Hikari (train)

Hikari

700 series Hikari Rail Star, April 2009
Overview
Service type	Shinkansen (Semi-express)
Status	Operational
First service	25 April 1958 (Express) 1 October 1964 (Shinkansen)
Current operator(s)	JR Central, JR West
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Termini	Hakata (San'yō Shinkansen) Shin-Ōsaka (Tokaido Shinkansen and San'yō Shinkansen) Tokyo (Tokaido Shinkansen)
Line(s) used	Tōkaidō Shinkansen San'yō Shinkansen
On-board services
Class(es)	Green + Standard
Catering facilities	Trolley refreshment service (until October 2023)
Technical
Rolling stock	700/N700 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC, 60 Hz
Operating speed	285 km/h (177 mph) (Tokaido Shinkansen) 300 km/h (190 mph) (San'yō Shinkansen)

Hikari (ひかり, "Light") is the name of a high-speed train service running on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen "bullet train" lines in Japan. Slower than the premier Nozomi but faster than the all-stations Kodama, the Hikari is the fastest train service on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen that can be used with the Japan Rail Pass, which is not valid for travel on the Nozomi or Mizuho trains except through a special supplementary ticket.

Overview

When the Tokaido Shinkansen opened on October 1, 1964, the then Japanese National Railways (JNR) launched the Tokaido Shinkansen as an "express train" that ran between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, stopping only at Nagoya and Kyoto stations. When it first began operation, it was called the "Dream Super Express " along with the Kodama, which stopped at every station. After that, with the opening of Okayama Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen on March 15, 1972, and the extension of Hakata Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen on March 10, 1975, the service area was extended and unreserved seats were made available, and it was operated as an express train that ran the entire Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines for a long time.

On the other hand, on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, from the beginning, there were trains with many stops and trains with few stops, and the number of trains greatly exceeded the number of "Kodama" trains in operation, and some trains, although they were the same "Hikari", came to have two aspects: "express trains" and "trains that pass through intermediate stations". At one time, there was even a "Hikari" that stopped at every station between Kyoto and Hakata.

After the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, the Tokaido Shinkansen was jointly operated by JR Central and the Sanyo Shinkansen by JR West, and the operation was basically the same as in the JNR era. However, after the Nozomi service began in 1992, the role of the express train was shifted to the Nozomi, and since October 2003, the Hikari has mainly played the role of a "train that stops at intermediate stations" to complement the express train Nozomi. As of 2023, there are no direct Hikari trains between Tokyo and Hakata, and the furthest Tokyo train runs from Hiroshima Station (only one up train), and the furthest Hakata Hikari runs from Nagoya Station (only one down train) (details below). In addition, since the Japan Rail Pass and the Full Moon Couple Green Pass  do not cover travel on the Nozomi, this train serves as the fastest train on the Tokaido Shinkansen for travelers holding these tickets.

As mentioned above, since it had been used as the name of the main train on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen for a long time, there was a strong image that "(Tokaido-Sanyo) Shinkansen = 'Hikari'" and the name "Super Hikari" was used as the colloquial name for the 100 series Shinkansen, the second generation vehicle of the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, and also as the mockup (Super Hikari model) produced for the development of the 300 series Shinkansen, the third generation vehicle, and as the temporary name before the name "Nozomi" was decided.

Origin of the train name

The names of the express trains that run on the Tokaido Shinkansen were chosen through a public contest before the line opened. Of the 558,882 total submissions, "Hikari" won first place with 19,845 votes, followed by " Hayabusa," "Inazuma," "Hayate," "Fuji," " Ryusei," "Akatsuki, " " Sakura," "Nippon," "Kodama," " Heiwa," "Suisei," " Tsubame," "Yamato," " Tokai, " " Olympia," " Yamabiko," " Tsubasa," " Asahi," and "Hinomaru". From 20th place onwards, the currently used " Nozomi " was included, as well as " Yaji-Kita ", " Hiroshige "  ], " Atom ", and " Eight Man ", the protagonists of popular manga and anime at the time. It is said that the combination of " Hikari" (light) and " Kodama " (echo  (sound) represents the difference in the speed of the trains. It also turned out that if the next speed after light was the speed of sound, it would be a perfect pairing. At the time of planning, the trains were not to be named, and each train would be distinguished only by its train number, like airplanes. However, after receiving numerous requests for names, it was decided to give the trains names.

Many variations

Since the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, various variations of the "Hikari" have appeared, mainly on the Sanyo Shinkansen. All of these are nicknames for the "Hikari," and the original train name is always "Hikari." Unless otherwise noted below, the operating area is limited to the Sanyo Shinkansen.

West Hikari

The "Hikari" service was operated on the Sanyo section only, with special trains of 6 or 12 0-series cars. The seats in the ordinary cars were arranged 2+2 abreast, and a buffet was attached, and at one time a cinema car was also attached. The maximum speed was 220 km/h. It began operation on March 13, 1988, with four round trips a day, and ended operation on April 21, 2000.

Grand Hikari

The train used JR West's 100N series (100 series 3000 series), and unlike JR Central's 100 series X and G formations, it had four double-decker cars in the middle. The maximum speed was 220 km/h on the Tokaido section and 230 km/h on the Sanyo section. It connected Shin-Osaka and Hakata in as little as 2 hours and 49 minutes (stopping at Okayama, Hiroshima, and Kokura stations). It began operating on March 11, 1989 with two round trips a day, and at its peak it expanded to eight round trips a day, but due to the introduction of new trains and other factors that increased speed, it ceased operation on November 23, 2002 (the dining car was suspended on March 10, 2000).

Shuttle Hikari

This train used 6-car 0 series R trains, originally used for the "Kodama" service on the Sanyo section. It stopped at every station between Okayama and Hakata and between Hiroshima and Hakata. It was introduced on March 16, 1991 with two round trips per day, and was discontinued on November 28, 1997.

Weekend Hikari

only operated on Fridays and holidays. It was introduced in 1992 for people who worked away from home on weekends, and all seats were unreserved. The train consisted of six 0-series R cars. Its only service area was the outbound route from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima (some services went to Hakata, in which case a 16-car train was sometimes used).

Family Hikari

The Hikari service uses 0 series 6-car R formations (R2, R22, R24 formations) that have been specially modified for families. The buffet in car 3 has been removed and a playroom called the "Children's Salon" has been installed. It is only operated during peak periods and all cars are reserved seats. It first appeared on July 21, 1995.

When it was first introduced, the passenger compartment of the R22 train was converted into a playroom "Children's Salon" and it was operated as a special "Family Hikari" train with all reserved seats. The playroom of the R22 train was later restored to seats, but from December 1995, two trains, R2 and R24, were officially made "Family Hikari". These two trains were converted into buffet rooms and parts of the passenger compartment (37 series) into "Children's Salon", and their vehicle numbers were changed to the 7700 series. During peak periods, they were operated as "Family Hikari" with all reserved seats, and in between, they were also used as " Kodama ". Also, when accommodation was improved in 1997, they were given priority for accommodation improvement work because they were "Hikari" trains (although their train number remained the R train, which indicates a "Kodama" train), but they were no longer operated after the special train in the summer of 2002.

Hikari Rail Star

The "Hikari" was introduced on March 11, 2000 as a successor to the "West Hikari" and is limited to the Sanyo section, using the 700 series 8-car E formation. The reserved seats in the ordinary cars, called "saloon seats", are arranged in a 2+2 seat configuration, and are more spacious than other "Hikari" formations. There is also a compartment for four people, which can be used for just the fare and the reserved seat express fare (when 3 or 4 people are in use). The maximum speed is 285 km/h. The fastest travel time between Shin-Osaka and Hakata is 2 hours and 40 minutes (after March 14, 2009). Unlike other derivative "Hikari" trains, the "Hikari Railstar" is also displayed and announced in stations and on the train.

Trains using the 8-car N700 series, which began operating to replace the 700 series when the Kyushu Shinkansen line was fully opened, are not referred to as "Hikari Railstar," and as of March 18, 2023, there is only one "Hikari Railstar" train in the up direction.

Tokaido Business Hikari

It was introduced with the timetable change on October 1, 1980. At the time, Hikari mainly operated between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka and west of the station, and was non-stop between Tokyo and Nagoya, but the name was added for advertising purposes when Hikari trains running between Tokyo and Nagoya in the early morning and late night hours were set to stop at Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, and Toyohashi. The name has since fallen into disuse, but as of 2021, there are still two round trips a day between Tokyo and Nagoya in the early morning and late night hours, stopping at Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, and Toyohashi.

Service variations

West Hikari

0 series 12-car set SK5 on a West Hikari service, March 1997

These services first appeared in 1988 on the San'yō Shinkansen between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata using 6-car 0 series trains. 0 series 12-car S_K units were employed on these services from 1989. From 11 March 2000, they were mostly replaced by the new 700 series Hikari Rail Star services, and were finally withdrawn on 21 April 2000.

Grand Hikari

These were the premier services operated between Tokyo and Hakata from 11 March 1989 using JR West 16-car 100 series V sets with four double-deck centre cars including a restaurant car. These operated at a maximum speed of 230 km/h on the San'yō Shinkansen (compared to 220 km/h for other Hikari services). From 11 March 2000, restaurant car services were discontinued on all trains, and from May 2002 onwards, the few remaining Grand Hikari services were limited to the San'yō Shinkansen only. The last Grand Hikari ran in November 2002.

Children's play area on a Family Hikari service, December 2003

Family Hikari

First appearing in the summer of 1995, these seasonal services operated between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata during holiday periods using special 6-car 0 series sets (R2 and R24) which included a children's play area in car 3. All seats were reserved on these services.

Hikari Rail Star

JR West began operating the Hikari Rail Star service from the start of the new timetable on 11 March 2000. This service is limited to the Sanyo Shinkansen line, and uses special 8-car 700-7000 series trains with a distinctive livery and a maximum speed of 285 km/h. JR West introduced the service to provide better competition against airlines on the Osaka-Fukuoka route. These services do not have Green car accommodation, but the reserved seating cars feature 2+2 seating and also some 4-seat compartments instead of the standard 3+2 arrangement in non-reserved seating cars. The front row of seats in these cars feature power outlets for laptop users. With most Hikari Rail Star services being replaced by through Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura services from 12 March 2011, the 8-car 700 series sets used on the service have been running mostly on all-stations Kodama services on the San'yō Shinkansen line. As of 14 March 2020, the Hikari Rail Star is the only special service variation to run on the Hikari service.

Stopping patterns (as of june 2024)

Legend

●	All trains stop
△	Some trains stop

Station	Tokyo – Hakata*
Tōkyō	●
Shinagawa	●
Shin-Yokohama	●
Odawara	△
Atami	△
Mishima	△
Shizuoka	△
Hamamatsu	△
Toyohashi	△
Nagoya	●
Gifu-Hashima	△
Maibara	△
Kyoto	●
Shin-Ōsaka	●
Shin-Kōbe	●
Nishi-Akashi	△
Himeji	●
Aioi	△
Okayama	●
Shin-Kurashiki	△
Fukuyama	●
Shin-Onomichi	△
Mihara	△
Higashi-Hiroshima	△
Hiroshima	●
Shin-Iwakuni	△
Tokuyama	△
Shin-Yamaguchi	△
Shin-Shimonoseki	△
Kokura	●
Hakata	●

Rolling stock

• 700 series 8-car E sets
• N700A series 16-car X/K sets, modified from N700 series Z/N sets
• N700 series 8-car S/R sets

• 
  JR West N700 series, April 2009

Former rolling stock

• 0 series
• 100 series
• 300 series
• 500 series 8-car V sets and 16-car W sets
• 700 series 16-car B/C sets

• 
  0 series, 1987
• 
  100 Series, 1987
• 
  JR West 300 series, 8 October 2008
• 
  JR West 500 series, May 2012
• 
  JR Central 700 series, April 2009

Train formations

N700 series (16 cars)

16-car N700 series services are formed as follows with car 1 at the Hakata end and car 16 at the Tokyo end. All cars are non-smoking except for smoking compartments located in Cars 3, 7, 10, and 15.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Green	Green	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved

N700 series (8 cars)

8-car N700 series services are formed as follows with car 1 at the Hakata end and car 8 at the Shin-Osaka end. All cars are non-smoking except for smoking compartments located in Cars 3 and 7.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6		7	8
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Green	Reserved	Reserved

700 series Hikari Rail Star

8-car 700 series Hikari Rail Star services are formed as follows with car 1 at the Hakata end and car 8 at the Shin-Osaka end. All cars are non-smoking.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved

History

Before and during World War II, Hikari was the name of an express train operated by Japan from Busan in Korea to Changchun in Manchuria.

The name Hikari was first introduced in Japan on 25 April 1958 for express services operating between Hakata and Beppu in Kyushu. This service operated until 30 September 1964, the day before the Tokaido Shinkansen opened.

When the Tokaido Shinkansen opened on 1 October 1964, the Hikari was the fastest train on the line, initially travelling from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station with only two stops (Nagoya and Kyoto). Hikari service was extended to the Sanyo Shinkansen later, although the Hikari trains were only slightly faster than the Kodama trains, earning them the derisive portmanteau nickname "Hidama." The Hikari trains remained the fastest trains until the opening of Nozomi trains on 14 March 1992.

In March 2008, the new N700 Series Shinkansen was put into service on a morning Hikari service between Shin-Yokohama and Hiroshima stations, and a late night run between Tokyo and Nagoya. A third N700 Hikari run between Nagoya and Tokyo was added in October 2008, and a few other N700 Hikari runs have since been added.

From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, Hikari Rail Star services using 700 series 8-car E sets became entirely no-smoking.

As of 2012, JR Central Hikari services operating throughout the Tokaido/Sanyo corridor primarily use 16-car N700 series and 700 series sets. Most Hikari trains pull over at intermediate stations such as Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Maibara or Himeji to allow faster Nozomi services, to pass through without stopping.

In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains would be discontinued by Q2 2024, which took effect on 16 March 2024. In addition, all smoking rooms located on station platforms on the aforementioned Shinkansen lines would also be discontinued.

Discontinued tickets

The following special promotional tickets have been sold in the past, but as of November 2013 , they have all been discontinued and are no longer available.

Hikari Early Bird Ticket

This is a one-way "discount ticket" exclusively for reserved seats on the "Hikari" trains, with a limited number of seats and a limited period of sale, available from one month to one week before the date of travel. In addition to reserved seats in ordinary cars, there are also Green Car tickets for journeys departing and arriving at Shin-Osaka. There are no tickets for children. Discounts for reserved trains, changes to the section used, getting off at intermediate stations, and transfers cannot be applied.

If you miss the reserved train, only the regular ticket will be valid and you will need to purchase a separate express ticket. However, you can only board the following "Hikari" or "Kodama" trains on the same day in the ordinary car unreserved seats.

It was discontinued on October 31, 2013.

Super Early Bird Round Trip Ticket

This was a "discount ticket" with limited seats that went on sale from three weeks to one week before the departure date, and was on sale from July 2007 to March 2008. The section was Nishi-Akashi, Shin-Kobe - Shin-Yokohama, Tokyo (Shinagawa), and the price for all sections was 20,000 yen round trip. It was available on all "Hikari" and "Nozomi" No. 60 (departing Shin-Kobe Station at 6:17). As the name "Super" suggests, the discount rate was set far beyond that of Express Reservation (about 36-40% off the normal rate). The background to the sale of this ticket was competition with the Kobe - Haneda route .

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan

External links

• Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Hikari Rail Star description