When you take the Shinkansen or the limited express train, you may have to book a seat because some trains require you a seat reservation. Though some limited express trains have some non-reserved cars, you should book a reserved seat if you can.
Especially if you use JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass, JR East Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass, Sanyo San’in Area Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass, these passes cover a reserved seat fee. Use this benefit to ride a train with a peace of mind.
I also strongly recommend you to secure a seat if you travel in the peak seasons, such as late April to the first week of May (a.k.a. Golden Week), August 10 to 20 (It is called “Obon” which is a summer break.) and the year-end/New Years holiday (December 29th to the first week of January.)
I would like to explain you how to book a reserved seat in this post
Before you make a reservation
If you intend to use Japan Rail Pass (a.k.a. JR Pass), JR East Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass, Sanyo Sanin Area Pass, Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass, you MUST turn in your exchange order to the actual Pass before booking your seat. You have to show your pass when you make a reservation. Exchange order does not work to book a train seat. Once you turned in, you can go ahead to make a reservation at any reservation windows and anytime. But if you use JR Easts’ online reservation, you can book a seat in advance before exchanging an actual pass. I will explain about this online reservation site later in this post.
Explaination by movie
You can watch the movie below which explains you about the booking in the station:
If you buy the JR Pass on the official reservation site, you can book a seat online. I explain how to use this site in the movie below:
I explain how to use JR East online booking step by step in the movie below:
Where you can book
First of all, I would like to tell you how to book a seat at the station. I will explain you about online booking later in this post.
You can book a seat at the ticket reservation office that is called “Midori no Madoguchi (みどりの窓口)”. You can find “Midori no Madoguchi” very easily. You will find a big green sign easily like the images above and below.
“Midori no Madoguchi” is located at most of major JR stations. If you are in major cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Fukuoka, Sapporo, you cannot miss “Midori no Madoguchi”. 99% of JR stations in these cities have “Midori no Madoguchi”. Some major stations have a few Midori no Madoguchi.
The signage is different in JR Central area.
If you travel in JR Central (JR東海) area, you cannot find Midori no Madoguchi. Because “Midori no Madoguchi” is JR East’s trademark and JR Central avoids to use it. In JR Central area, such as Nagoya, Mishima, Shizuoka, Gifu, Takayama, it is shown as “Shinkansen and JR Line Tickets (新幹線・JR線きっぷうりば)” like image below.
JR Central operates the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. JR Central has a ticket office outside JR Central operation area, such as Tokyo, Shin-Yokohama, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. In these stations, you can find two different kinds of the ticket office, “Midori no Madoguchi” and “Shinkansen and JR Line Tickets”. But you can use either ticket office to book any JR train tickets. This difference does not matter.
What kind of information you need
Please make sure the following information before you make a reservation:
- Date and time
- Train name and number
This is not required. But if you want to take the specific train, please tell the train name and number. It is much easier to make a reservation for the staff and you can save your time. All Shinkansen trains and most limited express trains have the combination of the name and number. e.g. “Hikari 246”. - Departure and Arrival Stations
- Smoking or Non Smoking
Smoking seat is still available on a few trains. If you really want to have a seat in the smoking car, you may ask a staff to look for. If you do not mention, usually you will be assigned a seat on non smoking car. If a seat is available on only smoking car, usually a staff let you know and make sure that you accept it or not. - Passport
If you use JR Pass or other JR passes, you always have to carry your passport. You may be asked to show it by a station officer or a conductor when they want to check it.
When you can start booking
You can make a reservation anytime within one month prior the departure date. The ticket is on sale one month prior to departure date at 10:00am
e.g.
Departure date — August 23 at 10:00 am. the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka
Ticket is on sale at 10:00 am on July 23.
e.g.
Departure date — August 24 at 00:34 am. Sunrise Seto from Osaka to Tokyo
Ticket is on sale at 10:00 am on July 23, not July 24. Because this train originally depart from Takamatsu at 21:26 on August 23. Overnight trains are very few in Japan currently. But if you book a seat on overnight booking, please check the departure date at the original departure station.
The reserve seat on most trains can be reserved at Midori no Madoguchi only. So you have to be in Japan when you book. Online booking is still very limited.
Online booking
Japan Rail Pass official site
If you buy the JR Pass at the official site, you can make a booking through this website.
Japan Rail Pass official reservation website
You can book a seat on most JR trains. However the price of JR pass is higher than the prices at the authorized dealers. If you buy the JR pass at the authorized dealer, you cannot book a seat on this site.
JR East Train Reservation
This online reservation system is operated by JR East. Unfortunately this JR East Shinkansen Reservation is only English online reservation for the traveler who use JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail pass and JR East Passes. If you intend to use a regular ticket, you can use this site too.
This site offers a seat reservation for the trains which run in JR East and JR Hokkaido areas. So you CANNOT make a reservation for the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen (Tokyo-Kyoto or Osaka) and other limited express trains which does not run in JR East and JR Hokkaido area. And also there are some restrictions. The biggest restriction is the ticket pick up. You must pick up a ticket one day before the travel date. You cannot pick up a ticket on the day of travel. Please read Guide (FAQ) before you make a booking.
Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Reservation App “EX”
This app is available in a few countries only. And also this app is available for a regular ticket user only. You cannot use this app to book a seat for JR Pass or other rail passes. However any rail passes do not meet your trip plan and this app is available in your country, this is very convenient. You can book it in advance from your smartphone.
JR West Online Train Reservation
JR West has launched the online reservation site. However this online booking system does not cover any train pass user. You can use this online reservation as the regular ticket user only.
If you use a regular ticket, this online site may be a good choice. This online booking covers most of JR trains.
Eki-net (えきねっと)
I have received a comment from one of my readers, Tak. He mentioned me that we can use this Japanese online reservation system even for Japan Rail Pass or other travel passes users. This online reservation is in Japanese. So unfortunately this is not available for all of you. However some of my readers asked me that we can use a friend in Japan to make a reservation for Japan Rail Pass user in outside of Japan. You can do it with your friend in Japan and use this site.
This reservation system covers all over Japan. You can book for the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka which is not available on JR East Train Reservation.
How to reserve a ticket from outside Japan in advance
As you saw, online reservation does not cover all trains. I really wish Japan Railway have full online reservation system.
If you want to secure your seat before departure, the local travel agent may be able to help you. This is only way to reserve a ticket before you depart from your country.
One of my frequent visitors, James in Australia, left a comment. He did this way many years ago. But I would like to share this information:
*JTB actually charge MORE than $55 Australian dollar($56 US dollar March 2011 currency) per ticket, in fact JTB charge $75 Australian dollar(US$76) per ticket.
The $75 came from $55 service fee plus $20 courier fee to deliver your ticket to your hotel in Japan, $55+$20=$75 Funny my ticket for SL-Yamaguchi express is only $60 therefore altogether I need to pay $135 to get SL-Yamaguchi express ticket!
So, all I can say is, if you want to get a JR train ticket before you get to Japan, make sure you are ok with paying at least $75( $76 US dollar), it helps if you really need to get on a particular train that is very hard to book or if you are travelling during peak season. But if you are not in a hurry, travelling in leisure pace across Japan, perhaps think twice.
I hope is worthy many people told me SL-Yamaguchi express is the best steam train experience ever in Japan.
Unfortunately this is only way to do it. You can find Japan Rail Pass authorized agent at JR Pass official site. They may be able to reserve a ticket for you too. But some of the agent do not want to reserve your seat. They want to book whole things, like hotel, air ticket, attraction tickets. Because it is too small profit to make a reservation for only train ticket.
Comments
Hello! I am planning to buy online tickets with seat reservation for Ltd Express/Shinkasen from Hakodate-Shin aomori-Ueno. I am choosing to collect the tickets from Hakodate. From the JR website, I know the office is open from 10am, but I am planning to take 8 am train out. Will I be allowed to collect tickets a day in advance? Otherwise, I have to change the time for departure. Hope you can advise…
Hi Angela,
Which online site are you going to use?
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I will be using www3.jrhokkaido.co.jp. The website is in eng and I can buy and make seat reservation but have to collect tickets at a ticket office which I have choice to pick.
Thanks for adding info, Angela.
This site does not accept JR Pass user but as you said, we can book online.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Will I be able to collect reserved tickets a day before departure date? The office is open at 10am but my intended departure time is 8am. Website indicate to collect at least 20 mins before time. Will you be able to advise?
Hello! Thank you for your helpful information. I’d like to ask about reserving overnight trains to make sure I understand well.
I am arriving in Japan on Feb 18 and activating a 7-day Rail Pass on Feb 21.
We want to take some overnight trains:
Hamanasu on Feb 22 from Aomori to Sapporo (want to book carpet car if possible)
Hokutosei on Feb 24 from Sapporo to Ueno (Duet or two Solo, B-Shindai is OK too)
Sunrise Seto on Feb 25 from Tokyo to Himeji (Nobinobi or Sunrise Twin)
If I understand correctly, I can call Odekake and reserve but I need to pick up within 8 days.
So if I can pick up tickets on Feb 19 in Kansai, I should call Odekake to make the reservation on Feb 12. Is this correct?
I wonder if I can really get seats calling so close…we are kind of flexible about room type and train, but not about days. What do you think?
Hi Ash,
If you use Odekake net for booking by JR pass, you have to pick up within 8 days. You are right.
But if you use JR Pass for taking overnight trains, the pass does not cover limited express surcharge for other than Carpet and Nobi Nobi. In this case, you can make a call one month prior to departure date. Especially Carpet, Duet, Solo, Sunrise twin are sold out right after on sale usually. I think you can make B-Shidai only if you book before 8 days.
You can book berth and seat without base fare ticket at Odekake net. JR Pass does not cover limited express charge for overnight trains anyway.
On the other hand, Hamanasu Carpet is fully covered by JR Pass. But if you want to get it, you should pay express charge at 1300 yen to secure the seat. Please refer the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/my-trip-from-aomori-to-sapporo-on-march-19-2012-by-hamanasu-carpet-car.html
Nobi Nobi is much easier than carpet. But it’s no surprised if it’s sold out within 8 days. But Sunrise is limited express train and surcharge is 3150 yen. It’s way higher than Hamanasu. You can try Sunrise twin first. And if you can’t make it, you can try Nobi Nobi if you want. But you have to pay 3150 yen even though JR Pass covers this fee.
So if you want to book the ticket on your wish list, you have to make a call to Odekake at 10:00 am on Jan 22, 24 and 25. Around 10:00 am, Odekake net is very busy. It’s hard to reach them. If you make a call 10 minutes earlier, you can contact them. But you have to think about how you will kill 10 minutes to 10:00 am. They don’t want to hold a line.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thanks for your helpful reply.
So, in short, I would have to call 30 days before departure to reserve the berth/seat, if I want to get the ones I like. But I would also have to pick up the reservations from JR West within 8 days, right? Can someone pick them up for me?
Hi Ash,
As long as you pay, you can pick up by departure date. 8 days restriction is for JR Pass user. You will be JR Pass user, but you will pay for accommodation fee and limited express surcharge. So you can make a call one month before and you can pick up it after you arrive.
I’ve done this way when I booked Hamanasu carpet and Hokutosei B-solo. When I tried to book for Hokutosei around 11:00, all tickets were sold out other than B berth.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
It’s 1 month to my trip now so I just tried to call and book, but the Odekake net agent told me that it’s not possible to book there without paying the base fare! All she could say was that it was impossible to use the rail pass to book by phone…oh no!! Not sure what to do now…
Hi Ash,
As far as I researched again, we can book limited express surcharge ticket without base fare ticket. But you should not tell them about JR pass. Just tell them you want to book a seat and you will purchase base fare ticket later.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi, I will be travelling to Hokkaido with 3 others from Dec 25 – Jan 2. We will be staying in Furano and want to take the train to Sapporo on the 30 Dec and then from Sapporo back to Sapporo Chitose airport on the 2 Jan. Could you let me know if I need to get a rail pass for this travel before entering Japan and whether I need to pre book my tickets as i know it is a busy period.
Thanks for your help
Karen
Hi Karen,
Single ticket is most affordable choice for your trip.
You can book it at the link below:
https://www3.jrhokkaido.co.jp/rail-en/asp/RWY010.aspx
But if you take a train, you will take the following train:
Dec 30 local train (Furano-Takikawa) No booking required
Dec 30 Limited Express Super Kamui (Takikawa-Sapporo) can be booked
Jan 2 Rapid airport (Sapporo-New Chitose) can be booked but not required
So you should book only Limited Express Kamui on Dec 30. It takes less than one hour for this trip. This train has non reserved seat. You can take this train without booking. But you may not get a seat and will be standee on board.
Cheers,
Takehsi / JP Rail
Thank you Takehsi this information is really helpful. I appreciate the quick response you gave.
Cheers
Karen
No problem, Karen.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi, Takeshi
I will be Hokkaido next week and have organised to travel from the airport to the resort by bus. if I would like to take any additional trips by train would I need to have a rail pass or can you just buy the tickets on the spot?
Thanks for your help
Kind Regard
Karen
Hi Karen,
It depends on how much you travel by train. Before you make a decision, you have to make sure where you will go. Otherwise we cannot compare single fare and pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
hai,
my friend and i are going to japan this December. we are going to Sapporo from Osaka. i’m going to use JR Pass. can i use JR Pass for this route? do i have to pay more? thanks.
Hi Elena,
Take Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo. And then follow the route at the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html
Those are fully covered by JR Pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Dear Takeshi san,
I plan to visit kochi from osaka? could you tell me how to buy ticket to go there for round trip?
is it can be booked first? thank you
Hi Vina san,
You can book at any major JR stations. Especially in Osaka, you can book and purchase a ticket at any stations.
If you take limited express train, ticket is on sale one month prior to departure date. After that date, you can purchase and book anytime.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi, can you advise how I can purchase rail tickets in Hokkaido? I am contemplating the 3 day Hokkaido pass and am working out the sums using Hyperdia website to see if it is worth.
1) When I search for the fare, it gives me ‘fare’ and ‘seat fee’. Qn: is the seat fee compulsory? It’s pretty expensive, but I guess it guarantees a seat on the train? Is it possible to not pay the seat fee?
2) Where can I purchase the tickets from? At the train station? Do I need to purchase in advance?
3) If I purchase the JR Hokkaido pass, do I still need to pay a ‘seat fee’, or is my seat guaranteed? Where / how do I go about reserving this seat if I use the pass? Your post doesn’t seem to indicate online booking facility for JR Hokkaido?
Thanks for your help in advance!
Hi Benjamin,
1. When you take limited express train, you have to pay express surcharge. That is seat fee. If you pay reserved seat, your seat is secured. If you pay non reserved, you may have to stand up on the isle. Usually it is very rare to be standee.
2. You can purchase it at most of JR stations. If you purchase limited express surcharge with base fare ticket, you can purchase one month prior to departure date.
3. No. It’s covered by the pass. Actually JR Hokkaido has online reservation site. But it does not accept Hokkaido rail pass booking.
https://www3.jrhokkaido.co.jp/rail-en/asp/RWY010.aspx
there is no online reservation system for overseas tourist. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
My friend and I are going to Osaka next week. Is it possible to book an overnight train bound for Osaka-Tokyo at sunrise seto 3days after our arrival? We are arriving on Nov. 4. We plan to take the overnight train (Nov.7-8). But you mentioned we should reserve one month in advance.
If its not possible, would an overnight bus ride with Willer Express do?
Hi Hannah,
It’s very hard to say.
Usually November is not busy period. If it’s sold out, no surprised.
Willer has overnight bus service. I think you can find the space on their website. Actually I have never taken Willer’s bus before. So I can’t say any more things about this bus.
https://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/bus/route/calendar.php?off=1&hkn=30&kns=15&oR=2301001&fR=1301001
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Dear Takeshi-san,
We are a family of 5 and plan to visit Japan in mid Nov as self-guided tour. Our planned itinerary is as follow:-
Day 1-2 : Arrive Narita, stay at Setagaya area, visit Tokyo Disneyland
Day 3 : day trip to Mt Fuji
Day 4-6 : Shinkansen to Osaka, stay at Otemae Universal Studio, day trip to Kyoto
Day 7-8 : Shinkansen back to Tokyo
Day 9 : Depart from Narita
We’re wondering whether we’d be getting 7 day JP East Rail Pass and/or individual rail ticket. Would appreciate it if you’d kindly advice us.
Thank you very much.
Best Rgds,
Jack
Hi Jack,
I recommend you to use JR Pass 7 days for Day 3 to the end. It will be cheaper and more flexible than single fares. You can use N’ex direct ticket or other deals on arrival day.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
Single ticket is only choice to get TDL.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
My family and I plan to visit Japan next week. from Nagoya we plan to travel to Osaka. How do we buy our tickets for Shinkasen train
Hi Glenn,
You can purchase it at Nagoya station or any other major JR stations on the spot.
If you want to save the cost, Kintetsu Rail Pass wide is recommended.
http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/useful/ticket/rpw1-2.html
Kintetsu Limited express train has very comfortable accommodations. It’s much slower than Shinkansen. But the cost is less than half.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi I am singapore will visit japan on june 2015 with family of 7 adults my question are following
1 = My journey start from sapporo to hokadate by JPRAIL
2= From hokadate to tokyo
3 = From tokyo to osaka
Please advice me on train journey from hokadate to tokyo and from tokyo to osaka. Thank you.
Hi Benson,
Please see the link below to get Tokyo from Hakodate.
https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html
From Tokyo to Osaka, you can take Shinkansen.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank u for quite reply and information provided should be importance during my trip and my planning.