🚄 JRJapan Rail Pass
Nationwide ・ Three types: 7, 14 or 21 days. The period of use cannot be extended or changed
From ¥50,000
Osaka → Okayama
Osaka to Okayama
🚄 Shinkansen🚌 Highway bus
From Osaka to Okayama, the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station takes about 45–50 min. With a JR Pass, you can ride the Sakura, Hikari and Kodama at no extra charge. If you have time and want a lower fare, highway buses from Osaka Station and Namba are also available.
Compare
Compare your options
Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi
- Travel time
- About 45 min (e.g. Nozomi No. 89 departs Shin-Osaka 22:29 → arrives Okayama 23:13)
- Fare
- smartEX ordinary-car reserved seat ¥6,260 (as of October 2026, regular season)
- Transfers
- None
Sanyo Shinkansen Sakura / Hikari
- Travel time
- About 50 min (e.g. Sakura No. 549 departs Shin-Osaka 9:20 → arrives Okayama 10:10)
- Transfers
- None
Highway bus (Kibi Express Osaka)
- Travel time
- About 3–4 hr
- Fare
- ¥3,600 for adults, Web Hayawari 1 early discount ¥3,000 (as of October 2026)
- Transfers
- None
| Compare your options | Travel time | Fare | JR Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi | About 45 min (e.g. Nozomi No. 89 departs Shin-Osaka 22:29 → arrives Okayama 23:13) | smartEX ordinary-car reserved seat ¥6,260 (as of October 2026, regular season) | Not covered by the JR Pass alone. Pass holders can ride by buying a Nozomi/Mizuho special ticket (Shin-Osaka–Okayama ¥2,530 for adults) |
| Sanyo Shinkansen Sakura / Hikari | About 50 min (e.g. Sakura No. 549 departs Shin-Osaka 9:20 → arrives Okayama 10:10) | — | Covered by the JR Pass (ordinary-car reserved seats also at no extra charge) |
| Highway bus (Kibi Express Osaka) | About 3–4 hr | ¥3,600 for adults, Web Hayawari 1 early discount ¥3,000 (as of October 2026) | — |
Fares and times are as of the date shown. Airfares vary by season and booking date. Check the operator’s official website before you travel.
Recommended
Best option for…
Fastest option
→ Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi
Using a JR Pass or area pass
→ Sanyo Shinkansen Sakura / Hikari
Budget option / Boarding at Namba or USJ
→ Highway bus (Kibi Express Osaka)
How to Ride
How to ride each option
Shinkansen
Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi
- Depart from
- Shin-Osaka Station
- Arrive at
- Okayama Station
- Travel time
- About 45 min (e.g. Nozomi No. 89 departs Shin-Osaka 22:29 → arrives Okayama 23:13)
- Fare
- smartEX ordinary-car reserved seat ¥6,260 (as of October 2026, regular season)
- Transfers
- None
- Tickets
- Station ticket machines or ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi), or smartEX (online)
- Large luggage
- Luggage with total dimensions (length + width + height) over 160 cm and up to 250 cm requires a reservation for a Seat with Oversized Baggage Area (¥1,000 fee without a reservation)
- JR Pass
- Not covered by the JR Pass alone. Pass holders can ride by buying a Nozomi/Mizuho special ticket (Shin-Osaka–Okayama ¥2,530 for adults)
Shinkansen
Sanyo Shinkansen Sakura / Hikari
- Depart from
- Shin-Osaka Station
- Arrive at
- Okayama Station
- Travel time
- About 50 min (e.g. Sakura No. 549 departs Shin-Osaka 9:20 → arrives Okayama 10:10)
- Transfers
- None
- Tickets
- Station ticket machines or ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi), or smartEX (online)
- Large luggage
- Luggage with total dimensions (length + width + height) over 160 cm and up to 250 cm requires a reservation for a Seat with Oversized Baggage Area (¥1,000 fee without a reservation)
- JR Pass
- Covered by the JR Pass (ordinary-car reserved seats also at no extra charge)
- Note
- International visitors can also use the SANYO-SHINKANSEN One-way Ticket (Osaka city area–Okayama / Kurashiki ¥5,100 for adults, purchased in advance outside Japan)
Highway bus
Highway bus (Kibi Express Osaka)
- Depart from
- JR Expressway Bus Terminal at Osaka Station / Namba Highway Bus Terminal / Minatomachi (OCAT) / USJ
- Arrive at
- Okayama Station West Exit
- Travel time
- About 3–4 hr
- Fare
- ¥3,600 for adults, Web Hayawari 1 early discount ¥3,000 (as of October 2026)
- Transfers
- None
- Tickets
- Book on the online reservation site or by phone (all seats reserved). Ticketless boarding is available with online card payment. You can also board without a reservation if seats are available
- Note
- Jointly operated by Ryobi Bus, Shimoden Bus and Chugoku JR Bus
Tips
Good to know
- ✓The Shinkansen departs from Shin-Osaka Station, 1 stop on JR from Osaka Station (Umeda)
- ✓The Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass also covers the Nozomi between Shin-Osaka and Okayama
- ✓For Kurashiki, change to a conventional line at Okayama Station
Travel Passes
Travel passes you can use on this route
🚄 JR
🚄 JRKansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
Kansai ・ 5 consecutive days (from 0:00 on the first day to 24:00 on the last day)
From ¥17,000
🚄 JRSanyo-San'in Area Pass
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ 7 consecutive days (from 0:00 on the first day to 24:00 on the last day)
From ¥23,000
Tickets you can book in advancePR
PRKlookJR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (5 days)Unlimited rides on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama / Hiroshima (including the Nozomi) and JR lines in KansaiView on Klook- PRKlookJapan Rail Pass (Nationwide)Unlimited rides on JR lines nationwide. The Sakura, Hikari and Kodama are available at no extra chargeView on Klook
Map
Map
Where to Stay · Agoda
Places to Stay near OkayamaPR
PR9.1ホテルアベストグランデ岡山
★★★★Check rates on Agoda8,017 reviews0.3 km from center
PR8.6三井 ガーデン ホテル 岡山
★★★★Check rates on Agoda11,957 reviews0.3 km from center
PR8.8ダイワロイネットホテル岡山駅前
★★★Check rates on Agoda7,644 reviews0.2 km from center
PR9.1ホテルグランヴィア岡山
★★★★★Check rates on Agoda5,222 reviews0.2 km from center
PR8.9岡山 後楽ホテル
★★★★Check rates on Agoda5,225 reviews0.5 km from center
PR9.1ANAクラウンプラザ岡山 by IHG
★★★★Check rates on Agoda2,163 reviews0.2 km from center
Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Other Routes
Other routes
Osaka → Hiroshima
Fastest: About 1 hr 25 min (e.g. Nozomi No. 89 departs Shin-Osaka 22:29 → arrives Hiroshima 23:54)
🚄 Shinkansen🚌 Highway bus🌙 Overnight bus
Osaka → Kanazawa
Fastest: Fastest 2 hr 9 min (change at Tsuruga)
🚆 Limited express🚌 Highway bus🌙 Overnight bus
Osaka → Fukuoka (Hakata)
Fastest: About 2 hr 30 min (e.g. Mizuho No. 601 departs Shin-Osaka 6:00 → arrives Hakata 8:28)
🚄 Shinkansen
Travel times, fares and boarding points are based on official information from rail, airline, bus and ferry operators. Fares and timetables can change, so check the official websites before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-08