Tokaido Shinkansen and San'yo Shinkansen lines are the most major railroad artery in Japan.
As a matter of course, trains there exist not only for tourists (regardless of whether domestic or foreign ones) who travel crossing the boundary Shin-Osaka Station. If I were President of JR-Central or of JR-West, I would not immediately lift the restriction on NOZOMI for JR Pass holders; maybe I would make JR Passes cover the fare, but not the Ltd. Express charge.
Almost all foreign tourists come to Japan by air. Most of them are not familiar with Japan, and many of them are tired after a long flight and still in a jet lag.
For such tourists, it does not necessarily result in true easiness to move "easily" with a railroad pass by NOZOMI for a long distance in a very short time between places of different climates, cultures or so. Repeating such moves, a first-time Japan traveler may fall into a bad health and/or a culture shock.
NOZOMI, HIKARI, KODAMA are at almost the same level of transportation safety, because they are operated with the same system.
No foreign tourists are deprived of opportunities to make use of the world's top-class railroad system.
I do not think the best benefit of railroad must be conferred upon me in my trip in U.S.A., U.K., France or so, as long as I am guaranteed good transports, because I know I am just a foreign tourist there.
As to the point which one you'd better request on this issue, I'm quite contrary to Dave in Saitama. This issue should be handled primarily by JR-Central and JR-West.
JNTO is not a government's division. The government's division for tourism is Japan Tourism Agency. Each of the two is completely the third party on this issue.
I understand the third party's applying pressure on a railroad company was one of old unhealthy practices, especially before JNR was privatized into JR companies in 1987.
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