The 500 series Shinkansen runs as a Nozomi again — weekends from 16 January 2027 before it retires
500系 臨時「のぞみ」復活（姫路⇔博多）
JR West brings back 500 series Nozomi trains between Himeji and Hakata on 12 weekend days in January–February 2027; the train retires in July 2027 and Doctor Yellow T5 also bows out.
When16 Jan – 28 Feb 2027
WhereHimeji – Hakata (Sanyo Shinkansen)
JR West's 500 series — the needle-nosed Shinkansen that was Japan's fastest train when it appeared in 1997 — is due to retire in July 2027. As a farewell, it will run as a Nozomi again for the first time in about 16 years.
The all-reserved temporary Nozomi 626 leaves Hakata at 12:45 and runs via Kokura, Hiroshima and Okayama to Himeji (arr. 14:54) on Saturdays 16, 23 and 30 January and 6, 13 and 27 February 2027. The Nozomi 627 goes the other way, Himeji 12:09 to Hakata 14:19, on Sundays 17, 24 and 31 January and 7, 14 and 28 February.
The 500 series' regular runs between Shin-Osaka and Hakata end on 13 January 2027. JR West's Doctor Yellow T5, the yellow track-inspection Shinkansen that fans hope to spot, is also retiring in 2027, and the railway is selling a series of farewell tours, viewing events and souvenirs through its tabiwa travel site.
For visitors
- Seats for the revival Nozomi go on sale through JR West's e5489, JR ticket offices and green ticket machines — they are not sold on SmartEX / the EX service.
- All seats are reserved, so buy as soon as sales open (normally one month before travel); weekend dates will be popular with fans.
- JAPAN RAIL PASS holders normally need an extra Nozomi ticket on the Sanyo Shinkansen — ask at a JR ticket office whether it applies to these temporary trains.
- The farewell tours (Doctor Yellow ride-alongs, depot displays) are sold in Japanese through tabiwa travel, mostly first come, first served.
Sources
- JR West news release (26 Oct 2026, PDF) (official, Japanese)
- JR West: The Last Run special site (official, Japanese)
Summarised in our own words from the sources above; last checked 3 Nov 2026. Plans can change — confirm with the operator before you travel.