How to buy a ticket for the Shinkansen, a Japanese bullet train? Whether you’re planning a business trip or going on holiday to another city, you might need to buy a ticket. However, you might be wondering about the actual process of how to buy one. This guide introduces the basics of tickets, the types of seats available, and the places where you can get one.
This article is based on the information provided by East Japan Railway Company
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Table of Contents
For other how-to-guide, please take a look at below.
1. Basic Types of Tickets
To use the Shinkansen, you typically need to purchase two types of tickets:
Basic Fare Ticket:
This is the basic fare ticket that allows you to board the Shinkansen and travel from your departure station to your destination. The fare is based on the distance traveled. When you use the underground, you only need this ticket. However, for the Shinkansen, you need an additional ticket below.
Super (limited) express train ticket:
This is the express ticket specifically for the Shinkansen. It covers the additional cost for riding the Shinkansen, which is faster and more comfortable than regular trains. If the sections for the Basic Fare Ticket and the Super (limited) express train ticket are the same, a single integrated ticket will likely be issued.
In Japanese it is written as below.
| English | Kanji | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic Fare Ticket |
乗車券 |
Jyoshaken |
|
Super (Limited) Express Train Ticket |
特急券 |
Tokkyuken |
2. Types of Super (limited) express train ticket
A super (limited) express ticket has two types: reserved and non-reserved. The boarding areas for reserved and non-reserved seats are separated for each car of the Shinkansen. For reserved seats, “指定席” is written in Kanji on the outside of the Shinkansen car and on the aisle, whereas for non-reserved seats, “自由席” is written in Kanji. With reserved seats, you can secure your preferred seat in advance, while with non-reserved seats, you cannot select a specific seat but can purchase them at a lower price. During busy times such as holidays, summer vacation, Golden Week, and New Year’s, it may be difficult to board or you may end up standing, so it is recommended to purchase reserved seats according to the season and travel time.
| English | Kanji | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
|
Shinkansen Super Express Reserved Seat Ticket |
指定席特急券 |
Shiteiseki Tokkyuken |
|
Shinkansen Super Express Non-Reserved Seat Ticket |
自由席特急券 |
Jiyuseki Tokkyuken |
3. Basic Types of Seats
The Shinkansen offers three main types of seating: Ordinary Car, which includes Non-Reserved Seats or Reserved Seats, and the first-class cars, known as the Green Car. The Green Car features seats with more spacious legroom and width compared to the Ordinary Car. In the Ordinary Car, seats are typically arranged in sets of two and three across the aisle, totaling five seats, whereas in the Green Car, seats are arranged in sets of two, totaling four seats. Despite having fewer seats, the Green Car offers wider seats with larger armrests. It is often used by business travelers and is known for its quiet atmosphere, suitable for work. Additionally, all seats in the Green Car are equipped with power outlets, making it convenient for those who need to use laptops or other electronic devices.
On top of the basic fare ticket, each seat requires the following tickets:
| Car | Seat Type | Types of Tickets |
|---|---|---|
|
Ordinary Car |
Reserved Seat |
Shinkansen Super Express Reserved Seat Ticket |
|
Ordinary Car |
Non-Reserved Seat |
Shinkansen Super Express Non-Reserved Seat Ticket |
|
Green Car |
Reserved Seat |
Shinkansen Super Express Reserved Seat Ticket and Green Car Ticket |
4. Gran Class
Not every Shinkansen train has a GranClass car, but you can enjoy this premium service on the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen (Series E5 and H5), Hokuriku Shinkansen (Series E7 and W7), and Joetsu Shinkansen (Series E7).
With GranClass, you can enjoy premium services such as being welcomed aboard with complimentary water, snacks, and a wet towel. Additionally, you’ll receive a light meal during your journey. The seats in GranClass are wider and more comfortable compared to standard seating. For further informaiton, please refer to the GranClass website.
| Car | Seat Type | Types of Tickets |
|---|---|---|
|
GranClass |
Reserved Seat |
Shinkansen Super Express Reserved Seat Ticket and Green Car Ticket (GranClass) |
5. How to buy a ticket for the Shinkansen?
Midorino-Madoguchi / みどりの窓口
Firstly, you can buy Shinkansen tickets at the station’s みどりの窓口 (Midori no Madoguchi). Here, you can purchase tickets from a salesperson at the counter. While it’s not an online option, visiting the Midori no Madoguchi can sometimes be easier. You can ask questions in person, which can be helpful since the Japanese train system can be a bit complicated.
You can check where Midorino-Madoguchi here. The website is only available in Japanese. Please use a browser translator.
Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine / 指定席券売機
Secondly, you can buy a ticket at the reserved seat ticket vending machine, which you can find around the gates at the station. These machines often support English, Korean, and Chinese.
JR Online Services
Each JR company offers official online services. Since each Shinkansen line is operated by different JR companies, there are separate websites for each line.
| Official Site | Routes | URL |
|---|---|---|
|
Ekinet / えきねっと |
All lines |
|
|
EX Press Yoyaku / EX PRESS予約 |
Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu Shinkansen |
|
|
JR Odekake Net |
Hokuriku, Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu Shinkansen |
|
|
JR Kyushu Internet Yoyaku / JR九州インターネット予約 |
Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu Shinkansen |
Point to note
For example, with Ekinet, you can link your IC card or Mobile Suica to an e-ticket, or choose a paper ticket. Paper tickets can be tricky because you need to go to a Midori no Madoguchi (ticket office) or a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine.
If you live in Tokyo and purchase a Shinkansen ticket from Osaka to Fukuoka, you won’t be able to get the ticket in Tokyo. Additionally, there are restrictions such as:
- You cannot receive tickets at stations without a Midori no Madoguchi or Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine.
- You cannot pick up tickets at JR West (except the Hokuriku area), JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu, or non-JR train companies (like Izu Kyuko Line or Fujikyu Railway Line).
If you can’t get your ticket, you’ll need to buy a new one at the station. While refunds are possible, you will need to apply separately.
Todokippu
To address the disadvantages of paper tickets mentioned above, there is a service called ‘Todokippu.’ This service allows you to reserve Shinkansen tickets online and have them delivered to you by mail.
Many people find online ticket booking websites complicated and difficult to navigate. While e-tickets are fine for frequent travelers, Todokippu is a good option for those who don’t often ride the Shinkansen or don’t want to wait in line at the Midori no Madoguchi.
The downside of Todokippu is the 550 yen delivery fee and handling charge. However, you can save money with special offers, so it’s worth checking out if you’re interested.
Latest Campaign:
- Summer campaign, 10% off the handring charge
- Free delivery fee
Here is an example of purchasing a Shinkansen ticket. The total price is shown in the table below (as of July 19th). It is a ticket from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka using the Nozomi train on August 13th at 10:00.
Currently, Todokippu is offering an 8% discount on handling fees and free delivery, so the price reflects these discounts. Unlike Eki-net, which requires registration, Todokippu does not.
If you’re interested in Todokippu, please find the URL or banner below.
| Eki-net | Todokippu | |
|---|---|---|
|
Total |
¥14,920 |
¥16,458 |
|
Tokyo - ShinOsaka / Nozomi |
¥14,920 |
14,720 |
|
Handring Charge |
- |
1,738 |
|
Delivery Fee |
- |
Free with campaign |
|
Registration |
Must Register |
No Need |
