If you’re planning to travel through western Japan and stop off at historic cities like Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka, it’s likely that you’ll use the popular Sanyo Shinkansen line at some point.
On this page, you can find out about the stations the Sanyo Shinkansen services, which trains cover the route, and how to travel on the line with your Japan Rail Pass and regional JR Passes,
Table of Contents
Taking the Sanyo Shinkansen
The Sanyo Shinkansen Line is a bullet train service that connects Osaka and Fukuoka, two cities on Japan’s third largest island, Kyushu.
The Sanyo Shinkansen is important to Japan’s rail history – it was the second line to be built, completed in 1975, as an extension of the Tokaido Shinkansen.
These bullet trains have revolutionized travel in Japan with their ability to zip from city to city at speeds of 300 km/h (185 miles per hour).
Unlimited access to transportation across Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days on:
- All Shinkansen trains
- Rapid and Local JR trains
- JR bus and ferry services
- Airport Transfers
A single ticket, huge savings.
Sanyo Shinkansen Route Map
Sanyo Shinkansen Stations
The Sanyo Shinkansen Line runs between Shin-Osaka Station and Hakata Station in Fukuoka.
| Station | Transfers | Prefecture |
| Shin Osaka Station | Tokaido Shinkansen, JR Kyoto Line, Osaka Higashi Line, Midosuji Line. | Osaka |
| Shin-Kobe Station | Hokushin Line, Seishin-Yamate Line. | Kobe |
| Nishi-Akashi Station | JR Kobe Line. | Hyōgo |
| Himeji Station | JR Kobe Line, Sanyo Main Line, Bantan Line, Kishin Line, Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line. | Hyōgo |
| Aioi Station | Sanyo Main Line, Ako Line. | Hyōgo |
| Okayama Station | Sanyo Main Line, Uno Line, Hakubi Line, Tsuyama Line, Kibi Line, Okayama Electric Tramway. | Okayama |
| Shin-Kurashiki Station | Sanyo Main Line. | Okayama |
| Fukuyama Station | Sanyo Main Line, Fukuen Line. | Hiroshima |
| Shin-Onomichi Station | Hiroshima | |
| Mihara Station | Sanyo Main Line, Kure Line. | Hiroshima |
| Higashi-Hiroshima Station | Hiroshima | |
| Hiroshima Station | Sanyo Main Line, Geibi Line, Kabe Line, Kure Line, Hiroshima Electric Railway Main Line. | Hiroshima |
| Shin-Iwakuni Station | Nishikigawa Seiryu Line | Yamaguchi |
| Tokuyama Station | Sanyo Main Line, Gantoku Line. | Yamaguchi |
| Shin-Yamaguchi Station | Sanyo Main Line, Yamaguchi Line, Ube Line. | Yamaguchi |
| Asa Station | Sanyo Main Line, Mine Line. | Yamaguchi |
| Shin-Shimonoseki Station | Sanyo Main Line. | Yamaguchi |
| Kokura Station | Kagoshima Main Line, Nippo Main Line, Hita-Hikosan Line, Kitakyushu Monorail. | Kitakyūshū |
| Hakata Station | Kyushu Shinkansen, Hakata-Minami Line, Sasaguri Line, Fukuoka Subway Airport Line. | Fukuoka |
Train Services
Five different types of train categories operate on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line:
Sakura Shinkansen
Sakura trains likewise connect to the Kyushu Shinkansen Line, stopping at additional stations along the way.
Hikari Shinkansen
Hikari trains run once per hour, serving the stations between Shin-Osaka and Okayama. The Hikari trains also provide a connection to Tokyo. This route is often called the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line.
Kodama Shinkansen
Kodama trains stop at all stations along the route, and are therefore slower than other options. A trip along the Sanyo Shinkansen Line via Kodama takes around five hours.
Nozomi Shinkansen
Nozomi trains are fast, stopping only at select stations along the route. In fact, the Nozomi trains typically complete the course of the Sanyo Shinkansen Line in about 2.5 hours.
Nozomi trains depart 3 or more times per hour. They also provide through service to the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.
Mizuho Shinkansen
Mizuho trains make about 6 round trips per day, typically in the morning and evening. These trains stop only at select stations along the route. The Mizuho trains provide through service to the Kyushu Shinkansen Line
Using the Japan Rail Pass
The Sanyo Shinkansen line is fully covered by the JR Pass on Sakura, Hikari and Kodama services. Fares for Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansens are not fully covered. JR Pass holders can ride these shinkansen services paying a supplemental fee.
You can activate your JR Pass for use by visiting one of the ticketing offices located at most major train stations.
All trains operating on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line offer both reserved and non-reserved seating. If you would like to make seat reservations, you may do so at a ticketing counter.
Unlimited access to transportation across Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days on:
- All Shinkansen trains
- Rapid and Local JR trains
- JR bus and ferry services
- Airport Transfers
A single ticket, huge savings.
Other JR Passes that Cover the Sanyo Shinkansen
In addition to the national JR Pass, there are several regional JR pass that cover the Sanyo Shinkansen:
- Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass – Partial coverage between Mihara in Hiroshima Prefecture and Hataka Station in Fukuoka, ride on Nozomi, Mizuho, Sakura, or Kodama trains
- Kansai Wide Area Pass – Include travel on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama, rides on all train types
- Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass – Include travel on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama, rides on all train types
- Kansai Hiroshima Pass – Offers partial coverage on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, ride on all train types
- Sanyo San’in Area Pass – Full coverage between Shin-Osaka and Hakata Station, ride on all train types
- Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Pass – Full coverage between Shin-Osaka and Hakata Station, ride on all train types
Each pass also includes additional access to local and express trains in the relevant coverage area.
Cover Photo by Suichi Aizawa @Flickr