Question about shinkansen: Nara-Kyoto-Tokyo?

Question

Is shinkansen only from Kyoto to Tokyo? Or can I take the shinkansen from Nara all the way to Tokyo? Can I use the JR pass from Nara to Tokyo, too?

Answer 1

Nara does not have Shinkansen station. You have to take another JR line, Nara line from Kyoto to Nara (about 1 hour).

If you have JR pass, you can take both Nara line and Shinkansen.

Answer 2

Click "Central Japan Railway's Connection" of the right side column in this blog.

Answer 3

Yes you can use the JR rail pass on any JR train you ride. Unfortunately there isn't a Shinkansen anywhere in Nara. You'd have to take the JR Nara line to Kyoto station, where you then transfer to the Shinkansen to Tokyo. Again, all are valid with the JR Rail pass!

Shinkansens don't JUST run from Kyoto to Tokyo, as you could grab it from another stop such as Maibara in Shiga prefecture, Shin Osaka in Osaka. It helps to download a map or refer to the one given to you by the JR rail pass issuer (where you bought it from).  But Kyoto station is the closest shinkansen station from where you are.

Enjoy!