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Transport

Reserve a Shinkansen

Book Shinkansen tickets while checking official sites, counters, and pickup rules.

shinkansenreservationticket

Start with this

If you have a JR Pass or regional pass, confirm whether booking or extra fees differ from normal tickets

Show this in Japanese

Continue with an official service

Check the scope and preparation before opening the official site, where you can confirm the provider’s current conditions and charges.

Smart EX

For Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. Registration requires age 18+, email and a 3D Secure card. Open the registration and booking guidance.

Link and scope checked:

Check the official site

JR-EAST Train Reservation

For routes toward Tohoku, Hokkaido, Joetsu and Hokuriku, search your exact journey and check coverage and ticket collection. Nationwide JAPAN RAIL PASS seat reservations cannot be made here; check your pass’s booking service.

Link and scope checked:

Check the official site

Check before you use it

Reopen these checks before booking or boarding.

Where can I book Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka Shinkansen tickets?

Smart EX is an official booking service for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, including Tokyo to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka. Registration requires age 18 or over, access to email, and a credit card that supports 3D Secure authentication. Choose stations, date and passengers; after payment, check the train and seats in your reservations.

Official sources checked:

How do I board after booking with Smart EX: QR ticket, IC card or paper ticket?

For QR boarding, obtain a separate QR-Ticket for each seat from the booking details. For IC boarding, assign each traveller’s compatible IC card to the reservation. Otherwise collect paper tickets before boarding: prepare the pickup code and login password, and carry the payment card. Check official pickup locations and times. A pickup QR code is different from a boarding QR-Ticket.

Official sources checked:

What if payment or ticket pickup fails?

Check your reservations before buying again, to avoid duplicate bookings. Check 3D Secure setup and issuer restrictions. Ticket machines may not allow pickup on the day you register. Take your booking screen and payment card to a JR Central, JR West or JR Kyushu counter at a major Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen station for help.

Official sources checked:

Official information checked: 2026-07

How to buy Shinkansen tickets

Compare official websites, station counters, ticket machines, and the JAPAN RAIL PASS before you choose how to buy.

1JR-EAST Train ReservationBook JR East-area Shinkansen online
JR-EAST Train Reservation sign

A multilingual online reservation service operated by JR East for visitors to Japan.

  • Use it mainly for JR East-area routes such as the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, and Hokkaido Shinkansen.
  • The service supports English and several other languages, including Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.

What you need

  • Departure and arrival stations
  • Travel date and preferred time
  • Number of passengers and seat type
  • Payment card
  • Pickup QR code or reservation number
  • It does not cover the Tokaido, Sanyo, or Kyushu Shinkansen. For Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima-Hakata routes, check other JR services or station counters.
Open official site
2Midori-no-madoguchi ticket officeBuy with help from station staff
Midori no Madoguchi ticket counter

A staffed ticket counter where you can ask about routes, dates, times, and seats.

  • Look for a green sign and the logo showing a person seated at a counter.
  • This is useful for complex transfers, rail-pass questions, changes, or refunds.

What you need

  • Destination station
  • Travel date and preferred time
  • Number of passengers
  • Non-reserved, reserved, or Green Car preference
  • Payment method
  • Passport or rail pass if using a pass
  • In JR Central areas, the sign may say "JR Ticket Office" or "JR全線きっぷうりば" instead. Hours and availability vary by station.
3Ticket machinesBuy or pick up tickets yourself
Shinkansen ticket machines at a station

Reserved-seat ticket machines can sell base-fare and Shinkansen express tickets and issue reserved tickets.

  • Many machines have a Language button so you can switch to English.
  • Follow the screen to select route, date, train, and seat, then pay by cash or card where supported.

What you need

  • Departure and arrival stations
  • Travel date and time
  • Cash or supported card
  • QR code or reservation number for online pickup
  • The same purchase card if required
EnglishSimplified ChineseTraditional ChineseKoreanJapanese
  • Supported languages and payment methods vary by railway company, station, and machine. Show the screen to staff if unsure.
4JAPAN RAIL PASSFor multi-city rail trips
JAPAN RAIL PASS sign

A nationwide rail pass jointly offered by the six JR Group companies for eligible overseas visitors.

  • Choose Ordinary Car or Green Car, each available for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days.
  • If purchased on the official website, reserved seats can be booked online before pickup. After pickup, you can scan the pass QR code at reserved-seat ticket machines to issue reserved-seat tickets.

What you need

  • Passport
  • Exchange order or official website purchase details
  • Start date
  • Route, date, time, and train for reserved seats
  • Pass or QR code
TokyoKyotoOsakaHiroshimaHakataSendaiKanazawa
  • As of July 2026, official prices are Ordinary Car: 7 days ¥50,000, 14 days ¥80,000, 21 days ¥100,000; Green Car: 7 days ¥70,000, 14 days ¥110,000, 21 days ¥140,000.
  • NOZOMI and MIZUHO are not covered by the pass alone. A special additional ticket is required if you use them.
Open official site
Tips
  • For Shinkansen travel, you need both a base fare ticket and a limited express ticket. They may be printed together on one ticket or separately as two tickets.
  • Non-reserved seats do not assign a specific seat. You can sit in an open non-reserved car seat, but you may have to stand when trains are busy. Reserved seats assign a train, car, and seat number, which is easier for first-time visitors or travelers with large luggage.
  • Online booking services differ by route. Do not mix up services for the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen with services for the Tohoku/Joetsu/Hokuriku/Hokkaido Shinkansen.
  • Even after buying online, you may still need to pick up paper tickets at the station. Pickup may require a reservation number, QR code, the credit card used for purchase, or your passport.
  • Some overseas-issued cards fail because of authentication or card-issuer restrictions. If payment does not work, try another card, a station counter, or a reserved-seat ticket machine.

Useful Japanese phrases

Finding a ticket machine

新幹線のチケットの券売機はどこですか。

Shinkansen no chiketto no kenbaiki wa doko desu ka.

Where is the ticket machine for Shinkansen tickets?

Finding the ticket office

みどりの窓口はどこですか。

Midori no madoguchi wa doko desu ka.

Where is the Midori-no-madoguchi ticket office?

Finding the Shinkansen gate

新幹線の改札はどこですか。

Shinkansen no kaisatsu wa doko desu ka.

Where is the Shinkansen ticket gate?

Article updated:

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