Originally Posted by
RichardInSF
In addition, you cannot reserve tickets on this shinkansen from outside of Japan. So it's a moot point.
There are Nozomi trains roughly every ten minutes. It is the JR-pass eligible Hikari train that runs every 30 minutes (note that the Hikari is slower simply because it stops a few times for 3-4 minutes at stations to let Nozomi trains pass, when it is running, it goes at the same speed).
Surprised no one has mentioned what is a usual refrain in this forum: if this is your first trip, why are you making Osaka instead of Kyoto your base in the south? Kyoto is far more interesting touristically.
Thanks to everyone for the info on the trains! Seems like I shouldn't have a problem getting tickets upon arrival which is good news for me as I am swamped at work prior to our departure.
After Hiroshima we are headed to Kyoto (where I still need to find a place to stay) for 3 nights and intend to use the 4th day to see Osaka before flying out on an overnight flight back to Singapore from KIX.