| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nozomi Shinkansen (unreserved) | ¥13,870 | 2h 22m |
| Hikari Shinkansen (reserved) | ¥14,720 | 2h 52m |
| JR Pass (if you qualify) | included | 2h 30m |
| Overnight highway bus | ¥3,000–¥5,000 | 8–9h |
| Domestic flight (LCC) | ¥5,000–¥12,000 | ~5h door-to-door |
Is the JR Pass worth it for Tokyo–Osaka?
On its own, the Tokyo–Osaka leg costs ¥13,870 each way (¥27,740 return). The 7-day JR Pass costs ¥50,000 — so you'd need another ¥22,260 worth of JR rides to break even. Add Hiroshima (¥19,000 from Tokyo) and the pass pays for itself.