Shinkansen Train Tickets and Japan Rail Pass Guide

Shinkansen Train Tickets and Japan Rail Pass - Updated 2024

Japanese Railways

In general, we divide 2 types of train lines in Japan: regular trains and Shinkansen. Some regular train lines are operated by the Japan Railways (JR) company and some are owned by private operators. Even though we call the Shinkansen a type of train, namely the fastest, in Japan it is operated by several different companies depending on the line, five are the main ones:

* Tokaido Shinkansen (東海道新幹線), the most important and busy line, connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka (including Nagoya and Kyoto), is operated by JR Central. Just imagine this route is the Tokyo route to the West.

* The Sanyō Shinkansen (山陽新幹線), a link from Osaka to Fukuoka (covering Kobe and Hiroshima), is operated by JR West.

* The Tohoku Shinkansen, the Tokyo line from North to the very tip of the island, is operated by JR East.

* The Hokkaido Shinkansen, a connection to the Tohoku Shinkansen, opened in March 2016 which connects Shin-Aomori and Hakodate Hokuto via the underwater Seikan Tunnel with the Hayabusa Shinkansen train making the train route to Hokkaido Island even more concise. The plan is that this Shinkansen line will be connected to the city of Sapporo.

* Hokuriku Shinkansen, connecting Tokyo to Kanazawa to Tsuruga. This route has become popular for tourists who want to explore Toyama, Murodo Dam, Alpine Route, and Shirakawa-Go village.

For information, this article is part of the Travel Guide to Japan. If you specifically want to study transportation within the city of Tokyo, you can go directly to the Tokyo Transportation article.

Shinkansen

There are 2-3 types of Shinkansen departures according to travel time (and actually the number of stops made). The names vary depending on the operator, such as Super Express, Express, and All-stop. For the Tokaido line: the most express is called Nozomi, which means it has the fewest stops so it gets there faster. Below that is the Hikari type, and the last stop at all stations is the Kodama type. Meanwhile, for the Hokuriku line (Tokyo-Nagano-Kanazawa) there are differences between Kagayaki (fastest) and Hakutaka, both of which use the same type of train, namely the E7 series.

If you take the Nozomi type, you can get the newest Shinkansen type, namely the N700 series on the Tokaido line, but not always, depending on the schedule. Also because it doesn't make many stops, this Shinkansen can reach a top speed of 270-300km/hour, whereas the regular Kodama only does around 200km/hour (because it has to stop every now and then) and definitely uses the 700 series trains.

For example, for the Tokaido Shinkansen line, between Tokyo to Osaka, Nozomi (total 2 hours 30 minutes) only stops at Nagoya and Kyoto, whereas if you use the Hikari train (3 hours 2 minutes) there are additional stops at Shizuoka and Hamamatsu , and the Kodama train (4 hours 4 minutes) stops at every stop/city passed.

How do we know what type of train to take? Use the Navitime website or app. First enter the city of origin and destination, then select the desired departure/arrival date and time.

Previously there was Hyperdia which was very useful and complete, unfortunately it has not been updated with the latest timetable since 2022. The Jorudan application also cannot be used by free users anymore.

Later the schedule and train connections that we need to choose will be displayed along with the ticket price if we buy point-to-point.

There are two components to the price of a Shinkansen train, namely the basic fare (whether you want to take the Nozomi or Kodama is the same) and the seat fee. We definitely pay for these two components. This seat fee also differentiates Nozomi from Hikari, but if we choose not to reserve a seat, the seat fee figure will be the same. We pay for these two components at once when purchasing via a ticket machine.

So we can buy a Nozomi type ticket without booking a seat number, which has the same price as Hikari. In low season, usually in non-reserved carriages there are always empty spaces, but in high season or peak time when you're coming home from work or we don't board at the station at the start of departure, you may have to stand on the train.

Every regular Shinkansen train always has a standard carriage and a Green Car carriage (like first class). Boards on the platforms will provide information on the location of Green Cars and reserved-seat carriages. So before the train arrives we have to get ready in the carriage we want. On the platform floor there is an indication of the carriage number where the train will stop, that's great! So we just queue there. This is important if we don't have a reserved seat, so we have to queue to board a non-reserved carriage.

How to buy Shinkansen tickets

The first rule is the assumption that you don't have to buy a JR Pass. Sometimes travel needs while in Japan are only small. So always calculate the price of the trains one by one. Before buying a ticket to the machine, you should first research using the Jorudan or Navitime website as explained above, to get the exact schedule of the train you want, because if you are still picky you might end up with a long queue behind you. The best holiday packages

We cannot use an IC Card (Pasmo, Suica, Icoca, etc.) to take the Shinkansen, so we have to buy a special Shinkansen ticket. You can buy it via the Shinkansen machine near the entrance gate at the station. Make sure there is Shinkansen written on the machine. There is an English menu available on the machine, so don't be afraid to buy it yourself.

In principle, the menu sequence is to select the language, then determine the destination station and departure date, select Ordinary or Green Car, whether you want a reserved seat or free-seating/non-reserved. Next is the number of people, lastly you pay, you can use a credit card or cash.

If you're confused, try opening YouTube because lots of people are recording how to buy tickets. My advice is don't buy over the counter if you don't have a definite schedule and train number. Assume that all the existing JR staff are illiterate in English and illiterate (sorry no hard feeling*). The only people who can speak English are the officers at the Tourist Office.

We insert the ticket (cardboard paper to be precise) that comes out of this machine into the ticket slot when passing through the ticket gate. Likewise, when you arrive at your destination, use this ticket to leave the gate.

Japan Rail Pass

Most people know that if you want to go to Japan, you have to buy a JR / Japan Rail Pass (ジャパンレールパス japan rēru pasu) so you can ride Shinkansen trains and intercity trains as much as you like. But actually we need to know more to consider whether we need to buy this rail pass. Well, people know that the Rail Pass is a total network operated by JR Central, JR East and JR West.

Even if you only play in Tokyo or Osaka, you don't necessarily need this pass. There are other more specific rail passes, for example the JR Kansai Pass for the Osaka area, and the JR East Pass if you only want to play on the Tohoku Line, you can read and compare them on the Klook website.

It should be noted that the JR Pass generally cannot be used to take subway trains (metro/mrt) within the city.

Once again, also compare with point-to-point train fares, because you won't necessarily use the Shinkansen every day.

With this Japan Rail Pass, we can ride the Shinkansen Hikari and Kodama classes as much as we like (with reserved seats first), for the time period we purchased. JR Rail Pass holders may not ride Nozomi (Tokaido line) and Mizuho (Sanyo Line) trains, even non-reserved carriages. Apart from Shinkansen trains, we can also take regular trains as long as they are operated by Japan Rail (JR East, JR West, JR Hokkaido), for example the Tokyo to Nikko line and the Hakodate Line from Hakodate to Sapporo.

JR Japan Rail Pass tickets are ¥50,000 (around 5.5 million rupiah) per person with a validity of 7 days. This price includes seat and baggage reservation fees. So before boarding the train we can reserve seats via the JR counter.

For comparison, if we buy a point-to-point train ticket, the price of a Shinkansen train ticket is as follows (rate for unreserved seats, one-way price).

So, if you buy a Japan Rail Pass, it's quite difficult to get back your investment if you just take the Tokyo-Osaka route round trip in 7 days. If used in one direction only, buying a Tokyo-Osaka ticket is only ¥13,620 (+¥520 for seat reservation). You really need to use the train extensively to buy this full Japanese pass. An alternative to buying point-to-point tickets is to buy the cheaper Hokuriku Arch Pass, which I explain below.

If you plan to take the train to Sapporo, consider buying a JR East South Hokkaido Pass instead of the regular JR Whole Japan Rail Pass, because apart from being cheaper, the use of the days is flexible for 6 days (doesn't have to be consecutive days), although the South Hokkaido Pass cannot be used for take the train from Sapporo to Furano.

Other Rail Passes

Because the price of the Whole JR Pass is quite expensive (the same as your plane ticket to Japan), consider using another Rail Pass that is more specific depending on your needs, and the price is cheaper than the Japan Rail Pass. So my suggestion is that you first determine the route and itinerary, then just look for a suitable Rail Pass. You can also not buy a Rail Pass at all, aka just buy a point-to-point ticket if you think it's cheaper. There are lots of Rail Passes for sale, starting from JR East Pass, West Pass, Kanto Pass, Takayama Hokuriku, JR Hokkaido Pass, and others. There are also area specific ones such as the Hakone Free Pass and Tateyama Kurobe Option Ticket.

Some of the Rail Passes that will be explained here are the Kansai Wide Pass and the Hokuriku Arch Pass.

Tokyo Wide Pass

If you just want to play around Tokyo, then just buy the Tokyo Wide Pass (10,180 yen). For 3 consecutive days, this pass is suitable if you want to visit Mount Fuji (Hakone, Kawaguchiko), Nikko, or Gala Yuzawa. Read: daytrip inspiration from Tokyo.

JR East Pass

If 3 days is not enough to explore around Tokyo, consider buying a JR East Pass. There are 2 types: Tohoku Area (¥20000) and Nagano Niigata Area (¥18000). Depending on your destination, this pass offers free travel for 5 consecutive days (before April 2021 this pass could be used 5 flexible days within 14 days) in the Tokyo, Tohuku or Niigata areas.

In my opinion, this pass is suitable for use in winter. If you are planning to go to Nagano, or want to play in the snow or ski in the Niigata mountains such as Gala Yuzawa, you can buy the East Pass Niigata. Meanwhile, to get to areas like Sendai, Akita, or Aomori in the far north, you can use East Pass Tohoku.

Hokuriku Arch Pass

Since the opening of the new Shinkansen line in the Hokuriku area, this route is now starting to be sold as a new tourist destination. If you look at the map, Hokuriku is an area northwest of Tokyo, above Nagoya.

By purchasing a Hokuriku Arch Pass for ¥24,500 for 7 days (from March 16 2024 it increases to ¥30,000), we can take the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa-Tsuruga in March 2024), plus the Thunderbird train from Tsuruga to Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Nara , including lines covered by the Japan Rail Pass in Tokyo such as the Narita Express (N'EX), Tokyo Monorail, JR Yamanote, plus also Haruka Limited Express between Osaka to Kansai Airport. You can learn the details of the train routes supported by Hokuriku Arch here.

Currently, this pass is a cheaper alternative to buying a JR Rail Pass if you need to travel between Tokyo-Osaka and the surrounding area, although it takes longer, and does not pass through Nagoya.

Kansai Wide Pass

This pass is valid in the Kansai area, including Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe Nara, and routes to Himeji, Okayama and Takamatsu. With a fairly cheap price of ¥8500 valid for 5 days.

Buy this Kansai Wide Pass if you focus on playing in the Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe area for 5 days, such as round trip to Kansai Airport (KIX) or going to Kobe and Himeji Castle.

It can also be combined by buying a Tokyo-Osaka point-to-point ticket, so you can play in Tokyo as long as you want, then add 5 days in the Kansai Area, then return via Kansai Airport.

Hokkaido Pass

If your needs are specifically for a holiday on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, then consider just buying a JR Hokkaido Pass, which is cheaper than JR Passes globally. Available starting from a pass for 3 days use ¥16500, 5 days ¥22000 and a 7 day pass ¥24000. There is also a flexible 4 day (don't have to be consecutive days) ¥22000, suitable if you don't use the train every day.

All trains currently served by JR Hokkaido can be used with this pass except Shinkansen trains in Hakodate (this train is only for those coming/going to Tokyo).

Tip: Don't forget if you have this pass, show your Hokkaido Pass to get an additional 7% discount (in addition to the tax-free discount) at BIC Camera at JR Sapporo Station.

How to Buy a Rail Pass

You can buy a Japan Rail Pass online, for example via Klook, or via a travel agent in Indonesia.

Starting April 2021 we can buy JR Passes in Japan (previously they could only be bought from outside Japan). You can even buy it at the ticket machine. Look for the Shinkansen Ticket logo at major stations.

Buying online (like Klook) is convenient, sometimes there are discounts and you don't get credit card surcharges compared to local travel agents. If we buy, we will be given a kind of voucher which we will have to exchange when we arrive in Japan. The exchange place will be written on the voucher, generally JR offices at major stations in all cities including Narita Airport and Haneda Airport

Oh yes, one more thing, the child rate (6-12 years) is half the price of all the prices I wrote above. Toddlers 1-6 years old are considered free, can accommodate 2 toddlers, as long as they don't sit in a chair and travel together with a paying adult/child.

How to Reserve Seats

Regular Shinkansen trains have special reserved and non-reserved carriages (for those who are last minute), and there are also Shinkansens where 100% of the seats must be reserved. So, if you have purchased a Rail Pass with many options above, we can (and should) make seat reservations for free.

You can do this online, but because you are booking several days before use, you should go directly to the JR counter at the station. Just bring your Rail Pass and passport then inform the officer of the date, direction and time of departure for which we want to book a seat. It's best to do your research beforehand and write it down on paper to avoid communication problems. We can make reservations a few days before departure. Reservations may also be canceled without charge.

Later, the officer will provide proof of reservation in the form of green paper that looks like a train ticket as our souvenir. Now Rail Pass tickets are also used to enter automatic gates.

How to Ride the Shinkansen With a Rail Pass

Even though Shinkansen stations are usually in the same building as commuter train or subway stations, entry to the Shinkansen platform must be through the Shinkansen ticket gate. So pay attention to the signs inside stations such as Tokyo Station, Kyoto, or Shin-Osaka.

If we have a Rail Pass, the way to enter the Shinkansen gate is different from someone who buys a point-to-point ticket via a ticket machine. We have to go through a door/gate guarded by officers, by showing our Rail Pass.

2021 Update: Starting April 1 2021, we can enter the shinkansen station area via the automatic gate (the same way to enter the Tokyo subway or metro) using a shinkansen ticket (or Rail Pass) inserted into the ticket reader machine. So there is no need to go through the side gate which needs to be validated by officers again. At least this applies in the JR East area (Tokyo included here).

If you have a seat reservation, make sure you sit in the assigned seat number, so you don't get reprimanded by the officer. If you don't have a seat reservation, make sure you only sit in the non-reserved carriage.