Nozomi?
Nozomi trains don’t journey at quicker speeds than the Hikari, however they do cease at fewer stations, resulting in a shorter journey time. On the Tokyo to Shin-Osaka journey, the Nozomi can take as little as 2 hours, 22 minutes, whereas the quickest Hikari takes almost three hours.
Is Nozomi costlier than Hikari?
When paying for prepare tickets outright, the Shinkansen Nozomi prices only some hundred extra yen than the slower Hikari. Japan Rail Move holders, nonetheless, must pay a number of thousand extra yen to make use of Nozomi, additional degrading the already diminished worth product of the post-2023 JR Move product basically.
The Backside Line
Can I journey Nozomi with JR Move? Sure, however you won’t need to. Once you issue within the elevated worth of the passes as of late 2023 and the “small further price” that isn’t truly that small, you’re higher off both A) Skipping the Japan Rail Move and shopping for Shinkansen tickets outright or B) Spending a bit longer in transit on the Hikari (or, in the event you’re touring in western Japan and opting out of the Mizuho, on the Sakura). The JR Move would possibly now not be use of your cash, however you realize what’s? A customized Japan itinerary. Rent me to create one for you, and journey round Japan with out stress or uncertainty.