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
Hi, is there seat reservation at takayama station for nagoya via limited express train? Using jr pass thanks
Hi Ria,
You can book and purchase a ticket for Nagoya by limited express at Takayama station.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Great info here, thanks for sharing!
I will travel all over Japan 30 days in march-april using a Green JR pass (10 train trips planned so far). My itinuary is not fixed and the dates may shift close to travelling. How far in advance do you recommend reserving tickets?
Is it realistic to expect to reserve within 3 hours of for example travelling between Hiroshima and Osaka?
Hi Frank,
It depends on the time, the date and the trip route. If you take the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Osaka, it’s not hard. Because the train runs very frequently. Reservation can be accepted 10 minutes before the departure time. You may not be able to find the seat on Green car because the number of seats are much fewer than Ordinary class. But usually you can do it on the day of travel.
I usually complete all bookings when I exchange the pass. I understand that you want flexibility. But I recommend you to book a seat as early as possible. You can find the availability at Cyberstation.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-find-seat-availability-of-trains-jr-cyber-station-guide.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi, that is very helpful and I sincerely appreciate the time and effort you make to help ordinary citizens of planet Earth. You, sir, is a genuine hero. 🙂
No worries, Frank!
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, thank you for publishing all this info, its most helpful.
We are travelling from Australia to Japan arriving 22 Feb staying in a hotel overnight (train station accommodation Chitose, one stop from New Chitose Airport).
The following day (23 Feb 2019) we then need to travel by train to Chintoku Train Station (where we’ll get a shuttle to Sahoro Club Med).
We are returning 2 March back to Sapporo to stay for a few days.
Are we able to book online the train travel Chitose -> Chintoku and Chintoku -> Sapporo for confirmed seating reservations?
Can you direct me to an online website that I may be able to do this if possible and do we need to then exchange for ‘actual’ tickets?
Thanks so much for you help in advance.
Hi Gail,
You can do it at JR East train reservation. Please refer the post above and find the chapter of “JR East train reservation”.
You have to exchange an actual ticket when you get New Chitose airport station on arrival day because you have to pick it up one day before travel date.
I think you meant “Shintoku” not “Chintoku”. When you book a ticket, please input Shintoku.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello,
I want to ask about the Seat Reservation using JR East website. I will probably not be using any sort of rail pass since i just need 1 trip from Sapporo to Hakodate. When you collect the seat ticket, It says that you have to pay using the credit card you sign up with when you make an account. What if i want to pay using cash when i collect, is this possible?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Sammie,
Unfortunately you can’t. It will be charged to your credit card automatically unless you use any rail passes. If you really want to pay by cash, you have to book after you arrive in Japan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, my family and I are travelling to Japan this end of February. Where and how do you reserve a sunrise Seto train from Tokyo to Osaka
Hi Yoong,
You can book it at Midori no Madoguchi in any major JR stations. There is no online booking available for this train. You have to book it after you arrive in Japan. It may be booked out, so you should have a back up plan in case of sold out.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello! I am arriving on February 8 through Narita Airport at 12noon, and I am planning on getting a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, since Im planning to go to Misawa and Sapporo.
I wil claim my JR pass upon arrival on Feb 8. Can I already travel to Misawa on the same day? Can I get/reserve a ticket at Narita Airport?
Hi Eunice,
Yes, you can get Misawa on the arrival day and you can reserve a ticket to Misawa at Narita when you exchange the pass. If you want, you can reserve all seats in your trip at Narita.
Please expect to spend 2 to 3 hours to clear custom, immigration, baggage pick up and exchange the pass. Please see the link below to find the timetable for Narita Express (Narita to Tokyo), Tohoku Shinkansen (to Misawa) and train to Sapporo.
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/index.html
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/train/index.html#ip1
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hi!
we will be arriving japan on feb 3 and i will be exchanging the actual JR pass when i arrive but the plan is still to use/activate it on feb 8. can i reserve seats for my planned destianations using jr pass on reservation office on the day i exchange the actual pass?
Hi riagirl,
Yes, you can. Once you exchange the pass, you can start booking.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello,
We are traveling at the end of May 2019 and trying to decide if we should get a rail pass or just pay for each individual trip. We are only doing Tokyo and Kyoto and have decided what we’re doing in between yet. Trip is May 17th – 30th.
Day1-6: arrive at Narita airport 3pm. Travel to Tokyo
Day 6-10: Kyoto
Day10-14: Tokyo to Narita airport 6pm
Not sure what the individual train tickets would cost, but from what you say, I can’t book them in advance online. Thank you in advance for any and all info you can give me.
Best,
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
JR Pass 7 days may be considerable.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
7 days JR pass price is 29,110 yen. Round trip fare for Tokyo – Kyoto by Shinkansen is 27,200 yen. But if you have JR pass, you can take JR train in Kyoto and surrounding area. It’s not hard to get the worth of 7 days pass.
So just use 7 days JR pass for trip to Kyoto and some days in Tokyo. There are many deals which includes Narita access and Tokyo subway ticket.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
2 quick questions:
We have the following journeys over 10 days, I suspect JR Pass is not value:
– Tokyo to Osaka
– Osaka to Kyoto
– (trip to Hiroshima)
– Kyoto to Tokyo
We are travelling with a 1.5 year old. Reservation services do not appear to account for travelling with a small child. Making a reservation for 2 adults does not look as though it would work. Would we be better doing unreserved and attempting to find 3 seats together or space for a stroller?
(Travelling mid-March)
Thank you
Hi John,
You can use JR pass 14 days pass. As long as you travel to Hiroshima, you can get the worth of 14 days pass.
You can use non reserved seat and try to get three seats. But you cannot secure your seat. You may not be able to get three seats. If you really want to secure three seats, your option is purchase two adult JR pass and 1 child JR pass. It’s very pricy and 1.5 years old is basically free of charge. But free of charge means one of adult passengers has to share the seat. If you want to secure three seats in reserved seat car, you have to invest.
Of course you can use non reserved car by two adult JR pass. That is your choice.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks for the useful info Iin this site. I note the JR East online seat reservation website allows reservations for those without JR pass. I am planning to reserve shinkansen gran class seats from shin-hakodate hokuto to Tokyo for travel in mid June 19. Will I be able to reserve the seats from the website and then buy the actual ticket when I collect the seats reservation when I arrive in Shinhakodate one day before my trip?
Hi Tommy,
Yes, you can. You can reserved it from one month before your travel date at 10:00 am in Japan time.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com