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How to reserve the train seat of Japan Railway. Is Online reservation available for Japan Rail Pass user?

JPRail | 30th Dec 2009 | 75 Comments
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When you take Shinkansen, Limited Express train or Express train, you may take a reserved seat. Though some of the express train have a non-reserved seat, you should better take an reserved seat if you can. If you are Japan Rail Pass user, why don’t you take a reserve seat. Japan Rail Pass includes a reserved seat surcharge. You should use it! And also I strongly recommend to secure your seat especially in peak season, such as late April to the first week of May, August 10 to 20 (It is called “Obon” in Japan. It is a Summer vacation week) and December 29 to the first week of January.

Let’s learn how to get a reserved seat.

Before you make a reservation

If you are Japan Rail Pass user, you need to turn in your exchange order to actual Japan Rail Pass. You need to show your pass when you make a reservation. Once you turned in, you can go ahead to make a reservation any reservation window and anytime. But if you use JR Easts’ online reservation, you don’t need to have an actual pass. Please see the below to see the details about online reservation.

Midori no Madoguchi

Midori no Madoguchi (みどりの窓口)

Where you can

You can make an reservation at the 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 above image. “Midori no Madoguchi” is located at most of major stations. If you are in major cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, you cannot miss “Midori no Madoguchi”. You know why? Almost every stations have “Midori no Madoguchi”. You don’t need to worry that you cannot find it.

What kind of information you need

Please make sure the following infomation before you make an 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’s much easier to make a reservation. Every express trains have the combination of the name and number like “Hikari 246″.
  • Departure and Arrival Stations
  • Smoking or Non Smoking
    It’s good news for the smoker. Some JR trains still have the smoking seat. But it’s getting strict for smoking in Japan too. Especially in downtown Tokyo smoking during walking is the against regulation. Plaese be careful!
  • Passport
    Japan Rail Pass Holder always have to have a passport! You need to show it when a station officer or a conductor want to see it.

When you can

You can make an reservation anytime within one month prior the departure date. The ticket is started to sell one month prior to departure date at 10:00am

ex1)
Departure date — August 23, 2011 at 10:00 am. Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka
Ticket is started to sell at 10:00 am on July 23, 2011.

ex2)
Departure date — August 24, 2011 at 00:34 am. Sunrise Seto from Osaka to Tokyo
Ticket is started to sell at 10:00 am on July 23, 2011, not July 24. Because this train originally depart from Takamatsu at 21:26 on August 23. Be careful when you reserve the ticket for overnight trains.

Most of trains can be reserved at Midori no Madoguchi only. So you need to be in Japan when you book. Only JR East offer online reservation service. Even if you are Japan Rail Pass user, you can make a reservation in advance.

Online booking

JR East Shinkansen Reservation

This online reservation system is operated by JR East. Unfortunately this JR East Shinkansen Reservation is only English online reservation for Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass and single ticket users. You can book your seat for these following trains only.

This site offer the seat reservation for the trains that operate in JR East area. So you CANNOT make a reservation for Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen (Tokyo-Kyoto or Osaka). And also there are some restriction. For example, you can make a booking for Nikko. This train goes to Nikko. But you can make a booking between Shinjuku and Omiya only. You cannot make a booking between Omiya and Nikko, because this train is operated on Non-JR line between Omiya and Nikko. So please read Guide (FAQ) before you make a booking.

Eki-net (えきねっと)

I have received a comment from one of my readers, Tak. He told me we can use this Japanese online reservation system even for Japan Rail Pass users. This online reservation is in Japanese. So unfortunately anyone cannot use. 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. Yes. You can do it now.
This reservation system cover all over Japan. So for example, you can book for Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin Osaka. We cannot do this in JR East Shinkansen Reservation. But this online reservation is not perfect. I tried to book for several overnight trains, like Sunrise Seto, Hokutosei and Twilight Express. I could get some of overnight trains. I found Akebono and Hokutosei. But this site showed only Type-B berth. It did not show me any compartment. I have received so many questions about Nobi Nobi seat of Sunrise Seto/Izumo and Carpet car of Hamanasu. But I could not make it for these trains.
So even if you have a friend in Japan or speak Japanese, you still cannot make a reservation for most of overnight trains.

jr-odekake.net (JRおでかけネット)

This way is also added by my reader, Tak. This is reservation call center by JR West. Unfortunately this is Japanese speakers only. I don’t think everyone can use this service. But some readers have a contact in Japan. So I would like to share this information with you.

I have received a reply from JR West. The answer is as follows. “Once you arrive Japan and exchange the voucher to Japan Rail Pass, it is possible to make reservation at our call center. However, you have to collect the ticket within 8 days. (If your departure date is within 9 days, you have to collect 2 days before.) If you don’t collect it, your reservation is automatically cancelled.
This service is limited for the trains departing and arriving in JR West, Kyushu, Shiko area. ” (Well, that’s official answer, but I think you would be able to ring JR West and make reservation from your country even before exchange to JR pass. They cannot see your pass on the phone, and you’ll only need it at the station when collecting the ticket. However, the problem is you have to collect it within 9 days after reservation is made!)

According to the website, there are two ways to reserve a ticket.

http://www.jr-odekake.net/goyoyaku/phone/comparison.html

1. At call center, make reservation only. Payment is made on collecting the ticket at a JR West, Shikoku and Kyushu stations.
2. At call center, make reservation and pay by credit card on the phone.

So my understanding is that if you want to reserve Hamanasu carpet, Akebono Gronto or Sunrise nobi nobi at 10am, 1 month before, you will need to pay for Limited Express surcharge + reservation fee (指定席特急券) or Express surcharge + reservation fee 指定席急行券.

I agree with Tak. Even though Japan Rail Pass cover surcharge and reservation fee, you need to pay. Because this reservation call center is basically for common users. They don’t take any request without pay. But if you have someone who speak Japanese and you really want to secure your seat, this way of booking may work for you.

How can we reserve a ticket from outside of Japan before departure?

As you saw, online reservation do not cover all trains. I really wish Japan Railway have full online reservation system!!!
Anyway, if you want to secure your seat before departure, you need to use a travel agent. This is only way to reserve a ticket before you depart from your country. It is not cheap. One of my frequent visitor, James in Australia, left very useful comment. I would like to share this information with you.

I think many people here asked for how to get JR tickets before arriving Japan, I would like to add.

*JTB actually charge MORE than $55 Australian dollar($56 US dollar March 2011 currency) per ticket, in fact JTB charge $75 Australian dollar($76 USdollar) 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.

Do you think it’s rip off? But 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.

At the last, I would like to hear your opinion. I have been thinking this issue. If I make a call to Odekake.net instead of you, you may be able to book your ticket before departure. So please let me hear your opinion.

If I book your ticket at Odekake.net by JR West in Japanese instead of you, are you comfortable to provide me your credit card info?

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I might do this service on this site if I find lots of demand. I’m looking forward to hearing your opinion!

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75 Comments to “How to reserve the train seat of Japan Railway. Is Online reservation available for Japan Rail Pass user?”

  1. jenny says:
    May 2, 2012 at 6:32 am

    Hi, I will arrive at Kansai at around 8.30 pm. I wish to get to Kyoto station.Am I still able to catch the train after the immigration ( provide that no flight delay ) ?
    Can I buy both the Haruka express ticket ( kansai – kyoto , kyoto – kansai ) at the same time at the airport?
    Does Haruka epress ticket consider as type of JR pass, which visitor can only buy once inside Japan? ( kansai – kyoto , kyoto – kansai ) my destination only in Kyoto

    Reply
  2. Hanna says:
    March 21, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Thank you for finding time to reply all the queries in the website. You have been very helpful.

    I hope you can advise me on the following questions:

    1) I would like to know if I need to get a JR pass if I am only taking the train from Kansai Airport to Kinosaki Onsen; Kinosaki Onsen to Kyoto; Kyoto to Osaka; and Osaka to Kansai Airport. Travel period: 13 July to 21 July 2012.

    Most of the times, I plan to walk, cycle or take the bus in each city. I was advised that I do not need to get a JR pass for both Osaka and Kyoto for it’s convenient to take the bus or cycle around.

    2) As a foreigner arriving in Japan in July, do I need to purchase the Kansai Airport to Kinosaki Onsen ticket before I arrive in Japan or I can easily purchase the ticket when I reach Kansai airport. I’m worried that if I don’t book online, I might not be able to get my ticket to Kinosaki Onsen.

    Thank you. I look forward to your reply.

    Reply
  3. Zee says:
    March 18, 2012 at 1:06 am

    Hi,

    I am arriving Tokyo at night after 10pm and I need to travel to Matsumoto the next day morning. I have checked the JR East reservation website which I need to pick up the ticket the night before by 9pm. I wonder if I do not make the reservation, would it possible to get 2 seats in the morning when I travel in mid May?

    Reply
  4. Tak says:
    March 9, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I found JR hokkaido also has a phone reservation center. +81-11-221-1489
    There are two ways to buy your ticket:

    1. Reserve and pay by credit card at the same time on the phone. Pick up the ticket anytime before departure from a JR hokkaido station.
    2. Reserve on the phone. Pick up the ticket from a JR hokkaido station within 8 days (or if a reservation is made within 9 days before departure, pick up 2 days before departure).

    http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/network/tel/tel.html
    http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/faq/qa/01/index.html#qa06

    This is similar to JR West Odekake Net. I think this service is useful if you reserve overnight trains departing from Hokkaido. (Hokutosei, Cassiopeia, Twilight, Hamanasu etc. ) You can pick up the ticket

    You will need to pick up the ticket from a JR Hokkaido station, but JR Hokkaido has branches in Tokyo, Osaka and Sendai. I found some people say you can even pick up at JR hokkaido plaza in Tokyo station. http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1327646283
    If that is correct, this service is also useful for Hokutosei or Cassiopeia departing from Ueno for the two reasons. a. You cannot reserve these trains by JR East Eki net. b. If you reserve by JR West Odekake Net, you cannot pick up from Tokyo area.

    You can find the location of JR Hokkaido plaza in Tokyo station here.
    http://w1.alpha-web.ne.jp/~jrhtyo/shop.html

    Reply
    • JPRail says:
      March 9, 2012 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Takuji san,
      I found this comment in spam folder. Sorry about it. And thank you for useful info again!
      Takeshi / JP Rail

      Reply
      • Tak says:
        March 12, 2012 at 4:23 am

        You are welcome! I learned a lot how to make reservations from outside Japan. It’s just confusing because each JR company does in their own way! Different company offer different service. I think it’s difficult to understand even for a Japanese people in Japan. Ironically, the easiest way is to just go to a station even if we have the Internet and iphone.

        I recently noticed that you can actually pick up JR West odekake net ticket from JR Kyushu and Shikoku as well. I’d like to make a correction to what I wrote before.

        Reply
        • JPRail says:
          March 12, 2012 at 12:59 pm

          Hi Takuji san,
          I agree with you. Six different companies have different ideas. That is one of reason why JR Group do not have any online reservation systems for JR Pass users.
          Don’t worry regarding pick up ticket. JR Odekake net tell us details about pick up and payment. I think they need to tell this mandatory.
          Thanks anyway.
          Takeshi / JP Rail

          Reply
  5. Tak says:
    March 8, 2012 at 3:43 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I’ve posted a message about JR hokkaido reservation about a week ago. I was wondering if it was successfully sent to you because I don’t see the message here. Thanks,

    Reply
  6. James says:
    February 29, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    Hi Jonathan

    Why don’t you contact Sydney office? thats where I make booking from. So far I bought many popular train tickets off them.

    *指宿の玉手箱/Ibutama
    *山口/SL Yamaguchi during the double head C57+C58 period in October
    *あけぼの/Akebono during winter peak
    *A Train , the 2nd day after starting of the service!
    *SL Hitoyoshi/ SL人吉号 during winter peak

    Their contact:

    http://www.japantravel.com.au/Contact-Us.asp

    And yes you do pay for full fare, but honestly nowadays Aussie dollar are quite good, even overnight train fare in Japan looks cheap. Especially when you compare with other overnight trains around the world and even within Australia.

    YOu do have to prebook hotel, but the Sydney office was ok with I make my own hotel booking through Toyoko Inn.

    By the way, Sydney office WON’T make booking for Twilight Express/Cassiopeia/Hokutosei during peak period. Akebono maybe but not these three!

    I hope they won’t change rule ! :)

    Cheers
    James

    Reply
  7. JAyre says:
    February 29, 2012 at 1:45 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I contacted the JTB in Australia. They have closed their Gold Coast Office since I booked through them last year, meaning I had to go through their Melbourne Office. I asked them about the booking of rail tickets. They said they won’t book rail tickets on their own for people, unless purchasing accommodation or tour packages through them. To be honest, their response was disappointing.

    Even if you book a Japan Rail Pass with them or have an exchange order, when you book accommodation or a tour package, you still have to pay full fare for booked trains also. They will not book Seat and Ltd Exp surcharges only for people.

    This is a big blow for anyone who was looking for a bit of English language booking assistance for popular trains before they go to Japan, myself included. I was hoping to book tickets for Twilight Express during Golden Week, as I am taking a short trip to Japan in May with my wife. Do you have any advice?

    Best regards,

    - Jonathan Ayre -

    Reply
    • JPRail says:
      February 29, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      Hi Jonathan,
      How about JTB Sydney? James uses JTB Sydney to book a train.
      I talked to several travel agent here in Vancouver. They are not interested in only reservation. They said same thing. They want to sell a package product too. It is too bad!
      Takeshi / JP Rail

      Reply
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I am very happy to answer your questions. But if you are looking for the information about timetable ,fare and reservations, please read the following posts before you leave a commnet:

  • If you are looking for the information about timetable, please refer Japan Railway's timetables.
  • If you are looking for the information about the fare, please refer Fare Calculation.
  • If you are looking for the information about reservation, please refer, How to reserve seat.
  • And you may find the infomation that you need at full index in top page.
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