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
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. Susan Maxwell says:

    We will purchase the JR Pass before departing the USA and will arrive into Osaka on 06 Sept. After one night there, we intend to take the train to Naoshima (understanding that this means: to Okayama, then Uno, then ferry). We will then be in Japan 2 weeks, traveling to Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Tokyo. My question is: is it possible to hire a guide to help us with the Exchange voucher, seat reservations, and navigating the first train in Osaka?

    • Hi Susan,

      You can hire a private guide in Osaka. Just google “Osaka tour guide” and you can find lots.

      But I have never used a guide in Japan. I don’t know any recommended company and/or guide.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Carolyn Starbuck says:

    Hello we are going to be in Japan on may 1st and were planing to use the JR Pass to travel from Haneda to Fukuoka
    How much of a problem will we have with getting a seat if there is still no online system?

    • Hi Carolyn,

      I believe May 1st is the slowest day in the entire Golden Week days. Because May 1st will be Emperor coronation day. Many of the local residents will stay in home and watch TV.

      The train may be still busier than usual. But I think you can get a seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Thi Nguyen says:

    We will arrive late at Tokyo on 21/ 04 /2019
    we have bought the 7 – day – JR PASS online with travel agent through JNTO we plan to go :
    1- to Morioka on the 24 / 04 ,
    2- to Ashikaga Park on the 25 / 04
    3- MT Fuji on the 26/ 04
    4- Hitachi Park on the 27 / 04
    then leave Tokyo on the 27/04 to Shin – Osaka
    Do we have ENOUGH TIME to make seat reservations for all of those trips after exchange J R Pass tickets on the 22 / 04 .
    This is our first trip to Japan !
    We would appreciate if you can give some advice

    • Hi Thi,

      You can book all seats except Tokyo to Shin-Osaka on Apr 27 online. Please see “JR East Train Reservation” in the post above. Just try to book a seat for Tokyo to Shin-Osaka upon arrival.

      Apr 27 will be very busy day. So try to book a seat right after you exchange JR pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Rindavi says:

    Hi,
    My flight will arrive In Haneda on April 27, at 21.00 pm. I have booked the hotel in Aomori on April 28, and I’m planning to go to Aomori by Hayabusa Shinkansen at 18.20 pm on April 28. But, I cannot book the seat reservation online, because of the flight schedule, I cannot take my ticket before 21.00 the day before my departure to Aomori.
    Please your suggestion, how can I get the seats to Aomori ? I’ll use JR Pass. It would be Golden week, is it possible that I reserve the seats in the morning on April 28 for evening’s departure ? What do you think about the possibility to have seats in the peak seasons ?

    • Hi Rindavi、

      Honestly I cannot guess how busy it will be because this Golden Week is the first ever ten consecutive days off. But in my opinion, the chance to get a seat is very slim. If I were you, I will take the earliest train on Apr 29 and book a seat online. It is very risky to book a seat after arrival.

      And also all seats on Hayabusa are reserved seat. You cannot take this train without reservation. Even if you are okay to travel as the standing passenger, you cannot. So if the train is booked out, there is no other choices by JR Pass.

      If you want to avoid any risks, I do not recommend you to travel on Apr 28.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. mira says:

    Hi!
    I want to book a train to Osaka from Tokyo 1 month prior (like soon!), what is the site’s name i should use booking my ticket from outside Japan. Please give me a link (as im so confused by all the instruction).
    BEST regards,
    Mira

    • Hi Mira,

      The only site is SmartEX. But it’s not available in all countries.
      https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.html

      Otherwise there is no ways to book online unfortunately.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Margaret Seah says:

        Hi, I just bought my JR pass from JTB in Singapore and would like to know if seat reservations for JR pass would be applicable on travel from Kyoto to Tokyo please? I’m looking to book seats on 10th April travel if possible. Thank you.

        • Hi Margaret,

          Unfortunately you cannot. But it’s not hard to book a seat on the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo. You can do it easily after you arrive in Japan. You can book a seat when you exchange the pass in Japan.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Benito says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    I am planning a trip to Tokyo with my children from Dec 25 to Jan 6. My plan is to visit Hokkaido using an itinerary I did before (using your site) that went to Hokkaido (Noboribetsu, Otaru, Sapporo, Hakodate) and maybe Osaka/Himeji/Nara/Kyoto area

    I plan to get 7-day (or 14-day) JR passes. some questions:

    1) For the JR East trains, would it be difficult to get seat reservations for the trains I am planning to go on if I make reservations online as soon as it becomes available 1 month before the travel date?

    2) I read the JR West is planning to make online reservations available, if it does happen before the end of 2019, would trains to Osaka and the nearby areas be available for reservation?

    3) In case we are not able to get a reservation for a particular train, does that we cannot go on the train at all? Or are there unreserved seats we can sit on? Or do we have to stand?

    Thanks in advance for your help!

  7. Serena says:

    Hello!

    I am planning on travelling with my partner hopefully on the Sunrise Izumo on the night of May 18th, going into May 19th. We are arriving in Osaka on the 14th, and activating our JR Pass on the 15th. Just to confirm, I would activate my JR pass, then immediately book for the Sunrize Izumo, correct? What do you think is the likelyhood of the both of us getting a seat near that time?

    Thanks so much,
    Serena

    • Hi Serena,

      That’s right. You cannot book before you exchange the pass.
      Mid May is a slow season. Usually okay but it’s hard to say about the availability of this train.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Henry says:

    Hi,

    We will be travelling from Haneda Airport T1 to Osaka Namba City using JR pass.
    We have to take the Tokyo monorail to Hamamatsucho, then to Shinagawa. And from Shinagawa, take the Hikari bullet train to Shinosaka.
    Do we turn in our exchange order for the JR pass at the Tokyo monorail station?
    And with JR pass, can I reserve seats on Hikari train at Tokyo monorail or I can only do it at Shinagawa before taking the Hikari.
    Thanks and regards

  9. William Pearson says:

    You mentioned that JR West is setting up an online booking site for overseas tourists in 2019. Since we are already in 2019, any word on when this will happen?
    Until this site is in operation it looks like one can only make a JR seat reservation in Japan, is this true?

    • Hi William,

      JR West said it will come up sometimes in spring. Probably it will come up in March. But I haven’t received the any detailed info yet.
      This online system will be set for overseas tourist, such as JR East online reservation system.

      Once I will get the detailed info, I will update this post.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Dea says:

        Does this one is what you’re talking about?
        But I still struggle how to do reservation with JR Pass (nation wide 7 days)….

        I need a help here.
        Thanks.

        Dea

      • Dea says:

        Hi

        Is this the JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION that you’re talking about?
        https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/
        But I still struggle with how to do reservation by using JR PASS (nation wide 7 days).
        I need a help.

        Cheers,

        Dea

        • Hi Dea,

          Online reservation for JR pass user is offered by JR East only now.
          https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx?_ga=1.4778995.1325107855.1421419524

          JR WEST online service is available for regular fare passengers only. You cannot use this site to book under JR pass.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Dea says:

            Hi Takeshi-san

            I’ve been make the reservation by JR West Online, and it is said if using JR Cards or JR-West Cards as long as the shown name is same as above (reservation name).

            [“(N.B.) “JR Cards” or “J-West Cards” can be used if they display any of the above names. However, they shall be handled as the credit cards of the above companies.”
            2 「クレジット決済」の場合、利用者は購入・変更の都度、クレジットカード番号およびセキュリティコードの入力が必要です。
            その際に使用できるクレジットカードは、次の各号に定める表示のあるカードで、利用者本人名義のものに限り、クレジットカードの使用については各カード会社が定める規約等に従うものとします。
            (1)JCB
            (2)UFJ
            (3)MUFG CARD
            (4)AMERICAN EXPRESS
            (5)VISA
            (6)UC
            (7)MasterCard
            (8)Diners Club
            (9)DC
            (注)「JRカード」または「J-WEST CARD」で上記の表示があるカードは使用できます。ただし、上記表示会社のクレジットカードとして取扱います。]

            Although I’m not sure if the term “JR Cards” is the same with “JR PASS”.
            Eventually, I can’t continue the reservation due to error for credit card number.

            Do you have any idea about this?

            Cheers

            Dea

            • Hi Dea san,

              Unfortunately JR Card does not mean JR pass. It is the credit card which is issued by JR or JR West. You cannot use this online reservation for JR pass.
              In regards to the error at the time of booking, please contact your credit card company. I tried to use my credit card which is issued in Canada. But I could not use it because the credit card company declined it due to using overseas website.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Jovial Huang says:

    Hi,

    I will be travelling to Hokkaido in a week time and will be staying there for 8 days. I would like to visit Sapporo, Otaru, Abashiri, Shiretoko, Asahikawa and Niseko. Are all these places accessible by JR Trains? & I am quite confused by the reservation website of JR East railway as it required a charge for reserving seats even though I selected with Hokkaido Railway Pass. So is reserving seats with Hokkaido Pass free of charge? Can I reserved all the seats at 1 go and collect all the reserved seat tickets on the day of my arrival at New Chitose Airport?
    Thank you!

    Regards,
    Jovial

    • Hi Jovial,

      You may get all places other than Shiretoko. You have to take a bus from Shiretoko-Shari to get Shiretoko, such as Utoro. You may find the route and the timetable in the link below:
      http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/train/index.html#ip1

      When you book a seat at JR East reservation site, the price is shown. But it won’t be charged when you pick up a ticket. It will be charged if you don’t pick up a ticket by the day before. You can pick up all tickets at New Chitose but you cannot book a seat for the train on arrival day because you have to pick up a ticket by the day before.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

Copied title and URL