Shinkansen – Everything You Need to Know

🎟️ How to Book

You can buy Shinkansen tickets:

• At ticket machines in stations (English available)
• At JR ticket counters (Midori no Madoguchi)

• Online via:

• Ekinet (JR East areas) :https://www.eki-net.com/fr/jreast-train-reservation/Top/Index

• Official JR websites (JR East, Central, West, Kyushu, Hokkaido) https://www.jreast.co.jp/en/multi/ticket/guide.html

• Third-party platforms like Klook

Online booking usually opens 1 month before departure.

🧾 Paper vs Online Tickets

You may receive:

• A basic fare ticket (distance)
• A limited express ticket (seat + Shinkansen supplement)

Sometimes they’re printed as one single ticket.

If you have two tickets, insert both together at the gate.

With website booking : conditions depends on each site.

🎫 JR Pass – Worth It?

YES if:
• You’re doing long distances (Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima etc.)
• You visit multiple cities in 7–14 days
• Individual tickets cost more than the pass

Always check here : https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/calculator/

NO if:
• You stay mostly in one region
• You only take one long Shinkansen
• A regional pass is cheaper

Always calculate before buying. Since the price increase, it’s often not worth it.

⏳ When to Book

Usually, same day or the day before is fine.

Book in advance if:
• Golden Week
• New Year
• Cherry blossom season, but really depends
• You travel in a group
• You want specific Mt Fuji seats
• You have oversized luggage

Tickets can be changed at machines or online.

🚅 Types of Shinkansen

Fastest: Nozomi / Mizuho / Hayabusa
• Fewer stops
• Fastest option
• Not fully covered by JR Pass

Semi-fast: Hikari / Sakura
• Slightly slower
• Covered by JR Pass

All-stop: Kodama / Tsubame
• Slower
• Good for smaller cities

💺 Seat Types

Non-reserved cars
• First come, first serve
• May need to queue
• Risk of standing on busy routes

Reserved cars
• Assigned seat
• Best during peak periods

Green Car
• First-class
• Wider seats
• Quieter

Some lines offer Gran Class (premium first class).

🧳 Luggage Rules

Each passenger: up to 2 items.

Normal luggage
• Up to 160 cm total dimensions
• No reservation needed

Oversized (160–250 cm)
• Reservation required
• Max 30 kg
• Stored behind last row seats

Over 250 cm → not allowed (use luggage forwarding like Yamato).

Avoid rush hours:
Weekdays ~7:30–9:30 & 17:00–19:00.

🗻 Mt Fuji Seat Tip (Tokyo → Kyoto)

For the best Mt Fuji view on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen:

• Seat E (ordinary car)
• Seat D (Green Car)

Choose a window seat.

🍱 Eating Onboard

Eating bento boxes, snacks, and drinks is normal.

Be respectful:
• Avoid strong smells
• Keep it clean
• Use trash bins near toilets

🚉 Before Getting Off

• The train stops briefly → prepare early
• Stand near the door when your station is announced
• Take all your trash
• Double-check your seat