The Sanyo Shinkansen for Hakata, Hiroshima, Okayama, Kobe and Osaka

The Sanyo Shinkansen is a high-speed “bullet train” railway route that runs between Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka and Hakata Station in Fukuoka. The route of the Sanyo Shinkansen runs parallel to the southern coast of Western Honshu linking the major cities of the region before crossing the Kanmon Straits between the islands of Honshu and Kyushu via an undersea tunnel.

Eastbound Sanyo Shinkansen services from Hiroshima Station run to Okayama in 35 minutes, Himeji in 56 minutes, Shin-Kobe in 71 minutes, and Shin-Osaka in 87 minutes. Beyond Shin-Osaka through services continue on the Tokaido Shinkansen line to Kyoto, Nagoya, Shin-Yokohama and Tokyo.

Westbound Sanyo Shinkansen services from Hiroshima Station run to Shin-Iwakuni in 14 minutes, Shin-Yamaguchi in 31 minutes, Kokura in 48 minutes, and Hakata in 66 minutes. Beyond Hakata, through services continue on the Kyushu Shinkansen line to Kumamoto and Kagoshima.

Although the Japan Rail Pass covers services on the Sanyo Shinkansen line and other Shinkansen lines, a surcharge is required for the fastest Shinkansen services: the Nozomi and the Mizuho.

Train Services

There are 19 stations on the Sanyo Shinkansen, but most trains do not stop at every station. Five different train services run on the Sanyo Shinkansen, each one having a different pattern of stops. These five services are the Nozomi, the Mizuho, the Sakura, the Hikari and the Kodama.

The Nozomi is a through service that runs on both the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Tokaido Shinkansen. This is the fastest service as it stops only at major stations. It is also the most regular service with several Nozomi trains running each hour. Most eastbound Nozomi services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Tokyo but some terminate at Nagoya. All westbound Nozomi services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Hakata. Holders of the Japan Rail Pass have to buy an extra ticket to ride the Nozomi.

The Hikari is a service that runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen, with some also running as through services on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Only a small number of Hikari services run in the morning and evening and its pattern of stops is rather irregular. Eastbound Hikari services from Hiroshima Station may terminate at Okayama, Shin-Osaka or Tokyo. All westbound Hikari services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Hakata.

The Mizuho is a through service that runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Kyushu Shinkansen. All eastbound Mizuho services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Shin-Osaka. All westbound Mizuho services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Kagoshima-Chuo Station at the southern end of the Kyushu Shinkansen. Holders of the Japan Rail Pass have to buy an extra ticket to ride the Mizuho.

The Sakura is another through service that runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Kyushu Shinkansen. This train stops at more stations than the Mizuho. All eastbound Sakura services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Shin-Osaka. All westbound Sakura services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Kagoshima-Chuo Station at the southern end of the Kyushu Shinkansen.

The Kodama is the only service that stops at all stations on its route, and so it is the slowest train. Domestic travelers tend to use this service to travel between smaller cities that aren’t served by the faster trains. However, this train is covered by the Japan Rail Pass so it could be a good choice for international travelers.

Kodama services cover smaller distances and so do not provide through services onto other Shinkansen lines. On the Sanyo Shinkansen many Kodama services run the full distance between Hakata and Shin-Osaka but some do not. Eastbound Kodama services from Hiroshima Station may terminate at Fukuyama, Okayama or Shin-Osaka. Most westbound Kodama services from Hiroshima Station run as far as Hakata, but the final Kodama service of the day only runs as far as Shin-Yamaguchi.

Eastbound Destinations

There are 12 stations between Hiroshima and Shin-Osaka.

Hiroshima > Higashi-Hiroshima > Mihara > Shin-Onomichi > Fukuyama > Shin-Kurashiki > Okayama > Aioi > Himeji > Nishi-Akashi > Shin-Kobe > Shin-Osaka

The main eastbound destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times given from Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Station

Although most of Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945, today it is a lively modern city that is known for its unique local cuisine — and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is particularly popular. The most famous sites in the city are those associated with the atomic bombing: the Genbaku Atomic Dome, Hiroshima Peace Park and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Other major sites that are popular with visitors are Hiroshima Castle, the Shukkeien Garden and Hiroshima Art Museum. Hiroshima is also a convenient base from which to visit the island of Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima). This island is famous for its sea-front shrine and the giant torii gate, which at high tide is partially submerged in the sea.

Okayama Station

Top attractions in Okayama include Okayama Castle and the Korakuen Garden. Okayama is also just a short local train ride away from the city of Kurashiki which is famous for the Bikan Historical Quarter: a beautifully preserved area of canals, traditional buildings, and museums. Kurashiki has its own Shinkansen terminal at Shin-Kurashiki Station, but because only Kodama services stop there many visitors choose to access the city via Okayama — which is just 16 minutes away by local train.

Himeji Station

Many people visit Himeji just to see its elegant white castle, which is one of only 12 original medieval castles to have survived World War II. However, while in Himeji, the Kokoen Garden and the large mountain temple of Shoshazan Engyoji are also well worth a visit.

Shin-Kobe Station

Kobe is a lively, cosmopolitan port city and the capital of Hyogo Prefecture. The city’s attractions include Kobe Chinatown, Kobe Harborland, Kobe Port Tower, Mount Rokko, and the Ijinkan — an area of foreign houses built in the 19th century.

Shin-Kobe Station is Kobe’s Shinkansen terminal in the north of the city, but is linked to more central districts by the Seishin-Yamate Subway Line.

Shin-Osaka Station

Osaka is Japan’s third largest city and known as a dynamic center of business, culture and entertainment. Osaka’s many attractions include Osaka Castle, the bright lights of the Dotonbori entertainment district, Tsutenkaku Tower in the colorful Shinsekai district, and the Universal Studies Japan (USJ) theme park.

Shin-Osaka Station is the Shinkansen terminal for Osaka with both the Sanyo Shinkansen line and the Tokaido Shinkansen line meeting here. To get about the city, passengers can transfer here to the Subway Midosuji Line, which is the main line running north to south of the Osaka city subway network. They can also connect with regular JR lines, and several Limited Express services.

Westbound Destinations

There are eight stations between Hiroshima and Hakata.

Hiroshima > Shin-Iwakuni > Tokuyama > Shin-Yamaguchi > Asa > Shin-Shimonoseki > Kokura > Hakata

The main westbound destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times given from Hiroshima.

Shin-Iwakuni Station

Shin-Iwakuni Station serves the historic city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Iwakuni is famous for the Kintai Bridge: a beautiful arched, wooden bridge, which dates from 1673; and also for the hilltop Iwakuni castle, from which visitors can enjoy scenic views over the Nishiki River.

Shin-Yamaguchi Station

This station serves Yamaguchi: the capital city of Yamaguchi Prefecture. This city is often called “the Kyoto of the West” because of its traditional culture and architecture. The best-known attractions of the city are Rurikoji Temple with its five storied pagoda, Joeji Temple’s Zen garden and the modern Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church. Passengers who wish to travel to either the historic samurai town of Hagi, or the limestone caves of the Akiyoshidai Plateau can reach them by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

Kokura Station

Kokura Station serves the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is the northernmost city on the island of Kyushu. Kitakyushu’s attractions include Kokura Castle, the waterfront Mojiko Retro district with its wooden station built in 1914, and night views over the city from Mount Sarakura. Hourly buses run from Kokura Station to Kitakyushu Airport. Ferry services from Kitakyushu run to major cities on the islands of Shikoku and Honshu as well as to South Korea.

Hakata Station

Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka is the final stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. Fukuoka is Kyushu’s largest city and Hakata Station is Kyushu’s largest and busiest station. Fukuoka’s major attractions are Kushida Shrine, which is over 1,000 years old; the lively Nakasu nightlife district; and the peaceful Ohori Park, which has a large pond and walking paths.

Useful Links

Timetables and route maps can be found on the official JR West website.

For more detailed information on Japan’s Shinkansen railway lines please see our article: Shinkansen high-speed train network in Japan.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 3-Aug-2026.