Rail Passes
The Japan Rail Pass can be used on all shinkansen trains except Nozomi and Mizuho trains and covers all the fees involved. Seat reservations can be made for free at ticket counters. Pass holders will receive a seat reservation ticket that indicates the reserved seat. They need no tickets besides their rail pass when using non-reserved seats.
Similar to the nationwide Japan Rail Pass, there are a few regional passes that also cover the shinkansen trains and allow for free seat reservations:
• JR East Pass
All trains along the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen
• JR Sanyo-Shikoku-Kyushu Pass
All trains along the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho)
• JR West Sanyo Area Pass
All trains along the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho)
• Kyushu Rail Pass
All trains along the Kyushu Shinkansen (including Mizuho)