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

Comments

1. James says:

   February 20, 2012 at 5:14 pm

   Hi Takeshi

   Last trip I noticed many stations have more than one みどりの窓口/Ticket office, and sometimes the みどりの窓口/Ticket office may belongs to different companies. Such as JR Tokai and JR East share many stations, and occasionally you got some small difference between the two.

   Example

   *Tokyo station’s JR Tokai みどりの窓口/Ticket office you CAN”T pick up your JR East reservation ticket

   *Vice Versa Tokyo station’s JR East みどりの窓口/Ticket office you CAN’T make reservation on Asagiri.

   You might also want to write an article about major railway stations in Japan one day! Shinjuku station for example its very very big and can be very confusing! Tokyo and Nagoya station, while bigger than Shinjuku station, they are easier to navigate!

   Hiroshima got bigger population than Kyoto, but Kyoto station is busier than Hiroshima because many people from Nara, Kita Kinki and Hokuriku transfering at Kyoto!

   Regards
   James
   • JPRail says:

     February 21, 2012 at 12:13 am

     Hi James,
     Yes, you are right. Eki-net by JR East mention same thing too. Because the customer can pick up a ticket at only JR East Midori no Madoguchi or other ticket center. But there are two windows (JR East and JR Tokai) at most of Tokaido Shinkansen station in JR East area.
     I’m going to Japan in mid March. I have only 5 days to trip. But I’ll take…
     Sakura
     Sonic
     Tsubame
     Kyushu odan
     Izaburo
     Hayato no Kaze
     Yufuin no Mori
     Nichirin
     Umisachi-Yamasachi
     Hayabusa
     Komachi
     Hamanasu (Carpet)
     Hokuto
     Super Kamui
     Hokutosei (I couldn’t get B-Solo! I got B berth anyway. I’ll try it later.)
     And I’ll take some local trains in Kansai area and take some photo in major stations and airport stations. I think it is enough in 5 days!
     I understand what you mean about stations. I have tried to write, but I couldn’t make it! It was too complicated to explain in my terrible English! 🙂
     Anyway I’ll try to see as much as I can. I believe I will show the readers more useful article.

     Takeshi / JP Rail
     • JAyre says:

       February 21, 2012 at 6:29 pm

       Hi Takeshi and James,

       You’re both certainly right. Many stations around Japan (especially in Tokyo) can be very complicated. Company specific ticket centres only further complicate this where this happens. I would assume though that this occurence is only really at some stations on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokahama, Odawara and Atami, and maybe Kyoto/Osaka and Kokura/Hakata?

       Having been to many places in Japan, I’ve faced all sorts of adversity and had to do bookings at many stations in many cities, and have had varying experiences. I’ll name my favourite Stations in the Tokyo region, based on ease of communication, and ease of navigation.

       Kanto (Tokyo/Saitama/Chiba/Kanagawa)

       Excluding Airport Stations!

       1. Ueno (Best Gate/Pass/Midori no Madoguchi locations)
       2. Ikebukuro (Busy station, but good services)
       3. Omiya (Very helpful staff, easy to navigate)

       I find Shinjuku and Tokyo too complicated for the uninitiated.

       I think a page about complicated stations is a good idea, too! Also, if links were included to the maps on the JR East Website (most major stations are on there), it could give them something to print out to take with them.

       Best regards,

       – Jonathan Ayre –
2. Tak says:

   February 19, 2012 at 3:40 am

   It might be a bit crazy idea, but I think people should start calling JR West reservation center in English if they really want to make reservation. I’ve send a suggestion to have this service in other languages such as English, Chinese or Korean, but I don’t think they are not so interested. IF they receive more calls in English, I think they might start considering it.

   I think it is very useful for both customers and JR if they have such service, because What happens is that the customers make reservation in their languages and just show the credit card to pick up. For JR station officers, they don’t have problems with communicating in English. It’s not realistic to have English speaking station officers at every stations, but I think it is possible to have a reservation center that they can speak several languages. Then, that will be great convenience for both visitors and gaijin residents in Japan. JR West already replied to me that they will take English calls if an English speaking person is available, so I think you can call them in English to reserve your Hokutose, Twilight etc.

   JR East have an infoline in English, Chinese and Korean, but the problem is they don’t take a reservation. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/infoline.html

   What do you think?
   • JPRail says:

     February 19, 2012 at 9:33 pm

     Hi Takuji san,
     All JR companies have English site. But JR West one is the worst in my opinion. They don’t give us even timetable.
     I understand the station offices do not have any problem to deal with customers in English. Especially most of tourist go to major stations, such as Kyoto, Osaka, KIX, Shin Osaka. These stations are very familiar with the foreign tourists.
     Even though there are some English speaking staff, they are not always available. So I don’t like to recommend the readers to call Odekake net in English. It may make both JR West and tourist unhappy because of lack of communication. And even if I recommend to to this, some readers may hesitate to call them.So all I can say to ask someone who speak Japanese.
     I understand the tourist want to fix the schedule before departure. Especially it is tiny chance to get Twilight, Cassiopeia and Hokutosei after arrival Japan. (I just missed Hokutosei today. I couldn’t make a call at 10:00 sharp. I did it at 10:15. All solo have gone! I will try again one week before and 4 days before.)
     I’m looking for the way to help the readers. If I can make a call on behalf of the tourist, it is easy. But if I do this, I need to have a licence of travel agent. And the readers may not be comfortable to give me credit card info.
     It is very hard to find the perfect answer.
     Takeshi / JP Rail
     • Tak says:

       February 20, 2012 at 1:03 am

       I think you are right, it may result in unhappy experience if the English speaker is not available. I am sorry to hear you couldn’t buy hokutosei ticket. When I booked Twilight, I called 10:02 and all rooms were sold out. I called again a few hours later, they found a ticket. It seems some people tried multiple ways and they got more than they need. so keep trying… then you might find one.
       I found another online reservation site. It is useful it if you can’t call JR at 10am, but I don’t really recommend this one because you have to buy 乗車券 at the same time. Again, only Japanese no English. http://kikosya.jp/weblog/2011/07/jr-shiteiken.html
       • JPRail says:

         February 21, 2012 at 12:23 pm

         Hi Takuji san,
         Sorry for late reply.
         I’m wondering why some travel agent in Japan do not try to approach to foreign traveller’s market. Major companies, like JTB, Nippon Travel Agency, Kintesu have own branches in many places all over the world. So they can do very limited because there are territory. But some of small agents do not have a complicated business rule.
         I wish someone at travel agent in Japan read this comments and start to do English reservation. 🙂
         Takeshi / JP Rail
3. JAyre says:

   February 18, 2012 at 4:10 am

   Hi Takeshi,

   I’ve been thinking about this whole “booking tickets from outside of Japan” issue. I have just one question – Do you think it is possible to get the JTB or travel agent outside of Japan to reserve the limited express surchage and (if applicable) the seat/sleeper charge only and not have to purchase base fare tickets?

   For some people waiving the base fare might not save so much, but if they would do that for something like Hokutosei, Twilight Express, or long Limited Express trains (Pretty much anything in Hokkaido like Okhotsk, Soya/Sarobetsu, and others in the San-in/Shikoku regions like Shiokaze, Nanpu, Super Oki, Hamakaze etc) it might be reasonble to pay the booking charge for busy trains/periods if people could mitigate the base fare and have a guaranteed seat.

   Best regards,

   – Jonathan Ayre –
   • JPRail says:

     February 18, 2012 at 9:08 pm

     Hi Jonathan,
     Technically they can do. It is a sort of translation service. All they have to do is making a call JR West Odekake net to reserve a ticket on behalf of a customer. It is very simple. But I am not sure they want to do or not.
     In my experience when I worked for Nippon Travel Agency, most of Japanese agents here in Canada are not interesting in independent tourist to Japan. Because it is lots of work and small profit. They always focus on a big group. Even if they can do for the customers, they charge some handling charge. I don’t know how much it is.
     I have been thinking about this issue too. I have received many many comments about reservation. Especially booking for the overnight trains is a big issue.
     Do you think it is helpful if I reserve a ticket on behalf of the readers?
     Takeshi / JP Rail
     • JAyre says:

       February 19, 2012 at 8:18 am

       Hi Takeshi,

       As you say, I guess for individuals it isn’t really time efficient for a travel agency to be running around making bookings for people.

       I have only had positive experiences with the JTB here in Australia though. I used them last year to obtain Koyasan World Heritage Tickets through their Gold Coast office (Queensland), and they were more than happy to help. I am not certain what they might have done had I simply asked for Ltd Exp surcharge tickets for Rinkan or Koya services, though. Perhaps I should ask the JTB here in Australia specifically about it.

       I think for you, it could be of great help to many people if you were to help them out with their reservations.

       I’ve used the JR odekake site before out of personal interest for their train database and to get station maps, platform arrangements, etc in the JR West area, but haven’t paid much attention to the booking information (due to the obvious language constraints).

       I think that 8-day limit might still be a problem for some people, who might want to take Cassiopeia or Twilight Express about a week into their trip given the popularity of these services, but its certainly better than nothing.

       Best regards

       – Jonathan Ayre –
       • JPRail says:

         February 20, 2012 at 12:03 am

         Hi Jonathan,
         Thank you for your reply.
         It is good you know a nice travel agent.

         Do you think you can ask JTB to call Odekake net on behalf of the customers? I guess JTB and major travel agent ask their office in Japan to reserve a train ticket. In this case, they have lots of handling charge for both Australia office and Japan office. In North America, time rag is a huge problem. But you don’t need to worry about time rug in your country. For example, you go to JTB office at 10:00am sharp on one month prior to departure day. And ask them to call odekake net. As you know, if you really need to have Twilight, Cassiopeia, Hokutosei and even Hamansu carpet, you must try to book at 10:00 sharp. I don’t know this is realistic or not. But if you can ask this way, it is easier to get a seat on busy trains. Of course you need to pay some service charge to JTB. But James told me he paid $55 handling and $20 courier to get SL Yamaguchi. If you can use Odekake net, you don’t need to pay courier charge. You pay some service charge to JTB and pay directly to JR West.

         So if you need…
         Overnight trains – use Odekake net and buy ticket. (not 8 day limit reservation) You need to pay surcharge and accommodation fee anyway when you use JR pass.
         JR East major daytime trains – JR East Shinkansen reservation
         Other daytime trains – Eki net

         I believe these choice are most effective for Japan Rail Pass users. 8 day reservation is better than nothing. But there is a language barrier to use Odekake net and Eki net anyway. So it is better to ask Japanese travel agent or someone who speak Japanese to call Odekake net or access Eki net to get a ticket.
         What do you think?

         Takeshi / JP Rail
         • JAyre says:

           February 20, 2012 at 5:48 pm

           Hi Takeshi,

           I agree, the language barrier is significant stumbling block for many people. Perhaps a dedicated multi-language service (even by email only, from the many Japanese I’ve spoken to, reading English is far easier than listening and responding) that covers the entire JR group of companies would be something that we could all hope for. I hear though, that there is some degree of separation between the JR Group companies (especially the privately owned ones, JR East, JR Central and JR West), that could complicate this.

           I think, in all honesty, if you really need a train (like Hokutosei, Twilight Express, Sunrise Seto/Izumo in peak season), that if the travel agent will book Ltd Exp and room charge only, and allow you to not have to pay base fare, it could well be worth it. The convenience and the best possible chance for a ticket seems to me to be the best outcome for people with no Japanese language experience.

           In many cases, long Limited Express trains have non-reserved seats as a fall back position, so it’s less of a problem.

           I think there should be some promotion of sleeper services to foreign tourists. I mean, I have found my trips on Twilight Express to be immensely rewarding, as well as enjoying my trip on Sunrise Izumo, and Hokutosei a number of years ago. I understand that many of these services are popular without the need for foreign tourism, but a chance to use these trains could enrich many people’s trips if they had more of an opportunity to reserve and use them.

           Best regards,

           – Jonathan Ayre –
           • JPRail says:

             February 21, 2012 at 12:46 pm

             Hi Jonathan,
             I’m still thinking about this reservation issue. When I’ll be in Japan in mid March, I might be able to find a clue for this reservation issue.
             Takeshi / JP Rail
4. Tak says:

   February 15, 2012 at 3:26 am

   Hi Takeshi san,
   There is another way to reserve a seat outside Japan. You can reserve a ticket over the phone using automatic voice system. http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1128106636
   Not everybody can use it because it requires Japanese, but might be useful information.
   • JPRail says:

     February 15, 2012 at 11:14 pm

     Hi Takuji san,
     I’m so surprised that we have so many ways to reserve it from outside of Japan.
     I wish JR have this kind of service in English.
     Thanks again!
     Takeshi / JP Rail
     • Tak says:

       February 16, 2012 at 2:50 am

       I think this is the best way if they want to ask a Japanese friend to make reservation on behalf. Here are some reasons why….

       1. The payment or credit card is not required at all. You don’t have to pass your credit card information to your friend.
       2. All you need when collecting the ticket is reservation form which was filled out during the phone call. Unlike other service, you do not need to show credit card.
       3. You can pick up the ticket from any JR midorino madoguchi that is everywhere in Japan.
       4. It works for most trains.
       5. You can check the availability at http://www.jr.cyberstation.ne.jp before making a call.
       6. Your friend don’t have to go to a JR station. Just need a phone and internet.

       I used this service in Japan before. The problem is you have to pick up within 9 days.
       • JPRail says:

         February 17, 2012 at 9:34 pm

         Hi Takuji san,
         I just used JR West OdekakeNet to reserve for Umisachi Yamasachi. It was very smooth and no problem with it. Even though I need to pay for reserved seat fare, I’m very happy to fix my schedule before departure.
         Thank you for useful info!
         Takeshi / JP Rail
         • Tak says:

           February 18, 2012 at 1:09 am

           Hi Takeshi san,

           The next tip I can give you to minimize the cost is…
           – When you arrive in Japan, check if Umisachi Yamasachi is still available.
           – If it is still available, use JR pass to reserve the seat.
           – After reserve you can cancel it.
           • JPRail says:

             February 18, 2012 at 10:15 am

             Hi Takuji san,
             I just thought same thing. But I’ll travel with my mother at this time. I got side by side seat. And the cost is only 1000 yen per seat. So I may not cancel this booking. Thanks for your adivice.
             Takeshi / JP Rail
5. Tak says:

   February 6, 2012 at 2:56 am

   Have you tried Ekinet by JR East? It seems that you can make reservation online even if you are using JR pass. Some people already put the information on their blog.
   http://resortstylehhi.blog99.fc2.com/blog-entry-245.html
   http://mommysmeg.exblog.jp/10818363/
   I think it would be a good topic to write on your website. How about for your next topic?

   Personally, I have tried JR West telephone reservation center to buy Twilight express ticket.
   I can tell you how to reserve on the phone.
   1.Call JR west call center +81-78-341-7903 to make reservation from your country. (Only Japanese)
   2. If the seat is available, pay by credit card.
   3. When you arrive Japan, go to Midorino madoguchi. Show your credit card and you can collect the ticket from any JR west station.

   They don’t have this service for JR pass, but I think it is useful for Twilight express because you need to pay for the Express and sleeper tickets anyway. This maybe useful if you can speak Japanese.
   • JPRail says:

     February 6, 2012 at 12:47 pm

     Hi Takuji san,
     Thank you very much for very useful information.
     貴重な情報をお寄せいただきまして、大変ありがとうございます。
     I have received so many questions regarding reservation. We still have language barrier. But some of the readers have a friend in Japan. So these ways that you showed me are going to work for them.
     I am going back to Japan in March. I will try to do it for me.
     Much appreciate.
     Takeshi / JP Rail
     • Tak says:

       February 9, 2012 at 2:13 am

       If you want to reserve Nobi Nobi seat of Sunrise Seto/Izumo and Carpet car of Hamanasu, I guess you could try the JR West phone reservation. I think you’d have to pay for the reservation fee (指定席券) which is 510 yen.
       • JPRail says:

         February 9, 2012 at 7:04 am

         Hi Tak san,
         Do yo think we still need to pay for the reservation fee even though Japan Rail Pass cover it? Nobi Nobi could be used by Japan Rail Pass without any extra when I took it.
         Thanks again for adding some more information!
         Takeshi / JP Rail
         • Tak says:

           February 9, 2012 at 11:39 pm

           Hi Takeshi san,
           I think the best way is to check with JR West. I’ll let you know if I find information. By the way, I’ve sent a suggestion from JR West webpage to open English reservation center. I hope it helps.
           • JPRail says:

             February 10, 2012 at 12:34 pm

             Hi Takuji san,

             Thanks for reply.
             I will try to reserve for one of those trains, Akebono, Hamanasu and Hokutosei when I’m going back to Japan next month. If I found it, I’ll share the info here on this site.

             Takeshi / JP Rail
         • Tak says:

           February 14, 2012 at 3:56 am

           Hi Takeshi san,

           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 station.
           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 指定席特急券 or 指定席急行券.
           • JPRail says:

             February 14, 2012 at 7:15 am

             Hi Takuji san,
             Thank you very much for checking. This is a great information!
             I will share this info with readers in the content later.
             I really appreciate.
             Takeshi / JP Rail
         • Tak says:

           February 15, 2012 at 3:01 am

           You are welcome. JR West also said that if any English speaking person(s?) is on shift duty, they can take calls in English. I guess if you are lucky, they might be help you in English.
6. syarina says:

   January 30, 2012 at 5:59 pm

   hi,
   is it possible to book a train from tokyo to osaka for 29 april 2012 outside of japan? because its around the days of golden week in japan and i am planning to not to buy JR pass as i am just around japan for a few days only. and will be flying in via haneda and out via osaka.

   syarina
   • JPRail says:

     January 30, 2012 at 8:51 pm

     Hi Syarina,
     Unfortunately no. The only way to book a train from outside of Japan is using travel agency. If you take Shinkansen, you may find a seat in non reserved car in even Golden week.
     Takeshi / JP Rail
7. REX LEE says:

   January 26, 2012 at 7:49 am

   Hi,Sir

   Would you please share me the WiFi Hot spot informattion in Japan -OSAKA /KYUSHU/TYKYO ..etc ? Thanks.

   REX LEE
   • JPRail says:

     January 26, 2012 at 12:54 pm

     Hi Rex,
     Try to google, “wifi hot spot japan”. You can find lots of info.
     Takeshi / JP Rail
8. Jim Nakazawa says:

   January 24, 2012 at 8:57 am

   I read some place that Reservation Request Forms are supposed to be filled out in advance. Are they available in English? I think that they may help me when I write down the basic information ahead of time for my train reservations.
   • JPRail says:

     January 24, 2012 at 12:54 pm

     Hi Jim,
     Some of major stations have a reservation form. But I’m not sure they have English one or not.
     You can use your own one in English. If you have a specific train name and number, just write on a piece of paper and show it to them, It will be easier and faster.
     Even though most of Japanese cannot speak English fluently, they can read and write English very well.
     Takeshi / JP Rail
9. REX LEE says:

   December 18, 2011 at 8:20 pm

   Dear Sir,

   I have one more question about JR PASS ,If I reserve and get ticket by JR PASS ,but, I am late to not take the planned train.May I reserve another ttrain right off at the same day ? If yes, does it incluse Shinhansen and Express train ? please advise it ,thanks.

   REX LEE
   • JPRail says:

     December 19, 2011 at 12:09 am

     Hi Rex,
     Yes. You have to make another reservation. But if you don’t have a time to make it, you can take non reserve seat. Some of the train, like Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Shin Osaka), have some non reserved seat too.
     Takeshi / JP Rail
10. Kelly says:

    December 15, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Hi there,

    I am travelling to japan from jan 6 – 15.

    day 1 – tokyo

    day 2 – depart from tokyo to sapporo

    day 3 – 6 in sapporo

    day 7 sapporo back to tokyo

    I have checked hyperdia. One of the option is to take hayate to shin-aomori. in between, i have to make a very crazy transfer in few minutes to aomori. From there, i will take hamanasu.

    If i booked hayate online but unable to get a seat on hamanasu when i arrive in Japan, how much is the cancellation charges involved for hayate??

    thank you.
    • JPRail says:

      December 15, 2011 at 10:05 pm

      Hi Kelly,
      Regarding cancellation fee, please see the following link:
      http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/pc/english/common/faq/faq.html#q301
      Takeshi / JP Rail