How to reserve a seat of Japan Railway trains at the station and online

Timetable and reservation
Midori no Madoguchi (reservation window) and ticket window at Central Exit concourse. (C) JP Rail
2009.12.30
Tohoku Shinkansen E5 series run mostly as Hayabusa and Hayate. These trains have only reserved seat. You cannot take this train without seat reservation.
The Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa has only a reserved seat car. You cannot take this train without a seat reservation.

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

Midori no Madoguchi (みどりの窓口)

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.

The logo of Midori no Madoguchi

“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 ticket office. It does not have any green signage. It looks very simple.

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 site

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

  1. JennyH says:
    October 18, 2013 at 3:34 am

    We are a family of four travelling Kyoto to Hiroshima on 1 January. We only arrive in Japan on 28 December to collect our rail passes. Do you anticpate it will be difficult to book a trains? Also we are travelling Hiroshima -Tokyo on 3rd January. We hadn’t realised how busy this period would be in Japan. We plan to buy ordinary pass? Thank you for the website it is most intersting.

  2. Tan says:
    October 6, 2013 at 7:30 am

    Hi,

    Excellent info but I’m still not clear on a couple of things. I plan to get a JR West Kansai Wide Pass which I know covers JR trains + shinkansen.

    What I would like to know is, when I collect my Pass at the JR Office at Kansai Airport :

    1) Can I reserve my seats for my upcoming shinkansen ride at JR Office at Kansai?

    2) Do I need to pay extra to reserve a seat e.g. Kodama 773 for Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe : Fare is 620 Yen & Reserved Seat Fee is 2190 Yen. Do I pay that extra of 2190 Yen?

    Thank you!

  3. Leigh says:
    September 11, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thankyou for all your thorough information on this website! It is a fabulous resource for trip planning in Japan.

    I am looking to book a reserved seat on the Tokaido Shinkansen Tokyo-Kyoto on the 3rd Jan 2014. I am a littleworried because it is in the New Year period and from what I read online, it will be busy on the trains. We are probably not going to use a JR pass because it is not worth it for us so this will be a booking for a single one way journey.

    From your post it looks like I cannot book using the JR East online service in English. I have a friend that can understand Japanese so is there any website in Japanese that would allow online bookings from outside of Japan? Otherwise I guess I will have to wait until we arrive in Tokyo on the 27th December.

    Thanks
    Leigh

    • JPRail says:
      September 11, 2013 at 5:16 pm

      Hi Leigh,

      I usually use JR East’s “Eki-net”. That is Japanese online booking site. Tokaido Shinkansen can be reserved on that site.
      http://jreast.eki-net.com/

      But you must have an address in Japan. I have my brother in Japan. So I can use his address. If you have anybody who can allow to use an address, you can make an account.
      Unfortunately this is only way to book it from outside of Japan.

      If you start the trip from Kyoto, you can use JR West’s Odekake-net phone booking service. But if you use this service, you have to pick up the ticket at Kansai area.

      In worst case, I think you can book it after you arrive in Japan. Jan 3 is in New Year’s holidays. But it will not be a peak day. The peak periods are Jan 4 and 5 to Tokyo. You will travel opposite way. I think it will be okay.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Leigh says:
        September 11, 2013 at 5:25 pm

        Thanks Takeshi.

        It looks like I will have to wait until we arrive in Japan, which is Tokyo on 27th Dec. And as you pointed out, we are travelling out of Tokyo to Kyoto on the 3rd Jan, it should not be as busy – that is good to hear!

        Kind Regards,
        Leigh

  4. andi says:
    September 9, 2013 at 3:18 am

    Some queries on please on the route and tickets as this is my first trip to Japan and rather on a last minute situtaion.

    Apologies as my questions are rather fragmented as am rather confused on how to optimise JR Kansai 4-Day Pass, Suica and other passes that I should use.

    1) Will be arriving in Narita on 29 September and will take a limousine bus to hotel in Shinjuku. Will spend 4 days in Tokyo. I will buy a Suica to move around Tokyo. Would this suffice? And on what trains can’t I use it on?

    2) 2nd October, will leave from Shinjuku Station to Kyoto. I will purchase a 1 way ticket from Shinjuku-Tokyo Station- Shinkansen to Kyoto. Total cost: Yen 7,980.

    3) Moving around Kyoto, will I be using Suica more or should I activate my JR Kansai Area 4-Day Pass? If card is activated on 2nd Oct, it will expire on 6 Oct and I only leave Osaka on 8 Oct

    4) 4th Oct will leave Kyoto for Osaka and use JR Kansai Area 4-Day Pass on Limited Express Thunderbird. Would staying around the Namba-Nankai Station be convenient to move around and thereafter to Kansai International Airport on the 8th Oct?

    5) Moving around Osaka for sightseeing places, would JR Kansai Pass be sufficient? Or would I be using the Suica/ICOCA more?

    To get to Kansai International Airport from Namba Nankai Station, I noted that I am unable to use JR Pass and will have to buy a separate ticket (Nankai Ltd Exp Rapit Yen890). Would this be correct?

    6) I will travel between Osaka-Kobe-Osaka using the JR Kansai Pass.

    Also hope to make a trip to Rinku Premium Outlet and I understand taht I have to buy a separate ticket (Nankai Ltd Exp Rapit).

    I was also told that I should use the Osaka Unlimited Pass for 2 days but am not sure when or how to include this into my itinerary. greatly appreciate your input.

    Thank you.

  5. elisa yu says:
    September 2, 2013 at 7:15 am

    Hi JPRail

    Thank you for your website, it’s very helpful.

    I want to ask again, from Fukuoka to Osaka, what is the bullet train that i will take? i will buy online. i will be in Fukuoka this sept 10 then Sept. 13 transfer to Osaka
    .
    Thank you for your time!

  6. Matt says:
    August 17, 2013 at 10:03 am

    Hi,

    Thank you for your wonderfully useful website.

    I have a quick question… If I am wishing to use my JR pass between Tokyo (Ueno) and Sapporo, do I have to reserve seats on the two connecting trains separately? Or if I go to the reservation office, will they book seats on the Shinkansen and the connecting trains in one go?

    Many thanks,

    Matt

    • JPRail says:
      August 17, 2013 at 2:22 pm

      Hi Matt,

      You can book all trains at one stop. For example, if you book at Ueno, you can book Shinansen from Ueno to Shin-Aomori, Super Hakucho from Shin-Aomori to Hakodate and Super Hokuto from Hakodate to Sapporo. If you want, you can finish all booking when you exchange JR Pass. I usually do it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. Khoo says:
    August 11, 2013 at 12:11 am

    I will go to Japan by this November. Can I buy a ticket for day trip from Osaka to Mt Fuji to Osaka ?

    • JPRail says:
      August 11, 2013 at 7:34 am

      Hi Khoo,

      You can purchase it in Japan. But round trip to Fuji (Lake Kawaguchi) fare from Osaka is almost same amount as JR Pass 7 days.

      Cheer,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. dreamer says:
    July 2, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Hi,

    Hubby and I planning to go Fukuoka. We are planning to go to Huis Ten Bosch but we are kinda confused on the JR Kyushu system. So the JR pass for Kyushu covers ordinary car reservation correct? so no need to pay extra for reservation fee?

    Also, is Fukuoka mostly JR stations? or many local subways? debating if we should be getting 3 or 5 day pass as we are staying 5 days and 4 nights.

    Any reply is greatly appreciated.

    CC

  9. Liem Ko Peng says:
    June 20, 2013 at 10:22 am

    First July I will go to Tokyo, (sorry before) is it safe go by train at night? thanks

  10. Lorraine says:
    May 8, 2013 at 8:30 am

    Hello, your website has been really helpful.
    I just have a quick question.
    The Eki-net (えきねっと) that your friend provided you with.
    Does it only work with an address in Japan?
    I understand Japanese and would like to reserve seats before I get to Japan from Canada.
    As I need to reach Takayama on the day where I arrive at Narita so I don’t wish to end up stranded and unable to get tickets on the Shinkansen Hikari from Shinagawa to Nagoya and Nagoya to Takayama on the Hida Limited.

    • JPRail says:
      May 8, 2013 at 12:57 pm

      Hi Lorraine,

      Thank you for your comment about my website.

      If you register Eki-Net, address in Japan is required. When you register, you have to choose one of 47 prefecture in Japan.

      I understand you are not comfortable without reservation to arrive in Japan. But there is only way to book before departure.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

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