Shinkansen Mizuho 613 from Okayama to Hakata Train Review

The Mizuho is the fastest Shinkansen service that JR Kyushu offers. While the name is familiar for Japan Rail Pass users as one of the Shinkansen trains that is not fully included, my JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass covers Nozomi and Mizuho trains fully. Knowing the seat products of JR Kyushu on their N700 Series Shinkansen trains, I made sure to reserve a seat for a JR Kyushu Shinkansen train for the longer journey to Hakata.

The Mizuho train name was formerly used for the Limited Express Mizuho seasonal night train between Tokyo and Kumamoto using Blue Train coaches, some of which were donated to Malaysia to be used on the Malayan Tiger Train (MTT). The donated BDNS coaches have since been disused.

Okayama Station

The façade of Okayama Station in the evening.

Heading in to Okayama Station.

Entering the Shinkansen fare gates with my JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass.

As Okayama Station is an intermediate station, the platform assignment is straightforward by bounds.

My Mizuho 613 will be departing from Platform 22. Track 22 is on the main line and since the Mizuho is the fastest JR Kyushu Shinkansen, it will not be overtaken here.

Heading up to Platform 22.

The first train arriving is the Nozomi 45 to Hakata. While my is valid for the JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass very frequent Nozomi, something that Japan Rail Pass users will not get, I did not reserve a seat on any Nozomis as the seat is in a 3+2 configuration.

The Nozomi 45 to Hakata is operated by a JR West N700A Shinkansen 16-car set.

My waiting position for my booked Car 5 on the 8-car Mizuho 613 shares the area as Car 9 on this 16-car Nozomi 45 train.

The waiting area is also labelled on the platform floor.

My Mizuho 613 follows 4 minutes behind.

The JR Kyushu branding on the side of the train cars.

The Mizuho 613 is bound for Kagoshima-Chūō Station at the end of the line. I will just be using this service to Hakata.

Kagoshima-Chūō Station is also out of the validity area of my JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass. The southernmost Shinkansen station valid is Kumamoto.

Boarding my Mizuho 613 at Car 5.

JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen Reserved Seat Car

The interior of the JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen reserved seat car in a luxurious 2+2 configuration.

Now you can see why I decided on a JR Kyushu service instead of hopping on to a frequent Nozomi.

The area behind the last row of seats is now a designated Oversized Baggage Area with reservations required.

Bags with a total dimension of length + breadth + height of between 160 and 250 cm (generally bigger than a 24″ luggage) require a free reservation to use the Oversized Baggage Area (no extra charge compared to a reserved seat).

Passengers traveling with oversized baggage without a reservation will be charged a baggage fee (1,000 yen including tax).

My booked seat at 8A.

The legroom available on board the JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen reserved seat car.

A tray table is available on the seat back in front, along with a train consist map of neighbouring train cars with icons of amenities available.

A 2-pin Japanese power socket is available near the floor by the window seat.

A flip-up drinks holder is available on the armrest.

My Mizuho 613 departed from Okayama Station on time at 6.52pm.

My Mizuho 613 was surprisingly not full, with most single travellers having both seats to themselves in the reserved seat car. I thought that a reserved seat on a JR Kyushu Shinkansen would be more popular.

Time for a walkabout around the train.

The layout of the 8-car JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen.

A changing room is available with a small table and full-height mirror.

A wash basin area is also available for washing up.

Western-style sitting toilets are available.

A standing urinal cubicle is also available for males.

A payphone remains on board, but is out of service.

Fukuyama Station

Making a brief stop at Fukuyama Station.

Hiroshima Station

Making a brief stop at Hiroshima Station.

JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen Non-Reserved Seat Car

Non-reserved seats are available in Cars 1, 2, and 3.

Seats are laid out in a 3+2 configuration, and are similar to regular non-reserved Shinkansen seats across Japan.

The legroom available on board the JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen non-reserved seat car.

A tray table is available on the seat back in front, along with a train consist map of neighbouring train cars with icons of amenities available.

A 2-pin Japanese power socket is available near the floor by the window seat.

Smoking rooms are available in Cars 3 and 7.

A remnant of pandemic-era social distancing, the capacity of 2 passengers have been reduced to 1, with the remaining bin covered up with a metal plate.

The smoking rooms on the Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen will be closed by Spring 2024 (probably at the March timetable change) with growing health consciousness among the public and a decline in smoking rates. The smoking rooms will be used to store drinking water for emergencies.

Drinks vending machines are also available, but with prices higher than at stations.

JR Kyushu N700 Series Shinkansen Green Car

1 Green Car is available at Car 6.

The space is similar to the reserved seat car, but with a thicker head rest and an added leg rest and calf rest.

Kokura Station

Making a brief stop at Kokura Station.

Crossing over the Kurasaki River upon departure from Kokura.

Hakata Station

My Mizuho 613 train arrived at Hakata Station on time at 8.34pm.

Hakata is a ward of the city of Fukuoka. If going to Fukuoka, the main railway station is Hakata. There is no “Fukuoka Station” in Fukuoka.

There is a longer stop of 2 minutes at Hakata Station with the high passenger movement on the platform.

The Mizuho 613 will continue on to Kagoshima-Chūō Station, where it terminates.

Platform 16 is used for trains to Hakata-Minami Station, located in Hakata Shinkansen Depot. Trains are ticketed as Limited Express trains rather than Shinkansen for this short commuter line, despite using Shinkansen trains travelling at Shinkansen speeds. The 8.5 km journey takes 10 minutes and costs 300 yen only.

Heading down the stairs to the exit.

The Shinkansen concourse of Hakata Station.

Taking another escalator down to the exit from the Shinkansen concourse.

Heading out of the Shinkansen fare gates.

The façade of Hakata Station from the Chikushi Gate.

Conclusion

JR Kyushu has a premium over all other Shinkansen trains on the sector west of Shin-Osaka, with big seats in a 2+2 configuration for reserved seats at similar prices of JR West reserved seats in a 3+2 configuration. If travelling on the Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen, try to reserve a seat on a JR Kyushu train (Mizuho or Sakura) to enjoy this premium at no additional fees.