The Sanyo Shinkansen for Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka

The Sanyo Shinkansen is a high-speed “bullet train” railway line operated by JR West between Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka and Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Kyushu. On the way it makes stops at major cities in western Japan such as Kobe, Himeji, and Hiroshima.

The Kobe terminus for the Sanyo Shinkansen is Shin-Kobe Station. Trains traveling west from Shin-Kobe Station can reach Himeji in 15 minutes, Hiroshima in 1 hour and 12 minutes, and Hakata in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Beyond Hakata Station some services continue on the Kyushu Shinkansen line reaching Kumamoto in 2 hours and 44 minutes and Kagoshima in 3 hours and 28 minutes.

Trains traveling east from Shin-Kobe can reach Shin-Osaka Station in 12 minutes. Beyond Shin-Osaka many eastbound services continue on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, reaching Nagoya in 64 minutes, Shin-Yokohama in 2 hours and 29 minutes, and Tokyo in 2 hours and 47 minutes.

At Shin-Kobe Station westbound trains depart from Platform 1 and eastbound trains depart from Platform 2. Japan Rail Pass holders should note that although most Shinkansen services are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, the Nozomi and Mizuho services are not covered and will require a surcharge.

Train Services

There are 5 different trains running on the Sanyo Shinkansen line: the Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho and Sakura. The Nozomi is the fastest and most frequent train service and it stops at only the largest stations on the route. However, this train is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. If you wish to use the Japan Rail Pass, your best choice is the Hikari, which is the next fastest train. The Kodama is also covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but is the slowest service as it stops at every station on the way.

The Mizuho and Sakura trains offer a through service from the Sanyo Shinkansen line, through Hakata and onward to Kumamoto and Kagoshima via the Kyushu Shinkansen line. Of these two trains the Sakura is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but the Mizuho is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

For most Shinkansen lines reserved seat ticket prices are variable according to the season. The standard reserved ticket charge for most Shinkansen lines is an extra 530 yen on top of the non-reserved ticket price. However, in off-peak periods a reserved ticket charge is just 330 yen, and in peak periods it can go up to 730 yen. Reserved ticket prices also vary according to the service and the section of the network that is covered. Generally speaking reserved tickets for the faster Nozomi and Mizuho services are a little more expensive.

Westbound Destinations

There are 18 stations between Shin-Kobe and Hakata.

Shin-Kobe Station – Nishi-Akashi – Himeji – Aioi – Okayama – Shin-Kurashiki – Fukuyama – Shin-Onomichi – Mihara – Higashi-Hiroshima – Hiroshima – Shin-Iwakuni – Tokuyama – Shin-Yamaguchi – Asa – Shin-Shimonoseki – Kokura – Hakata

The key destinations are listed below with non-reserved fares given from Shin-Kobe Station.

Shin-Kobe Station

Shin-Kobe Station serves the city of Kobe, the capital city of Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe is a friendly port city which is well-known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere. Its main attractions are Chinatown (also called Nankinmachi), Kobe Harborland, Meriken Park, Oji Zoo, Mount Rokko, and the Ijinkan, an area of foreign houses built in the 19th century. Shin-Kobe Station is especially convenient for the Shin-Kobe Ropeway which takes cable cars up to the Nunobiki Herb Garden on Mount Rokko. A famous series of waterfalls called the Nunobiki Falls can be reached from Shin-Kobe Station via a 20 minute woodland hike.

Transfer here to the Seishin-Yamate Subway Line for fast services into central Kobe. Passengers who wish to visit the hot spring resort town of Arima Onsen should transfer to the Hokushin Subway Line and transfer at Tanigami Station to the Shintetsu Arima Line.

Himeji Station

Himeji’s most famous attraction is Himeji Castle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle is one of only 12 original medieval castles to have survived the last World War, and is nicknamed “White Heron Castle” because of its spectacular white walls. Other attractions in Himeji are the Kokoen Garden and the expansive mountain temple of Shoshazan Engyoji.

Okayama Station

Exit here for Okayama Castle and the Korakuen Garden. Passengers who wish to visit the popular sightseeing destination of Kurashiki should transfer here to a local train on the Sanyo Main Line. Kurashiki is just 16 minutes from Okayama Station and features beautifully preserved traditional buildings, canal views and the Ohara Art Museum.

Transfers can also be made here to the Uno Line, Tsuyama Line, and Kibi Line.

Hiroshima Station

This is the main station for Hiroshima, the capital city of Hiroshima Prefecture. The city’s history dates back to its establishment as a castle town in 1589. However, today the city is best known as the site of world’s first nuclear bombing. Locations that commemorate this tragic event are the Genbaku Atomic Dome, Hiroshima Peace Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Other sites of interest include Hiroshima Castle, the Shukkeien Garden and Hiroshima Art Museum. Hiroshima is also a good base from which to travel to Miyajima Island (also known as Itsukushima) with its famous sea-front shrine and giant torii gate, which at high tide is partially submerged in the sea.

Passengers who wish to visit Miyajima have two travel options from Hiroshima Station. The first is to transfer to the JR Sanyo Main Line and take a local train to Miyajimaguchi Station. It takes 28 minutes and costs 420 yen. The second way is to take a Hiroden tram on tramline #2 to Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station. The tram takes 69 minutes and costs 270 yen. Both of these stations are close to the ferry port which has regular services for the island. Other transfers can be made at Hiroshima Station to JR West’s Kabe Line, Kure Line, and Geibi Line.

Shin-Iwakuni Station

Shin-Iwakuni Station serves the city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The main attractions here are the mountaintop Iwakuni Castle which is reached by cable car, the elegant wooden arches of the 17th century Kintai bridge, cormorant fishing on the Nishiki River, and the white snake sanctuary in Kikko Park. These white snakes are found only in Iwakuni and are a designated national treasure.

Shin-Yamaguchi Station

This station serves the city of Yamaguchi, the capital city of Yamaguchi Prefecture. Yamaguchi’s best known attractions are the Zen garden of Joeji Temple, the contemporary Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church, and the five storied pagoda of Rurikoji Temple which dates from 1442 and is a registered National Treasure. Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum has a fine collection of oil paintings, sculptures, photography, and traditional Nihonga paintings, all by artists with a connection to Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Nihonga gallery is notable for having a tatami mat floor so that visitors can take their shoes off and sit on the floor just as they would in a traditional Japanese home. Passengers who wish to travel to either the historic samurai town of Hagi, or the limestone caves of the Akiyoshidai Plateau can reach them by bus services from Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

Kokura Station

Kokura Station is the main railway station of Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture. As the most northerly city of Kyushu it acts as a gateway between the islands of Kyushu and Honshu. Its best known attractions are Kokura Castle which is a 1950’s reconstruction containing a local history museum, and the waterfront Mojiko Retro district with its museums, cafes, galleries and antique buildings. Hourly buses run from Kokura Station to Kitakyushu Airport. There are also ferry services from Kitakyushu to major cities on the islands of Shikoku and Honshu as well as to South Korea.

Transfers can be made here to JR Kyushu’s Kagoshima Main Line, Nippo Main Line, and Hitahikosan Line. Transfers can also be made to the Kitakyushu Monorail.

Hakata Station

Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka is the final stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. Fukuoka is Kyushu’s largest city and Hakata Station is Kyushu’s largest and busiest station. The city’s major attractions are the hilltop Fukuoka Castle ruins, the Fukuoka Art Museum which displays both modern and pre-modern art, and Ohori Park which features a large pond, traditional gardens and is a nationally registered Place of Scenic Beauty.

Beyond Hakata only the through trains Sakura and Mizuho continue on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.

Kumamoto Station

The top attractions in the city of Kumamoto are Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Garden, and Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. Kumamoto is also a good base for visits to nearby Mount Aso and Aso Kuju National Park.

Kagoshima-Chuo Station

This is the southern terminus of the Kyushu Shinkansen line and an important railway station in the city of Kagoshima. Kagoshima is a scenic bayside city at the south western tip of Kyushu. The city has been nicknamed the “Naples of the East” because of its warm climate and its location across the bay from the active Sakurajima volcano. Ferries to Sakurajima are a 10 minute walk from Kagoshima-Chuo Station. Other attractions include the Sengan-en Garden, the Museum of the Meiji Restoration, and the Reimeikan museum.

Eastbound Services

Shin-Osaka Station is the only stop east of Shin-Kobe on the Sanyo Shinkansen. However, most eastbound trains are through services that continue on the Tokaido Shinkansen as far as Tokyo. There are 18 stations between Shin-Kobe and Tokyo.

Shin-Kobe – Shin-Osaka – Kyoto – Maibara – Gifu-Hashima – Nagoya – Mikawa-Anjo – Toyohashi – Hamamatsu – Kakegawa – Shizuoka – Shin-Fuji – Mishima – Atami – Odawara – Shin-Yokohama – Shinagawa – Tokyo

The key destinations are listed below with non-reserved fares given from Shin-Kobe Station.

Shin-Osaka Station

If you are travelling by shinkansen, Shin-Osaka Station is your gateway to the city of Osaka. Osaka’s top attractions include Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple (Japan’s oldest temple), Sumiyoshi Taisha (an ancient Shinto shrine founded in the year 211), the bright lights of the Dotonbori entertainment district, and the theme park at Universal Studies Japan (USJ).

At Shin-Osaka station passengers can connect with the Midosuji Subway Line, the JR Kyoto Line, and the JR Osaka Higashi Line.

Kyoto Station

Kyoto is one of Japan’s best preserved historical cities and is famous for its many traditional temples, shrines, palaces and gardens. Major tourist attractions in Kyoto include the Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, and the bamboo forest of Arashiyama are major tourist attractions. Kyoto is also well-known for its traditional cuisine and riverside dining, as well as its more modern architecture such as Kyoto Tower, and the Kyoto Station building.

Transfers can be made here to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line, the Karasuma Subway Line, and the following JR lines: the Biwako Line, the Sagano Line, and the Nara Line.

Nagoya Station

Nagoya is the largest city in central Japan and particularly famous for its unique local cuisine which includes tebasaki chicken wings and kishimen noodles. Popular tourist attractions include Nagoya Castle, the Tokugawa Art Museum, Tokugawa Garden, and Osu Kannon Temple.

Transfers can be made here to the following JR Central lines: the Tokaido Main Line, the Chuo Main Line, and Kansai Main Line. Transfer can also be made to the Aonami Line and Nagoya Subway’s Higashiyama Line and Sakuradori Line. Kintetsu Nagoya Station and Meitetsu Nagoya Station are also located on the south east side of Nagoya Station.

Shin-Yokohama Station

Shin-Yokohama Station is the Shinkansen terminus for Yokohama: a major port city located to the south of Tokyo. Yokohama’s top attractions include the observation deck in the Landmark Tower, the Minato Mirai seafront area, the historic western-style buildings of the Yamate district, the Sankeien Garden, and the Chinatown district with hundreds of Chinese restaurants.

Transfer here to Yokohama Municipal Subway’s Blue Line and the JR Yokohama Line.

Tokyo Station

Tokyo is Japan’s capital city and most populous metropolis. Popular attractions include the observation decks of Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower, Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple, the zoo, museums and cultural facilities of Ueno Park, the wooded shrine of Meiji Jingu, the gardens of Shinjuku Gyoen Park, the fashion boutiques of Harajuku and Omotesando, the nightlife of Roppongi and Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, and the bright lights of Shibuya Crossing.

Transfer at Tokyo Station to JR East’s Yamanote Line, Chuo Main Line, Sobu Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Keiyo Line, and Keihin-Tohoku Line. Transfers can also be made to the following bullet train services: the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Joetsu Shinkansen, the Yamagata Shinkansen, the Akita Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and the Hokkaido Shinkansen. Transfers can also be made here to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. Highway bus terminals can be found outside the station’s Yaesu Exit on the east side of the station.

The Tokyo Station Hotel designed with classic European decor, high-vaulted ceilings and expansive windows is located in the iconic Tokyo Station Building.

Useful Links

To plan your journey on the Sanyo Shinkansen use the JR West Timetable & Route Finder. Check the following links for detailed route maps of the Sanyo Shinkansen, Tokaido Shinkansen and a complete map of Japan’s Shinkansen high-speed train network.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.