Save on Year-End Nozomi Trips: What Is the EX Hayatoku Limited-Time Sale?
JR Central (JR Tokai) and JR West will run the “EX Hayatoku ☆ Limited-Time Sale!” (EX早特☆期間限定セール！) on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. The fares are sold through two online booking services, Express Reservation (エクスプレス予約) and smartEX (スマートEX). The sale covers selected travel dates and directions during the year-end and New Year period. It applies to ordinary-car reserved seats on Nozomi trains between Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama on one side and Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima on the other. An adult one-way ticket between Tokyo and Hiroshima costs just 15,000 yen. That is a welcome price at a time of year when trains are crowded and fares are high. However, at least two people must travel together, and travel dates and directions are restricted, so check the details carefully.
Sale Overview
- Operators: JR Central, JR West
- Product: EX Hayatoku ☆ Limited-Time Sale!
- Booking services: Express Reservation, smartEX
- Eligible trains/seats: Ordinary-car reserved seats on Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi trains
- Eligible routes: Tokyo / Shinagawa / Shin-Yokohama ⇔ Nagoya / Kyoto / Shin-Osaka / Okayama / Hiroshima
- Condition: Two or more travelers
- Child fare: Half the adult fare
- Sales start: 5:30 a.m., Thursday, November 5, 2026
Fares by Route (Adult One-Way; Children Half Price)
Nozomi ordinary reserved-seat fares to and from Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama are listed below. The fare is the same whichever of the three stations you use.
- Nagoya: 10,000 yen for adults (5,000 yen for children)
- Kyoto / Shin-Osaka: 12,000 yen (6,000 yen for children)
- Okayama: 14,000 yen (7,000 yen for children)
- Hiroshima: 15,000 yen (7,500 yen for children)
Compared with the regular peak-season fare to and from Tokyo or Shinagawa, the Hiroshima fare saves 4,960 yen per adult. For two travelers, that adds up to 9,920 yen on a single one-way trip (based on the regular peak-season fare). For anyone trying to keep year-end travel costs down, that is a discount worth noting.
Travel Dates Depend on Direction
A key feature of this sale is that each travel direction comes with its own fixed dates.
Tokyo-bound (inbound): Friday, December 25 – Thursday, December 31, 2026
This covers Nozomi trains from Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama. It suits trips from the Tokai, Kansai or Chugoku regions to the Tokyo area at the end of the year.
Bound for Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima (outbound): Saturday, January 2 – Monday, January 4, 2027
This covers westbound Nozomi trains from Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama. It suits trips from the Tokyo area to the Tokai, Kansai or Chugoku regions in early January.
Trips in the opposite direction or on other dates are not covered. For example, two people living in Hiroshima might travel to Tokyo at the end of the year and return home in early January. In that case, they may be able to use the sale fare (15,000 yen per adult one way) for both legs.
Sales Period: From 5:30 a.m., Thursday, November 5, 2026
Tickets go on sale at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and stay on sale until 40 days before each travel date. The deadline therefore varies by travel date. Counting back 40 days gives the following approximate deadlines:
- Travel on Fri, Dec 25: until Sun, Nov 15
- Travel on Thu, Dec 31: until Sat, Nov 21
- Travel on Sat, Jan 2: until Mon, Nov 23
- Travel on Mon, Jan 4: until Wed, Nov 25
That leaves about three weeks at most between launch and the deadline. Check the exact cutoff time on the booking site and plan early.
Things to Know Before Booking
Limited seats per train
Only a limited number of seats on each train are available at the sale fare. Popular departure times may sell out quickly, so it is safest to book right after sales open.
Trains are selected from a provisional timetable
You choose your train from a provisional operating plan. Once the plan is finalized, your reserved train may change, and you will be notified by email if it does. Make sure the email address you registered can receive messages.
No seat selection at booking
You cannot choose a specific seat when booking. Seat changes become possible from 10:00 a.m. one month before the travel date. If you have a preferred seat, make the change then.
Two or more travelers required
The fare is not available to solo travelers. It is designed for families, friends and other groups of two or more.
Year-End Nozomi Trains Are All-Reserved
From Friday, December 25, 2026 to Tuesday, January 5, 2027, all Nozomi trains will run with reserved seats only. There will be no non-reserved cars, so you need to book a reserved seat in advance to ride a Nozomi during this period. All of the sale’s travel dates fall within this all-reserved period. Being able to secure seats early is another big advantage of this offer.
Who Should Consider This Sale
- Groups of two or more heading from Nagoya, Kansai, Okayama or Hiroshima toward Tokyo at year-end
- Families and friends traveling west from the Tokyo area on January 2–4
- Existing users of Express Reservation or smartEX
- Anyone who wants to keep year-end Shinkansen costs as low as possible
Summary
The “EX Hayatoku ☆ Limited-Time Sale!” offers discounted Nozomi ordinary reserved seats over the year-end and New Year period. Adult one-way fares from Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama are 10,000 yen to Nagoya, 12,000 yen to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka, 14,000 yen to Okayama and 15,000 yen to Hiroshima. Several conditions apply: at least two travelers, fixed travel dates for each direction, a short sales window and limited seats. Sales open at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026. If your plans match the eligible dates, mark your calendar so you don’t miss the booking window. For the latest details, check the official information and booking sites of JR Central and JR West. This article reflects information as of October 2, 2026.
Source: https://www.traicy.com/posts/20261002383762/