Shinkansen: How to Buy Bullet Train Tickets 2024

How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets

If you want to travel in Japan fast and in comfort, use the Shinkansen (bullet train). It offers comfortable seats and a pleasant ride to major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, as well as cities and towns in the Tohoku and Kyushu regions.

Guide to Using the Shinkansen in Japan

1. Shinkansen Route Map 2024
2. How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets Online
3. Seat Types on the Shinkansen
4. Shinkansen Tickets: Description
5. Using a JR Pass to Ride the Shinkansen
6. How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets at the Station
- Midori no Madoguchi (JR Ticket Office)
- Using Ticket Machines
7. How to Use Your Shinkansen Ticket

1. Shinkansen Route Map 2024

This is the map of Shinkansen lines in Japan. The Shinkansen network is constantly expanding, with the latest addition being the Kanazawa - Tsuruga interval on the Hokuriku Line, which began operation in April 2024.

Check the area you wish to visit and which Shinkansen line you need to take before purchasing your ticket.

Read on to learn about the Shinkansen ticket types and how to buy them online or at station counters in Japan.

2. How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets Online

The Shinkansen will be crowded during the New Year period, Golden Week in the spring, the Obon Festival in mid-August, and on national holidays. Additionally, reserved seats may even be fully booked on weekends, so we recommend making reservations in advance.

If you're not using a Japan Rail Pass, then you'll buy your bullet train tickets individually. You can book your Shinkasen tickets on the activity booking site Klook.

Seat reservation window on Klook

Those who want to enjoy the magnificent view of Mount Fuji can directly select the seats with a view of Mount Fuji when booking online through Klook, and there's no additional charge!

3. Seat Types on the Shinkansen

There are three types of seats on the Shinkansen: reserved seats, non-reserved seats, and green seats.

On most Shinkansen trains, the non-reserved seats are located in the first three cars, and passengers can sit wherever they prefer. The fare is cheaper (by about 500 yen) than for a reserved seat.

However, during the peak travel seasons, such as at the end of December, New Year holidays, and the Golden Week in spring, all the non-reserved seats may be taken and some of the passengers may have to stand until they reach their destinations.

The Tohoku Shinkansen, which connects Tokyo to northern Japan, does not have non-reserved seats, so be sure to check in advance which Shinkansen you need to ride.

The number of green seats is limited on each train, and the fare is more expensive (by a few thousand yen) than for a reserved seat. A green seat is wider than a reserved/non-reserved seat, so passengers can enjoy a pleasant, quiet ride.

4. Shinkansen Tickets: Description

To ride the Shinkansen, you need two tickets: a passenger ticket and a limited express ticket.

The passenger ticket indicates the car and seat numbers along with the arrival station. The limited express ticket is required to ride particularly fast trains such as the Shinkansen.

To ride a Shinkansen and/or a limited express train, you will purchase the two types of tickets mentioned above, although there is also a single, integrated type of ticket for some trains.

As shown in the photograph above, passengers will be asked to present their tickets to the train attendant, who will come to check your tickets during the ride.

5. Using the JR Pass to Ride the Shinkansen

If you're visiting Japan and wish to explore various areas during your trip, we recommend using the Japan Rail Pass. This pass allows the user to ride various trains on the JR lines, including the Shinkansen. The price for a seven-day pass is 50,000 yen.

If you want to travel by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakata in Fukuoka (one way 25,590 yen) or from Tokyo to Hakodate in Hokkaido (one way 25,210 yen) and back, and also explore those areas for a few days using JR lines, then the JR Pass is a great deal.

To obtain the Japan Rail Pass, you need to purchase an Exchange Order before your arrival in Japan from designated sales travel or online from booking sites like Japan Experience or Klook:

On the other hand, if you plan to explore a particular area in Japan over several days, consider using one of the convenient regional passes offered by Japan Railways, which we introduce below. Holders of these JR passes can also use the Shinkansen with no additional charges.

- 5-Day JR EAST PASS (Tohoku Area) for Tokyo, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Fukushima, Aomori, Yamagata, Akita, and other area in northeastern Japan
- 5-Day JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata Area) for Tokyo, Saitama, Nagano, Niigata, and other areas north of Tokyo
- 5-Day JR Kansai WIDE Pass for Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Tottori, Takamatsu, and other areas in western Japan
- 5-Day JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Okayama, Wakayama, and other areas in Western Japan
- JR Kyushu Rail Pass for Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Beppu, adn other areas in Kyushu
- JR Hokkaido Rail Pass (5 or 7 Days) for Sapporo, Hakodate, Otaru, Asahikawa, and other areas in Hokkaido
- JR East and South Hokkaido Rail Pass for areas in eastern Japan such as Nikko, Fukushima, Sendai, and Yamagata, plus southern Hokkaido, including the Sapporo area.

Making Shinkansen Ticket Reservations with a JR Pass

The simplest way to make a Shinkansen seat reservation once you already have a JR Pass is at a JR Ticket Office (Midori no Madoguchi) located within major JR stations in Japan.

Be sure to arrive early at the station on the day of departure to have time for your seat reservation and receive your ticket.

6. Buying Shinkansen Tickets at the Station

If you plan to buy Shinkansen tickets at the station after you arrive in Japan, go to the Midori no madoguchi (JR ticket office) or use the ticket machine.

Please be aware that the Shinkansen bullet train is operated by Japan Railways (JR) only, so make sure that the station of purchase is a JR train station. Shinkansen tickets cannot be purchased from stations operated by other railway companies than JR.

Midori no Madoguchi (JR Ticket Office)

The Midori no madoguchi at Ueno Station

Midori no madoguchi is a ticket office located at major stations in the JR network.

Pro: You will be able to talk to an attendant who can offer additional information for your trip.
Con: You may have to wait in line. The attendant may speak only Japanese.

Using the Ticket Machines

The Shinkansen ticket machine at Kyoto Station

The photograph shows the ticket machines located at Shinkansen stations, which handle tickets for reserved, non-reserved, and green seats. The ticket machine display can be switched to English.

You may not have to wait in line at the ticket machine, but have your itinerary ready, as operating the machine can be complicated at times.

The timetable for the trains is displayed on one of the monitors, so be sure to check it at the time of purchase.

Pro: The display can be switched to English. It is less crowded than the JR ticket office.
Con: The operation can be slightly complicated.

7. How to Use Your Shinkansen Ticket

There is an exclusive ticket gate for Shinkansen trains at the station, which is separated from other ticket gates. Just slide both tickets at a time into the gate.

Check the electric bulletin board, which displays the timetable, and head to your Shinkansen platform. If you have a non-reserved seat ticket, find where the non-reserved cars are located in the train, and wait in line.

There are kiosks nearby the ticket gates selling beverages and bentos (packed lunch boxes). It's a good idea to buy some snacks before boarding the train. Food and beverages can also be purchased aboard the Shinkansen.

After boarding the train, there will be nothing left to do but relax and enjoy the scenery.

Enjoy Your Ride on the Shinkansen

The Shinkansen makes traveling in Japan so much easier. Be sure to make all the necessary preparations and then enjoy your trip to the fullest!

Main image by Pixta
Original text written by Miki Takeshita