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
Takeshi-san,
We will be arriving in Haneda on 26th Jan around midnight.
1. So to activate our JR Pass, we need to wait until the next day morning?
2. We will be going to Osaka by Shinkansen on 29th Jan. So will it be too late if we go to the counter to reserve our seat on 27th morning? Seems like there are very little options for us to reserve our seat outside of Japan, unless we ask our friend in Japan to help out.
Thanks.
Michael
Hi Micheal san,
I have received three replies. I answer these questions here.
1. Yes. You have to wait. You cannot turn in any station because it is too late.
2. You can book seat on Shinkansen after you turn in the pass. Don’t worry about the bookings other than overnight trains. So Super Hakucho is okay. If you cannot book it, there are non reserved seat too. In worst case, you have to stand up in non reserved coach car. But you can get on the train anyway. It is not a peak season. It should be fine.
As long as you get a ticket from your friend for Hamanasu, it is okay. JR Ticket is also receipt too.
Cheers,
Takeshi
As soon as we arrive at Narita Airport we will change our JR Voucher for a JR Pass. Then we will travel on N’Ex and Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto. From reading your (wonderful) site, I understand I cannot make a booking for the Shinkansen until I have a JR Pass. So we cannot book – except at the airport or at Tokyo station, immediately before the train departs. Is it likely we will not be able to get on a train to Kyoto? We arrive in the middle of May, 2013.
Hi Johnboy,
What time are you going to arrive at Narita?
Takeshi / JP Rail
We arrive at Narita at 4:50 pm on a weekday. I don’t know how long it will take for customs and immigration.
Hi Johnboy,
The last N’ex that can connect Shinkansen to Kyoto depart from Narita at 18:48. So you have just 2 hours. Usually you can go through custom and immigration in one hour. But I think you need to activate your pass at Narita and make some reservation. 2 hours may be tight. I don’t recommend it to you.
If you really want to do it, you can go ahead. But if your flight will be late more than 30 minutes, you have to find the accommodation on the spot.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thanks for the advice. We will stay in Tokyo on night of arrival.
Hi, we arrived at Osaka 4pm on 7th January 2013 , plan to go niigata the same day at night. Just wonder is there any night train go to niigata? Anywhere we can buy ticket online or where to buy the ticket? Thanks!
Hi David,
Unfortunately there is no scheduled overnight train to Niigata from Osaka. The only way to get Niigata on arrival day is the following:
Kansai airport – (Ltd Exp Haruka) – Shinosaka – (Tokaido Shinkansen) – Tokyo – (Joetsu Shinkansen) – Niigata.
If you will use Japan Rail Pass, you cannot take the above train connection. Because you have to take Nozomi on Tokaido Shinkansen that is not covered by Japan Rail Pass.
If you leave Kansai airport by 17:46, you can catch the last train. Check the detail schedule at Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Dear sir,
I need by a ticket from Nagoya to Tokio
what is the web site ?
best
Hi joao,
You cannot purchase a ticket online. Just show up the station and purchase it on the spot.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
[…] free to make a seat reservation using a JR pass and you can do it up until minutes before you actually board the train. Sometimes […]
Hi, Takeshi
Can I reserved a seat in advance(2 days) at JR Hakodate Station for Furano Lavender Express during mid. of July by JR Rail pass?
Kind regards,
Derek
Hi Derek,
Yes, you can. The ticket is started to sell one month prior to departure date.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi san,
I know this news is not interesting for most of the English speaking readers, but I am very disappointed to find in Jan next year JR will decommission プッシュホン電話予約 (push phone reservation) service, which I found one of the ways to reserve a ticket from overseas.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2012/20121113.pdf
I thought it is very useful because
– You don’t need to provide any credit card information.
– You don’t need to create an online account to reserve.
– You can even reserve sunrise nobi nobi seats.
– You can collect a ticket at any station or travel agencies anywhere in Japan.
– You can reserve before exchanging to actual pass.
As you know,
– JR West, Kyushu and Shikoku offers odekake net and JR east offers eki net.
– JR Hokkaido also offers similar service.
– In JR tokai area, currently, this プッシュホン電話予約 is the only method to book without going to a station. JR Tokai has online system, but not everyone can use it. So, in reality プッシュホン電話予約 is the only method. We won’t be able to reserve and collect a ticket online or by phone in Tokai area…. I think JR tokai’s service is just too bad.
I know not many people uses this プッシュホン電話予約 but i think it’s still a good system. It’s disappointing to know we’ve just lost one of the ways to book in advance from overseas.
Hi Takuji san,
I haven’t heard from you for a little while. How are you?
I know this news. But I did not know we can use this service from outside of Japan! As you said, it is very disappointing.
I understand it is trend. JR want to get client info into their database. They need this kind of info for marketing. Now I really want JR East to start Eki-net in English. It is same database as JR East Shinkansen reservation. When I went back to Japan in last March, I use both reservation system. They handle those reservations at same time. I think it is not hard to start. We cannot reserve any spaces for overnight trains. But it is better than nothing.
I don’t have a big expectation on JR Tokai. They don’t seem to be interested in foreign travellers. But JR East, West, Kyushu and Hokkaido need customers from outside of Japan. I hope they will have something convenient for the overseas travellers.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi san,
I am good. Thanks. I am still thinking about where to go during the Christmas holiday. I know it’s bit too late…
You can actually call this number from overseas to reserve seats. I have tried already. All you need is the reservation details and telephone number in Japan. You don’t even need to give your name when making reservation. No credit card or payment is required. When you want to cancel you don’t even need to ring them again.
This is also useful if you are not sure when to start using JR pass. Once you exchange, they will stamp the staring date and cannot be changed. Usually, you cannot make reservation until you exchange to actual pass. However, if you ring this number you can start making reservation. Then, when you decide when to start using the pass, you can exchange it. I presume you can probably do the similar thing with JR east eki net?
Hi Takuji san,
I should have tried this service! Why they cannot provide same service in English? I understand it’s not popular for domestic travellers any more. But this may be perfect solution for foreign travellers booking.
I will stay in home during Christmas. But I’m going back to Japan in March. And I may go back to Japan in late January on business trip. I hope I spend a couple of days before/after business meeting for rail trip. I really want to complete Shinetsu line between Nagano and Naoetsu, and getting on Akebono.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi san,
I was thinking I can even book tickets for other people because no credit card or payment required. you can still try it if you are going to Japan in January.
Apart from that, when I try to make reservation of Japanese hotel or train, they often ask for a Japanese phone number. I learned how to obtain a Japanese number and received it on your iPhone or Android outside Japan. It doesn’t cost you anything to do this. I can share the information with you if you are interested, but the topic is not related to JR pass. 🙂
Hi Takuji san,
Thank you for your info about phone number in Japan. I would love to but no thank you. As you guess, it is not related to my site. And also hotel’s phone number is sometimes accepted.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I want to use the seishun 18 kippu on the Moonlight Nagara around December 27th. I want to book it as early as possible, so can I make the reservation without the ticket (ie November 27th before the seishun 18 kippu goes on sale), or do I have to wait until December 1st so I have my ticket when I make the reservation?
Thanks
Hi Andrew,
You can book it without ticket. All you have to do is paying reservation seat fare.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hello, thank you for all the helpful information. I am planning to go from Osaka to Toyama on November 6th at 9.42. I do not have a JR passs because I only need to have this one journey. Could you tell me what time the reservation desk is open? Is it open until late at night because I would like to purchase my train ticket the night before I travel.
Thanks. Kaye
Hi Kaye,
Don’t worry. At Osaka station, it is open from 5:30 am to 23:00 pm.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi,
My flight to Japan is on 21 October 2012, arrival at Haneda Airport about 11pm. I will be travelling from Tokyo to Shizukuishi the next morning (22 October 2012) at 8.28am by Komachi 17.
I am aware that we could make seat reservation online. But we need to collect our tickets by 9:00 p.m. (21:00, Japan Standard Time) on the day before our departure. Tickets cannot be collected on the day of departure.
Is there any other way?
Hi yarling,
Unfortunately there is no way to book. You have to book at the station before on board. As long as seat is available, they accept the booking 10 minutes before departure time. I think you will be able to get a seat.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail