Originally Posted by
purdue1015
1) It appears that for this routing we will be using the Nozomi Line, Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen's. Is this correct?
1.5) Out of curiosity it appears there is a name change from Tokaido to Sanyo (and back) on leg between Kyoto and Hiroshima. Why? Just curious. All appears to be in JR West.
2) Looking at the map provided in the link above, it appears that this trip spans JR East, JR Central, and JR West...even if just a bit in JR East. Is this correct?
1) Nozomi is the category of train. It is one of several services that operates on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. Shinkansen means "New trunk line."
1.5) Tokaido is the line from Tokyo to Shin Osaka. It is operated by JR Central.
Sanyo is the name of the line from Shin Osaka to Hakata (Fukuoka). It is operated by JR West.
2) Your trip spans the regions of those three rail companies, but once you pass through the Tokaido Shinkansen gates at Tokyo station, you are on JR Central's turf. Think of it as West Berlin - An island of JR Central surrounded by the East, with one line in or out.