Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
JR Pass is not worth it for a Tokyo–Kyoto round trip
Individual tickets ¥28,340 vs 7-day pass ¥50,000 — you lose ¥21,660
The fastest trains on this route are Nozomi. A Japan Rail Pass does not cover Nozomi and Mizuho outright — pass holders have to pay an extra charge to ride them, or take a slower Hikari, Sakura or Kodama service instead. Factor that in before assuming the pass covers your journey.
Buy single tickets — skip the pass
For this route the pass costs more than the tickets. Book the individual leg instead.
What makes up the ¥14,170 fare
| Base fare (unkin) | ¥8,360 |
|---|---|
| Reserved seat limited express charge | ¥5,810 |
| Non-reserved limited express charge | ¥4,960 |
| Green Car charge | ¥10,680 |
| Total (reserved seat) | ¥14,170 |
A shinkansen ticket is always two parts: the base fare for the distance, plus a limited express charge for the train itself. Prices shown are for one adult, one way.
Planning more than this one trip?
The pass only starts to pay off once your total fares pass ¥50,000. Add every leg of your itinerary in the JR Pass calculator to see where you land.
Other routes
Common questions
Do I need to reserve a seat on the shinkansen?
It depends on the line and the date. Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains normally carry non-reserved cars, so you can usually board without booking. There is an important exception: during Golden Week, Obon and the year-end and New Year period, every seat on Nozomi services is reserved and there are no non-reserved cars at all. Tohoku and Hokuriku services such as Hayabusa, Komachi and Kagayaki are fully reserved all year round and cannot be boarded without a seat reservation.
Who can buy the Japan Rail Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass is sold to foreign visitors entering Japan on a Temporary Visitor entry status. You exchange the voucher for the physical pass after you arrive.
Is the JR Pass still worth buying?
Often not. The price rose sharply in October 2023, and for the most common first-time itineraries — Tokyo to Kyoto and back, or the Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka loop — buying individual tickets is cheaper. The pass starts paying off on long multi-city trips such as Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima–Fukuoka. Use the calculator on this site with your actual route rather than assuming.