Which Japanese railway company operates the Tokaido Shinkansen?

JR Central, formally the Central Japan Railway Company, operates the Tokaido Shinkansen.

The Tokaido Shinkansen runs between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, connecting Japan’s largest urban corridor through cities such as Nagoya and Kyoto. It opened on 1 October 1964 and was the world’s first dedicated high-speed railway, helping establish the modern concept of intercity high-speed rail.

JR Central took responsibility for the line in 1987, when Japan’s national railway system was broken up and reorganized into regional companies. Although some trains and rolling stock are associated with JR West as well, the Tokaido route itself is operated by JR Central.

The line carries three principal service patterns: Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama. Nozomi trains make the fewest stops, Hikari trains stop at selected intermediate stations, and Kodama trains serve every station. The Tokaido Shinkansen is also one of the world’s most heavily used high-speed lines, with extremely frequent service between Tokyo and Osaka.