Actually more like 6-9 Nozomi's an hour in each direction between Tokyo and shin-Osaka, plus 2 Hikari's and 1 Kodama, from about 6 am through to 9pm.

Thanks for all the info. I tried the Nozomi in economy from Shinagawa to Kyoto, and the Green Car on the way back with the new 700 train. It was very nice, but overall pretty much the same as the TGV that I take very often in France. Actually one thing I don't like is the footrest on the green car. I wished I could have removed it somehow as it got in my way most of the trip.

We recently completed our RTW trip including 10 days in Japan, and I just wanted to thank you all again...RichardinSF, railroadtycoon, jib7 1 and everyone else, for such great advice on Japan and on the trains.

Everything went perfectly. You folks are great - thanks so very much.

Here is our trip report on our whole RTW, with photo links including to Park Suite & Grand Suite in Tokyo.

See this thread . . . Right Here

Glad you had a good trip and that the advice was helpful. It's always nice to get a little positive feedback.

JR

Cost of Shinkansen ticket? - fare + seat price?
 

Hello,

I have a question regarding Shinkansen ticket prices.

According to the JR website and fare schedule, the "fare" price for the ticket from Kyoto to Tokyo is approx 8000 yen. But, there seems to also be a "seat fee" of about 4700 yen. What is this seat fee?! Isn't a seat already included in my 8000 yen? I don't mind if it's unreserved, but I don't understand why there is a "fare" + "seat fee". Can someone please explain this? Thank you.

The seat fee is not a good translation especially on hyperdia.

It is really a "limited express/super express fee" that is charged on top of the "base fare" whenever you ride a JR Limited Express or Shinkansen train.
For example if you were to take regular local or rapid trains (which requires many transfers and about 9 or so hours of travel) then a base fare is only paid. But if you took the Shinkansen then you pay an additional express charge on top.

The cost from Tokyo to Kyoto (total) is 12,710 by unreserved
and 13,200yen by reserved seat ordinary cars (on Hikari or Kodama) and 13,500yen for Nozomi Shinkansen.

So, what you're saying is that the "fare" is what the regular local or rapid trains would cost me? And, the "seat fee" is the additional amount paid for riding any Shinkansen?

It's actually a bit more complicated. The "fare" is based on distance and constructed using rules that allow stopovers in some circumstances. The "limited express/shinkansen" fee (you should think of it as that) is always charged on a segment by segment basis.

So if you buy a ticket that goes from Narita airport to Tokyo to Kyoto at one time, you will pay one "fare" for that ticket but two "limited express/shinkansen" fees -- one for the Narita Express and one for the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. The overall effect is that you will save a small amount (like Y200-300) over buying the tickets separately.

As it turns out there is also a reserved seat fee, usually Y500, on limited express/shinkansen trains. Most of these trains have a section that is designated as unreserved seating where the reserved seat fee need not be paid but you are also not guaranteed a seat.

Keeping things simple, yes.

So what is the cost from Tokyo-Kyoto green/reserved one way on Hikari/Kodama? I know you can't use the rail pass on Nozomi...it says if you do, you just pay the extra fare...does anyone know what that might be?

I'm not sure where you read that. However, JR's rail pass site states:

If you want to compare fares (say ordinary car vs. green car etc.), the Hyperdia web site is a great resource.

I must have read it incorrectly...I just looked, about $402 r/t...mind as well get the pass and make the most out of it.