bullet train travel

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• JR East - South Hokkaido Rail Pass
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Shinkansen: The Japanese bullet trains

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest way to discover Japan. Discover more about the high-speed trains and the 9 rail lines they cover.

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan . The Japan Rail (JR) network is extensive and the trains reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). This allows you to get to wherever you need in little time.

The nine Shinkansen lines take you in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south runs the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the capital with Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the Kyushu Shinkansen line runs through the island of Kyushu from north to south.

The other six lines either take you north or inland from Tokyo. These are the Akita, Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Tokoku, and Yamagata Shinkansen lines. The Hokkaido line takes you the furthest north, all the way to Hokkaido island.

Using the Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited access to all Shinkansen high-speed trains . A supplement is required for travel on the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines.

The Hikari, Kodama, and Sakura bullet trains are the fastest trains you can board using the Japan Rail Pass without a supplement. They make just a few more stops than the Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

Types of bullet trains

On each of the Shinkansen lines there are fast trains, semi-fast trains, and local trains:

• The fast trains only stop at the main stations
• Semi-fast trains make a few more stops
• Local trains stop at every station

For instance, on the Tokaido Shinkansen line (which links Tokyo to Osaka) the fast train makes 6 stops, the semi-fast train makes between 7 and 12 stops, and local trains stop at all 17. See the “Shinkansen lines” section below for more information.

All Shinkansen trains are covered by the JR Pass. The Nozomi and Mizuho high-speed trains (Tokaido and Sanyo lines) are also included, subject to purchase of a special complementary ticket. JR Pass holders wishing to travel free on these lines can board local and semi-fast trains. Semi-fast trains are slightly slower than Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

Shinkansen lines

The Shinkansen railway network includes several lines that cover most of Japan and connect all the main cities.

Thanks to this great railway system you can travel quickly and comfortably throughout the country without too much of a second thought.

The companies that make up the JR Group operate a total of 9 lines: 7 Shinkansen lines, and 2 mini-Shinkansen lines. Each line offers different train services.

The Tokaido Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Kyoto and Osaka passing by Nagoya and its extension, the Sanyo Shinkansen, which connects Osaka with Fukuoka.

From here, you can take the Kyushu Shinkansen that covers the entire Kyushu island, from North to South.

Tokyo is connected to Kanazawa by the Hokuriku Shinkansen, a train covering Nagano. From March 16, 2024, this line wiill be extended to Tsuruga via Fukui Station. Tokyo is also connected to Niigata by the Joetsu Shinkansen.

The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Aomori and branches out into two mini-Shinkansen: the Akita Shinkansen and the Yamagata Shinkansen.

From Aomori you can cross the sea that separates the main island from Hokkaido, thanks to the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Tokaido Shinkansen

Sanyo shinkansen, tohoku shinkansen, akita shinkansen, yamagata shinkansen, joetsu shinkansen, kyushu shinkansen, hokkaido shinkansen, hokuriku shinkansen.

The Tokaido Shinkansen line is Japan’s busiest and most popular Shinkansen line . It connects the three biggest metropolitan areas of the country: Tokyo to Yokohama, Osaka to Kyoto, and Nagoya .

It is also famous for being Japan’s first high-speed railway , opening in 1964 for the Japan Olympic Games.

Three types of train operate on this line: Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama.

Line map and route

Train services.

The Hikari train connects Tokyo to Shin-Osaka in exactly 173 minutes. The maximum operating speed is 285 km/h (178 mph), which makes it the second-fastest train on the Tokaido line. Hikari also runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen line with an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph).

Kodama is the slowest of the three trains which operate on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. This is due to the larger number of stops in comparison to the other two bullet trains on this line. The Kodama train stops at every station and takes almost four hours to reach Shin-Osaka. It runs at a speed of 285 km/h (178 mph).

The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects the city of Osaka with Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. Completed in 1975, it is the second oldest Japanese Shinkansen line. There are 5 train services that run on this line: Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, and Sakura. The fastest train is Nozomi which reaches an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph). It is covered by the JR Pass, provided you buy a special complementary ticket.

Hikari is the fastest train service on the Sanyo and Tokaido Shinkansen lines which is fully covered by the JR Pass. The majority of Hikari trains are formed of 16 cars though some have 8. There are three Green Class cars on the 16-coach Hikari train. The operating speed of the Hikari train is 300 km/h (185 mph). It takes a little over an hour to reach Okayama from Shin-Osaka.

This is the slowest train service on the Sanyo line, as it stops at all train stations until it reaches its final destination. Because of this, Kodama trains take almost five hours to arrive at Hakata station from Osaka. The trains have 8 cars but no Green Class cars. There are both reserved and non-reserved seating areas on the Kodama train service. The operating speed of the Kodama train is 285 km/h (185 mph).

This is one of the fastest train services operating on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. Its operating speed is 300 km/h (185 mph), similar to the other trains on the same line, but the Sakura trains make fewer stops. It operates with 8-car trains with both reserved and non-reserved sections. There are also some Green Class seats on one of the cars.

The Tohoku Shinkansen line connects Tokyo with Aomori . There are two branch lines - the Akita and Yamagata lines which go to the Akita and Yamagata prefectures. There are six different train services, which run on the Tohoku line: Hayabusa, Komachi, Hayate, Yamabiko, Nasuno, Tsubasa.

Hayabusa is the fastest train in Japan , reaching a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph). There is a direct train connecting Tokyo to Shin-Aomori in just 189 minutes.

Yamabiko is a high-speed Shinkansen. It operates at a speed of 240 km/h (150 mph) and connects Tokyo with Morioka. There is a direct train service that will take you to Morioka in exactly 198 minutes.

The Hayate trains connect Tokyo with Morioka. Unlike Yamabiko trains, they do not stop between Sendai and Omiya . The Hayate train’s operating speed is 275 km/h (170 mph) and it takes approximately two hours to get from Tokyo to Morioka.

The Nasuno serves all the stations between Tokyo and Koriyama. It is the slowest type of train on the Tohoku Shinkansen line and it is designed for commuters who travel from the Fukushima and Tochigi Prefectures.

The Akita Shinkansen is the branch of the Tohoku Shinkansen line which connects Tokyo with Akita . The Komachi Shinkansen is the only type of train which runs on the line. It is an E6 series, also known as the Super Komachi.

All seats on the Komachi train services requires seat reservation . There is a direct train service from Tokyo to Akita which takes exactly 237 minutes. The Komachi train can run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku line. The Komachi train services are operated by E6 series trains with 7 coaches.

Between Tokyo and Morioka, the Komachi trains are coupled with Hayabusas Shinkansens to form 17-car trains. The Komachi trains detach from the Hayubasas at Morioka and run to Akita.

Yamagata Shinkansen is a Tohoku Shinkansen branch line. Tsubasa is the only type of train that runs on the Yamagata line between Tokyo and Shinjo . Tsubasa services are operated by 7-car E3 series trains.

All cars on the Yamagata Shinkansen line are non-smoking. There is a direct train service from Tokyo to Yamagata which takes 165 minutes. The maximum operating speed of the Tsubasa train is 275 km/h (170 mph).

The Joetsu Shinkansen line dates back to 1982 and connects travelers between Tokyo and the hot springs and leisure resorts of Niigata and the surrounding area. Toki and Tanigawa are the two train services that operate on the line.

The Toki trains include a range of models including double-decker trains called Max Toki. The operating speed of the train is 240 km/h (150 mph). The Toki Shinkansen takes you from Tokyo to Niigata in just over an hour and a half .

This is the slower of the two types of trains which operate on this line (Toki and Tanigawa). This is because Tanigawa Shinkansen stops at all train stations between Tokyo and Echigo-Yuzawa.

During the winter season, the train runs to Gala-Yuzawa, getting travelers to the nearby ski resort .

The Tanigawa Shinkansen takes you from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa in a little over an hour. The operating speed of the train is 240 km/h (150 mph).

There are three types of trains which operate on the Kyushu Shinkansen line connecting Fukuoka with Kagoshima-Chuo : Tsubame, Sakura, and Mizuho. The Tsubame and Sakura trains are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Mizuho trains are covered by the pass if you pay a supplementary fee.

Tsubame is the slowest of the trains operating on the Kyushu Shinkansen line as it stops at all stations until it reaches its final destination. It is also has the fewest cars and there are no Green Class ones. The operating speed of Tsubame trains is 260 km/h (160 mph). A trip from Kagoshima-Chuo to Hakata with the Tsubame train will take you a little over an hour and forty minutes.

The Sakura train is the second-fastest train on the Kyushu line, serving fewer train stations than Tsubame Shinkansen trains. There are two different types of Sakura trains: 8-car and 6-car trains . The larger one offers both Standard and Green Class cars, while the smaller one only has Standard cars. The operating speed is 300 km/h (185 mph). It takes approximately an hour and a half to reach Hakata from Kagoshima-Chuo Station.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen line connects Aomori (on the main island - Honshu) with Hakodate (on Hokkaido island) via the Seikan Tunnel. Two types of train run on the line: Hayabusa and Hayate. The line will be extended to Sapporo by 2030.

The majority of the trains which run on the Hokkaido line are Hayabusa Shinkansen trains. They operate between Tokyo and Hakodate with a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph). The journey from Tokyo to Hakodate takes approximately 280 minutes . The Hayabusas go all the way to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, a station located between Hakodate and Hokuto. From there, you can take the local Hakodate Liner to get to Hakodate in 19 minutes.

A few of the trains on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line are Hayate. They usually operate between Hakodate and Shin-Aomori (and Morioka) during the morning and late evening .

The Hokuriku Shinkansen line was originally opened in 1997 for the Nagano Olympic Games and was previously known as Nagano Shinkansen. The line currently stretches from Tokyo to Kanazawa, but will further extend to Tsuruga via Fukui from March 16, 2024. There are four types of trains that operate the Hokuriku line: Kagayaki, Asama, Hakutaka, and Tsurugi. * Stations between Kanazawa and Tsuruga from March 16, 2024

The Kagayaki train is the fastest on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line. It only stops three times between Tokyo and Kanazawa, and will stop at Fukui and Tsuruga once the extension is operational. The overall journey from Tokyo to Kanazawa takes less than two and a half hours. The train operates at 260 km/h (160 mph) and has 12 cars (10 Standard cars, a Green Class car, and a Gran Class car). * Stations between Kanazawa and Tsuruga from March 16, 2024

The name Asama comes from the name of an active volcano on Mount Asama, located near Karuizawa. Two train types operate on this line: 8-coach and 12-coach trains. Both are have reserved and non-reserved seating spaces, Green Class cars, and wheelchair spaces.

The Hakutaka and Kagayaki trains are the only two on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line that run from Tokyo all the way to Tsuruga. Hakutaka is the slower of the two trains as it makes more stops. The operating speed of Hakutaka trains is 260 km/h (160 mph). A trip from Tokyo to Tsuruga takes just over 3 hours. * Stations between Kanazawa and Tsuruga from March 16, 2024

The Tsurugi train serves as the main connection for locals between Toyama and Kanazawa, and will extend to Tsuruga from March 16, 2024 . The service was first introduced in 1961 and includes a sleeping car. The trains are formed of 12 cars including a Green Class car. * Stations between Kanazawa and Tsuruga from March 16, 2024

Shinkansen tickets

If you don’t have a JR Pass you can buy bullet train tickets individually. The ticket prices depend on the distance of the journey, whether you reserve a seat, and which class of ticket you choose. You can buy Shinkansen tickets at train stations or online (through the websites of individual JR operators).

The price of a basic Shinkansen ticket is made up of base fare and limited express fee (Shinkansen supplement). Additionally, it is possible to add a seat reservation fee and Green car fee, if required.

Extras on board

There is now free WiFi on most Shinkansen trains running on all lines. Learn more about WiFi on the Japanese bullet trains .

Passengers are allowed to take their bicycle with them on board for no additional fee . However, its front wheel needs to be removed (unless it is a foldable bike) and it needs to be stored in a bike bag.

Small pets such as cats, dogs, and birds are allowed on board as long as they weigh less than 10 kg, are shorter than 90 cm in length, and are safely put into a container.

Travellers are allowed luggage on board for no additional cost. However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage .

All luggage items must fall within the size and weight ranges permitted :

• Maximum weight of 30 kg
• Maximum size of 250 cm

There is a delivery service option.

Travellers with oversized bags (length, height, and depth dimensions over 160 cm and up to a maximum of 250 cm) will be required to make a seat reservation in the last row of seats on the train, in front of the oversized luggage area.

The Tōkaidō (Tokyo to Osaka), San’yō (Osaka to Fukuoka), and Kyūshū (Fukuoka to Kagoshima) Shinkansen no longer have separate baggage compartments , meaning that the oversized luggage area is the only space for large items.

It will not be possible to bring oversized luggage into non-reserved cars on the specified lines. Passengers who have not made a seat reservation will be required to move their luggage to the designated area and pay a ¥1,000 surcharge not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Certain items can be brought onto the Shinkansen regardless of size and do not require a reservation unless you plan to put them in the oversize baggage area:

• Baby strollers
• Musical instruments
• Sports equipment

Ease of Access

The bullet trains are very easy to access for passengers in wheelchairs and parents with strollers and the stations are well-equipped with elevators and escalators.

You can book special seating free of charge if you are in a wheelchair. The only requirement is that you make this request two days in advance at the train station where you will board. Strollers are also allowed on board free of charge. The only requirement is for them to be folded and safely placed in the designated places.

Can I make seat reservations on Shinkansen bullet trains?

Japan Rail Pass holders are entitled to book a seat on all Japan Railways trains free of charge. All seats should be booked before boarding the train. The JR Group does not allow passengers to change to a reserved seat once you have boarded the train.

What is included in the Japan Rail Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass is valid on the JR Express Trains, all Rapid and Local trains along the JR lines, JR local buses, the JR Miyajima ferry, as well as airport transfers like the Narita express and the Haruka express. Shinkansen high-speed trains are also covered.

I left something on the train. What should I do?

The Japan Railways lost property service is excellent. If you have lost something on a JR train, there is a good chance that you’ll recover your belongings. When a member of staff finds something on a Japan Rail train, they hand it to one of the lost and found counters, where it is kept for around one week. After this, the lost property is transferred to the regional Police Lost and Found Center.

Are Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen covered by the JR Pass?

Shinkansen Nozomi and Mizuho high-speed trains (reserved and non-reserved seats) will be included in the JR Pass from October 2023. To travel on these trains, a special ticket must be purchased in addition to the JR Pass. However, there are alternatives to the Nozomi and Mizuho services which you can access at no extra charge.

• Regional Passes
• Eligibility
• Pocket WiFi
• Japan Visas

Japan's main islands of Honshu, Kyushu and Hokkaido are served by a network of high speed train lines that connect Tokyo with most of the country's major cities . Japan's high speed trains (bullet trains) are called shinkansen (�V����) and are operated by Japan Railways (JR).

Running at speeds of up to 320 km/h, the shinkansen is known for punctuality (most trains depart on time to the second), comfort (relatively silent cars with spacious, always forward-facing seats), safety (no fatal accidents in its history) and efficiency. Thanks to various rail passes , the shinkansen can also be a cost-effective means of travel .

Shinkansen network

The shinkansen network consists of multiple lines, among which the Tokaido Shinkansen ( Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto - Osaka ) is the oldest and most popular. All shinkansen lines (except the Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen) run on tracks that are exclusively built for and used by shinkansen trains. Most lines are served by multiple train categories, ranging from the fastest category that stops only at major stations to the slowest category that stops at every station.

Seats and classes

Seat classes.

Trains offer seats in two or three classes, which are typically found in separate cars:

Reserved vs. non-reserved cars

Most shinkansen trains offer both non-reserved seats (���R��, jiyūseki) and reserved seats (�w���, shiteiseki) in separate cars. Only the Hayabusa, Hayate, Komachi and Tsubasa trains on the Tohoku Shinkansen and Hokkaido Shinkansen and the Kagayaki trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen are fully reserved and do not carry non-reserved seating. In addition, Nozomi trains along the Tokaido / Sanyo Shinkansen become temporarily fully reserved during the New Year , Golden Week and Obon holidays. All seats in Green Cars are reserved. Bilingual signs indicate whether a car carries reserved or non-reserved seats.

Advance seat reservations are required to use a seat in a reserved car ( see below on how to make seat reservations). A fee of a few hundred yen applies for making seat reservations. Japan Rail Pass holders can make seat reservations for free.

Seat reservations allow you to secure a seat and travel with peace of mind. They can be made for all shinkansen trains, but are not mandatory on the trains that also carry non-reserved seating. Only the Hayabusa, Hayate, Komachi and Tsubasa trains along the Tohoku / Hokkaido Shinkansen , and the Kagayaki trains along the Hokuriku Shinkansen require seat reservations. In addition, Nozomi trains along the Tokaido / Sanyo Shinkansen become temporarily fully reserved during the New Year , Golden Week and Obon holidays.

Seat reservations can be made from one month before travel date (from 10:00am) until shortly before departure time. They can be made at ticket offices , at ticket machines or online . (Through the Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service reservations can be made up to one year in advance).

Are seat reservations recommended?

On many trains reserved seats do not get booked out, but on some they do. On particularly busy travel days (e.g. peak travel days during Golden Week , Obon and the New Year holidays), trains can get booked out several days in advance, but on most other days trains rarely get booked out more than a few hours in advance, if at all.

For peace of mind seat reservations are always recommended, especially when traveling in groups and preferring to sit together. On a few shinkansen trains along the Tohoku Shinkansen , Hokkaido Shinkansen and Hokuriku Shinkansen seat reservations are mandatory.

Shinkansen tickets

Fees that make up a shinkansen ticket.

A shinkansen ticket is made up of the following fees:

• Base fare The fare to get from A to B. Increases stepwise according to the distance traveled. Issued as a base fare ticket (��Ԍ�, jōshaken).
• Shinkansen supplement (aka limited express fee) The supplement fee for using a shinkansen train (as opposed to a local train ). The fee increases stepwise according to the distance traveled. The express supplement is issued as a limited express fee ticket (���}��, tokkyūken).
• Seat reservation fee 330, 530, 730 or 930 yen depending on the date of travel. An additional supplement (100-1060 yen depending on distance traveled) applies for using reserved seats on Nozomi , Mizuho , Hayabusa and Komachi trains. The seat reservation fee is included into the above-mentioned express supplement.
• Green car fee (if using a green car) The supplement fee for riding the green car. Increases stepwise according to the distance traveled. It is combined with the express supplement into a single ticket.

Shinkansen passengers typically receive two pieces of tickets: a base fare ticket and a supplement ticket. In some situations the two tickets are combined into a single ticket, while more than two tickets may be issued if multiple trains are involved (one base fare ticket and one supplement ticket for each train).

Buying a ticket at the ticket counter

Shinkansen tickets can be purchased at any ticket office found at all major and many minor JR stations nationwide. Credit cards are accepted at most ticket offices. In order to purchase a ticket, the following information is needed:

• Number of travelers
• Date of travel
• Departure station
• Destination station
• Ordinary or green car
• Reserved or non-reserved seat

For a seat reservation, the following additional information is required:

• Train name (e.g. Hikari) and train number or departure time

If you do not speak Japanese , it is recommended that you write the data on a piece of paper and present it to the salesperson in order to make the purchasing process smoother. Salespersons are generally familiar with the English vocabulary needed for the purchase of train tickets and seat reservations, but many have limited English conversation skills.

Buying a ticket at a ticket machine

Selected ticket machines can be used to buy shinkansen tickets. Most of them offer English menus. Some machines sell only non-reserved seats, while others can be used to also make seat reservations. Although ticket machines can be very useful if you know how to use them, the process of buying shinkansen tickets is not always straight-forward.

Buying a ticket online

Although such websites exist in Japanese , there is currently no single English website for buying tickets for shinkansen nationwide. Instead, there are multiple systems that each cover only selected lines. Two of them allow for the use of IC cards in place of paper tickets. If using paper tickets, you will need to be pick up the tickets in the region covered by each system from a ticket machine or ticket office before boarding the train.

In addition to the above-mentioned JR-operated websites, there are other online ticket services, such as Klook's shinkansen booking service , which allow tickets to be purchased online and to be picked up or delivered to an address in Japan for a service fee.

IC cards , such as Suica or Icoca, can be used on selected shinkansen lines and need some set-up before use. There are currently three different systems:

• Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service (smart EX) The above-mentioned Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service allows users to register IC cards with the system and then use an IC card to ride the Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu Shinkansen . Fares are charged to a registered credit card rather than subtracted from the IC card's balance.
• JR East Reservation System - for shinkansen trains in eastern Japan In combination with the above-mentioned JR East Reservation System , it is possible to use IC cards to ride shinkansen trains in eastern and northern Japan. Fares are charged to a registered credit card rather than subtracted from the IC card's balance.
• Touch de Go - for shinkansen trains in eastern Japan Regular IC cards , including Suica, Pasmo and Icoca, can be used on non-reserved seats of shinkansen trains in the entire service area of JR East (see map above). Before you can use an IC card for this service, which is known as "Touch de Go", a one-time set-up procedure is required at a ticket machine. Fares will be subtracted from the IC card's balance.

Rail passes

The Japan Rail Pass can be used on all shinkansen trains and covers all the fees involved (except for a supplement fee required for Nozomi and Mizuho trains). Seat reservations can be made for free at ticket machines and ticket offices. Pass holders will receive a seat reservation ticket that indicates the reserved seat. They need no tickets besides their rail pass when using non-reserved seats. Numerous regional passes also cover some shinkansen trains.

Other discount tickets

Small discounts are available for set ticket (�񐔌�, kaisūken) and round trip tickets (��������, ōfukuwaribiki) that are available for selected sections. Other tickets provide a discount when purchased in advance (����, hayatoku). Discount ticket shops around major stations also sell shinkansen tickets at small discounts.

More substantial savings are provided by travel packages which have to be purchased in advance at travel agencies. Among them are the "Shinkansen Travel Packages" and "Shinkansen One-Way Trip" (also known as Platt-Kodama) for travel along the Tokaido Shinkansen (including Tokyo-Kyoto and Tokyo-Osaka), sold at JR Tokai Tours travel agencies.

JR West also offers discounted one-way tickets along the Sanyo Shinkansen and Hokuriku Shinkansen exclusively to overseas tourists. Prospective travelers will first receive a mobile voucher which can then be exchanged to the real ticket at a ticket machine.

How to use the shinkansen?

After purchasing your ticket (see above), proceed as follows:

Ordinary seats typically come in rows of 3+2 seats, although on some trains they are arranged in rows of 2+2 seats. Seats can be reclined and have tables, pockets for magazines and open overhead shelves. They provide considerably more foot space than economy seats on airplanes . Newer train sets have electrical outlets installed along the walls or in the armrest.

Green cars always come with rows of 2+2 seats and have seats that are more spacious than ordinary seats. The seats are often equipped with a foot rest, reading light, electrical outlets and a seat warmer, although the exact facilities depend on the train set.

All seats on shinkansen trains can be turned by 180 degrees, allowing travelers to always face forward. The seats are turned by the staff at the terminal stations, but can also be turned by passengers, for example, to create a group of four or six seats facing each other.

Amenities & services

Signs and announcements inside the trains are multilingual ( Japanese and English on all lines; plus Korean and Chinese on selected lines) and inform about upcoming stations.

A gradually decreasing number of shinkansen trains are served by small food carts with a selection of snacks, drinks and boxed meals (bento) which periodically pass along the aisle.

Free Wi-Fi is available on board of most shinkansen trains and at many shinkansen train stations. Depending on the operating company, the networks are known as Shinkansen Free Wi-Fi, JR-EAST FREE Wi-Fi and JR-WEST FREE Wi-Fi.

All shinkansen are equipped with multiple toilets , which are sometimes separated by gender. The toilets are Western-style except on some older train sets. Newer train sets are also equipped with spacious toilets for wheelchair users . Outside the toilets are wash corners with sinks and large mirrors.

Smoking is not allowed on board of any shinkansen trains. Smoking in stations and on platforms is also prohibited, except in designated smoking zones.

According to the rule book, each traveler is allowed to bring up to two pieces of luggage onto a train (not including small bags), with each piece not weighting more than 30 kilograms and not measuring more than 250 centimeters when adding up width, height and depth. However, even when bringing less than this upper limit, we recommend travelers with a lot of luggage to consider using a delivery service to make the trip more comfortable for themselves and the passengers around them.

Shinkansen trains are equipped with relatively spacious overhead shelves (smaller on certain train sets) which can store small and medium sized bags and suitcases. Furthermore, on many shinkansen trains the leg room is surprisingly spacious and may be large enough for your legs and a mid-sized suitcase, although this may not be the most comfortable solution.

Additionally, there is space for two or three large suitcases behind the last row of seats in each car; however, for security and convenience reasons only passengers sitting in the last row of seats are supposed to place their luggage into the space behind their seats.

A special rule for oversized luggage applies along the Tokaido , Sanyo , Kyushu and Nishikyushu Shinkansen . Passengers with oversized luggage, i.e. luggage pieces whose height, width and depth add up to more than 160cm (63 inches), are now required to make a seat reservation for specific seats with nearby storage space. It is not possible to bring oversized luggage into non-reserved cars.

Passengers without a reservation for their oversized luggage will be asked to move their luggage to a space specified by the train conductor and pay a 1000 yen surcharge which is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass . No plans have been announced to introduce a similar system on other shinkansen lines.

Shinkansen manners

• Line up on the platform before boarding.
• Don't block the aisle with luggage.
• When having a conversation, keep your voice down.
• Recline your seat with consideration for the person behind you. Return the seat to its original position before exiting the train.
• Set your mobile phone to silent mode. Don't talk on your phone except in the deck areas between cars.
• Take your garbage with you when getting off the train and discard it into a garbage bin on the train or in the station.

Future of the shinkansen

Several new shinkansen routes are currently being built:

• Hokkaido Shinkansen: extension from Hakodate via Niseko and Otaru to Sapporo sometime after 2031.
• Hokuriku Shinkansen: extension from Tsuruga via Obama and Kyoto to Osaka by the 2040s.
• Chuo Shinkansen: Using maglev technology, this new line is scheduled to connect Tokyo with Nagoya sometime after 2027 and with Osaka sometime after 2037.

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Links and Resources

Jr east reservation system, tokaido sanyo kyushu shinkansen online reservation service, jr west reservation system, jr kyushu reservation system, jr hokkaido, links to timetable websites, jr tokai tours.

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Riding the Shinkansen - What you need to know

NAVITIME TRAVEL EDITOR

Shinkansen - also known as the bullet train - are operated by Japan Railways (JR). Valued for its speed, accuracy on time, comfort, safety and efficiency, the shinkansen can run at speeds of up to 320 km/h, carrying thousands of people across Japan daily. This article will guide you through what you need to know about the shinkansen.

Interior of the shinkansen

When you step inside the shinkansen, it reminds you of an airplane, with rows of seats on both sides of an isle, and windows. The seats all recline, with retractable tables and sometimes power outlets for charging your phone or PC. There is enough room to stretch your legs, and luggage can be stored below or above the seats. Although it travels at a sweeping 320 km/h, the ride is very quiet and comfortable.

Taking the shinkansen

There are many reasons why the shinkansen would be your first choice when traveling across Japan.

Shinkansen stops at many of the large cities across Japan, and most of the time, the stations are located at the center of the cities. Those stations are usually hubs with connections to local lines and subways in the same building or nearby, making it very convinient for travel. One great thing about shinkansen trains are that they are incredibly punctual. Even though the Tokaido shinkansen has over 130,000 journeys a year, it is surprising to know that the average delay is only 24 seconds!

The scenary may be another reason to take the shinkansen. Every shinkansen line have their own unique stunning seashore and mountainous scenery, which will definitely be one of the highlights of the train ride. For example, if you are traveling from Tokyo to Osaka on the Tokaido Shinkansen, make sure to sit on the RIGHT side of the train to see Mt. Fuji.

Train departure board

What is a shinkansen?

By law, trains that travel over 200 km/h is considered a “shinkansen.” To distinguish shinkansen from other trains operated by Japan Railway (JR), the term "zairaisen" (在来線/conventional train) was created in 1964, when the first shinkansen began its operation. It may sound like the shinkansen goes all the way from Hokkaido in the North to Kyushu in the South by a single operator, it is actually operated by different regional JR companies, and uses varying carriages.

Names and meanings of shinkansen

When it comes to the name of the train, it's a bit of a puzzle but the following lists might be a help to you. Tokaido Line (Tokyo to Shin-Osaka) : Nozomi (Hope) Hikari (Light) Kodama (Echo) Sanyo Line (Shin-Osaka to Hakata) : Mizuho (Bountiful Harvest) Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Kodama (Echo) Kyushu Line (Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo) : Mizuho (Bountiful Harvest) Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Tsubame (Swallow) Hokkaido and Tohoku lines (Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto) : Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon) Hayate (Strong Wind) Yamabiko (Mountain Spirit) Nasuno (in reference to the Nasu Highlands) Komachi (A synonym for feminine beauty in Japan, in reference to the poet, Ono no Komachi) Tsubasa (Wings) Hokuriku Line (Tokyo to Kanazawa) : Kagayaki (Glitter) Hakutaka (White Hawk) Asama (in reference to Mt. Asama) Tsurugi (in reference to Mt. Tsurugi) Joetsu Line (Tokyo to Niigata) : Toki (Crested Ibis) Tanigawa (in reference to Mt. Tanigawa)

For trains travelling west on the Tokaido-Sanyo-Kyushu line:

Tokaido-Sanyo-Kyushu line

Tokaido line (Tokyo to Shin-Osaka)

There are few different names for the shinkansen that leaves Tokyo and travel west to Osaka and beyond. The fastest trains which stop the least are the Nozomi and Mizuho. The express trains, which are still very fast but stop more often, are named Hikari and Sakura. And the shinkansen that will basically stop at every station are called Kodama and Tsubame. The Nozomi is the fastest of the Tokaido shinkansen, travelling non-stop from Shin-Yokohama to Nagoya. It arrives at its final destination Hakata (in Fukuoka) in around five hours. This shinkansen has the most frequent departures from Tokyo, and most popular, and has the least number of non-reserved seats. That’s why it’s important to make a reservation before you board so you don’t risk the chance of having to stand for few hours. Since Nozomi is primarily a commuter train shuttling employees and salespeople between their offices in Tokyo and Osaka, it cannot be used with a JR Rail Pass.Especially during the morning and evening rush hours, these trains depart at intervals of 10 minutes or less. If you are travelling with a JR Rail Pass you should catch the Hikari, which are almost as fast as Nozomi but slightly less frequent in numbers. The Hikari is the second-fastest but this train makes more stops compared to the Nozomi. Hikari is the quickest bullet train that the JR pass covers. Most Hikari trains stop at Shizuoka and Hamamatsu, but Atami, Odawara, Mishima and Toyohashi are often skipped. Most Hikari trains stop at Shin-Osaka or Okayama, so if you are planning on going further to Hiroshima or Fukuoka, you will have to change trains. When doing so, make sure to find out which train will get you to your destination the quickest, since getting on the next available train may not be the best choice. The Japan Travel by NAVITIME app will be able to give you all this information and more, simplifying the ticket booking process (especially if you are using a JR Rail Pass). The Kodama shinkansen stops at all stations between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. It is the only train to stop at Shin-Fuji, Kakegawa and Mikawa Anjo. Get this train and get off at Shin-Fuji station if you want to take the iconic photo of Mt. Fuji with the shinkansen in the foreground, depicted in the logo of the Japan Travel by NAVITIME app.

The Sanyo line (Shin-Osaka to Hakata) & Kyushu line (Hakata toKagoshima-Chuo)

Keep in mind that the Nozomi and Hikari Tokaido line trains may also stop at Hakata, just like the Mizuho, Sakura and Kodama trains that run from Shin-Osaka to Hakata. Please double check the schedule when purchasing the tickets. The Mizuho is the fastest train between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. It connects to the Kyushu shinkansen stopping at Kagoshima-Chuo. It will take approximately two and a half hours to go from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, and another hour and twenty minutes to reach Kagoshima-Chuo. The Sakura which is operated by the JR Kyushu, this train travel within Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo. It is the second-fastest and stop in Shin-Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura, Hakata, Kumamoto and Kagoshima etc, where its route and destination are similar to that of the route Hikari takes. The Kodama stops at all stations that the Nozomi passes on its route inside the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. It stops at all stations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. It stops at Hakata but doesn’t connect to the Kyushu shinkansen. The Tsubame will stop at all stations in-between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo stations.

For trains travelling north on the Tohoku-Joetsu line:

Tohoku-Joetsu line

The Hokkaido and Tohoku line (Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station)

There are four main trains operating on the Hokkaido and Tohoku lines with Hayabusa being the fastest if your goal is Morioka, Aomori or Hokkaido. Services using the Hayabusa train are only guaranteed to stop at six stations on its journey north from Tokyo Station to Hokkaido, with most skipping common stops like Ueno, arriving at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station after around four and a half hours. The Hayabusa train only has reserved seating, which also means that if it is full you won’t be able to purchase a ticket. The next fastest train is the Hayate, since it also runs non-stop between Omiya and Sendai. And to add on, the Hayabusa is the only train that runs from Morioka through to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. The Yamabiko is the main train for the Tohoku shinkansen that travels as far as Morioka in Iwate Prefecture. This is the one to get if you want to change at Fukushima to head to Shinjo on the Yamagata Shinkansen. The Nasuno is the slowest of the Tohoku shinkansen, stopping at all stations from Tokyo to Koriyama. This train is the one to get if you are going to Nasu-Shiobara, which will get you there in around one hour and 10 minutes. The Komachi is the name of the train that runs on the Akita Shinkansen between Morioka and Akita; the stations it stops at between Tokyo and Morioka are the same as the Hayabusa. And finally, the Tsubasa runs on the Yamagata Shinkansen from Fukushima to Shinjo. The Tsubasa has non-reserved seating, so if you have the JR Rail Pass you can just get on without having to make a reservation.

The Hokuriku line operates between Tokyo and Kanazawa.

Hokuriku line

The Hokuriku line was constructed to open just before the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1997, and in 2015 the extension to Kanazawa was finally completed, making Kanazawa an accessible tourist destination for those travelling from Tokyo. There are four trains operating on the Hokuriku line, but if you are planning on travelling direct to Kanazawa, the Kagayaki is your best bet. Kagayaki is the fastest as it only stops at the main six stations (Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Nagano, Toyama, and Kanazawa). It will take around two and a half hours to get to Kanazawa, but there aren’t any non-reserved cars so you will need to make a seat reservation even if you are travelling using the JR Rail Pass. Hakutaka has the next fastest arrival time, taking just over three hours. It stops at almost twice as many stations, but also has cars with non-reserved seating. The local shinkansen, which terminates in Nagano is the Asama; it usually stops at all stations but depending on the time of day and schedule congestion, it may skip a few. Heading back from Kanazawa, another shinkansen you may see is the Tsurugi. It operates as a shuttle service between Kanazawa and Toyama station, so if you board the Tsurugi planning on heading to Tokyo, you will have to change again at Toyama.

The Joetsu line operates between Tokyo and Niigata

Joetsu line

The Joetsu Shinkansen is famous for having the only running double-decker shinkansen, the E4 series MAX which has elevated windows for those sitting in the upper level. Having said that though, this shinkansen will be phased out in March 2021 and replaced with the regular E2 and E7 series trains (The E2 will also be phased out in 2023). The Joetsu Shinkansen is convenient when going to the snow in winter, as it stops at Gala Yuzawa station, only a few steps away from the ski lift. Toki is the name of the train which goes all the way to Niigata and skips some stations, making it faster. The Tanigawa on the other hand, only goes to Echigo-Yuzawa (or Gala-Yuzawa in the winter) but stops at all the stations along the way.

Types of shinkansen seats

Railroad car interior - car number & information display

Seats on the shinkansen are broken up into roughly three types, with a few special ones that are available depending on the line or train. The most commonly available ticket type is the reserved seat. Most seats on shinkansen trains across the country are in reserved cars. If that’s the case, you will need to book a seat even if you are using the JR Rail Pass. The second most common type is the unreserved seat. Typically, three to six cars of the shinkansen are unreserved, meaning it isn’t necessary for you to book a seat; if you have the JR Rail Pass you can just jump on. It can be hard to predict if and when these cars are full, as they can sometimes be very crowded or completely empty, so It's safer to get a reserved seat when possible. If you are only going a short distance, need to be there as soon as possible, and don’t mind the possibility of having to stand the whole way, it’s good to know that you can just get an unreserved ticket even if all of the reserved seats are booked. The third type of seat is in the ‘Green Car’. The green car is similar to a first-class train car, or a business class flight, in that the seats are more spacious, and the car is generally quieter. The tickets are surprisingly not that much more expensive than a regular reserved seat. It’s also possible to get a special Green Car JR Rail Pass which will give you access to all of the green car seats nationwide. Green car seats are recommended if you are travelling with older or larger people who would appreciate the space and quieter atmosphere. The ‘Gran Class’ which operates on the E7 and W7 series shinkansen heading north from Tokyo on the Tohoku, Hokkaido, Hokuriku and some Joetsu lines, is equivalent to the first-class cabin on an international flight. There are meal and alcohol services, and the tickets are significantly more expensive than a regular reserved seat ticket.

JR ticket office

How to make a seat reservation (while in Japan)

Here's how to reserve a seat in Japan.

Making reservations in person

Seat reservations can be made in person at JR Ticket Offices (commonly known in Japanese as Midori-no-madoguchi, or the green window). These are located in most major JR train stations nationwide and are easily recognizable as all the signage is green. You can either line up to speak to the staff or purchase tickets at the vending machines.

Ticket vending machine

Ticket vending machine screen

If you have a valid JR Rail Pass and want to sit in one of the unreserved cars, there is no need to go to the ticket office; you can board the train directly. If you would like to sit in a reserved seat, you will need to make a seat booking at the Ticket Office which is free of charge. And if you have a regular JR Rail Pass, and want to ride in the green car or Gran Class, you'll need to pay additional charges.

Midori-No-Madoguchi (green window) - ticket office

Due to the sheer number of shinkansen trains in operation around the country, it’s perfectly reasonable to make a reservation and travel on the same day. There may be situations where you’ll have to wait for the next train — especially when travelling from Tokyo to Osaka along the Tokaido line — but it shouldn’t be a problem unless you are in a rush or are planning on travelling at peak times in the morning or after work.

Making reservations online

Due to the way JR-East, JR-Central, and JR-West companies are structured, which site or app you should use to make your booking will depend on your departure and arrival stations. JR-West - from Kagoshima to Shin-Osaka JR-Central - from Hakata (Fukuoka) to Tokyo JR-East - from Tokyo to Hokkaido

JR-Central - SmartEX Tokaido Shinkansen Reservation App

SmartEX Tokaido Shinkansen Reservation App

If you are travelling around central Japan — from Fukuoka to Tokyo — the SmartEX Tokaido Shinkansen Reservation App is the easiest: https://smart-ex.jp/en/ Covering trips between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, the SmartEX app covers a lot of popular destinations, and is easy to install and use. After registering, tickets can be booked up to a month in advance, and you can easily alter the date and time of time of your departure if you change your mind. If you are using the JR Rail Pass, you have the option to only search for services on the Hikari, Sakura, and Kodama trains.

SmartEX ticket purchase screens

After selecting your train and departure time, choose your seat type from the list or seat map, then proceed to purchase your ticket.

JR-West - JR-West Online Train Reservation

If you are travelling around western Japan — from Kagoshima to Shin-Osaka — you should use the JR West Online Train Reservation site: https://www.westjr.co.jp/ Tickets booked from this site can be paid for at the time of booking using a credit card, or at the station before you board the train. To pick up your ticket (or pay for it at a vending machine), look for ones with the ‘e5489’ logo. E5489 is an online reservation network run by JR-West.

JR-East - JR-EAST Train Reservation

If you are travelling around eastern Japan — from Tokyo to Hokkaido — you can use the JR East Train Reservation site: https://www.eki-net.com/ The JR-East site is the oldest of the online booking services and is the strictest regarding the information required and how it is submitted, making it esoteric and the hardest to use. Also, tickets booked with this service cannot be picked up on the day of travel, and an online credit card payment must be used to complete the booking. To use the service, you first select the line, choose departure and arrival stations, and then select boarding date and time. You will then need to add the date and the name of the station where you want to pick up the ticket(s). You can then add the number of passengers and seating preferences. You then will need to register, add billing information, and pay to complete the reservation process.

JR Rail Passes - There is more than one type!

There are actually a lot of different types of rail passes available in Japan. The most well-known is the nationwide JR Rail Pass, which allows pass holders to ride for free on JR trains from Kyushu to Hokkaido. Normally recommended for travelers who will at least be travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto or Hiroshima. If you are travelling all over Japan or using trains that are not on JR lines, it can be difficult to know exactly how much you would save by getting the nationwide pass. The Japan Travel by NAVITIME app allows you to easily find the prices of the routes (with an icon to show if they are covered by the rail pass). It also allows you to search for routes which specifically take advantage of the JR Rail Pass, so you can work out if the nationwide pass is the best value for your trip. Aside from the nationwide JR Rail Pass, there are also a lot of bespoke rail passes for different areas that can be found on their official JR railway sites. These aren’t widely advertised outside of the official sites, but have been developed with different types of travelers and specific routes in mind. They can be incredibly good value when compared to the nationwide pass, depending on what you are planning on doing and how you plan to travel while you’re in Japan. For example, the JR East Pass for the Tohoku Area, is a “flexible five-day pass (any five days within 14 days of issuance, including the day of issuance)” and is priced at 30,000 yen (as of July 2024) when purchased overseas (less than half the price of the nationwide JR Pass). When you're ready to get your Japan Rail Pass, you can purchase online from here. If you are planning on renting a car and exploring areas that are not readily accessible by train, having five ‘travel days’ over a 14-day period makes a lot of sense. It would be possible to get the shinkansen from Tokyo to Aomori, and traverse your way back down through Akita, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata, ending up back in Tokyo.

If you are not travelling across the whole country it’s worth checking the JR railway sites related to the areas you are planning on travelling to. You can also ask the staff at the Midori no Madoguchi and see what passes and routes they recommend, since there are many routes that might include free bus and boat travel.

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Update date：2024/05/19

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Shinkansen Route Map

Shinkansen Routes in Operation

* The Yamagata and Akita Shinkansens connect to Tokyo via the Tōhoku Shinkansen line. They are known as mini-shinkansens as they run on existing railway lines that have been converted to 1,435 mm gauge to accommodate the faster trains.

New Shinkansen Lines Planned or Under Construction

(Originally published in October 2014. Last updated on March 16, 2024. Banner photo © Kimura Takuma.)

Shinkansen train transportation railway

• Tokyo Cheapo (繁體中文)

Beginner’s Guide to the Shinkansen: Essential Info for a First Trip

Thinking about taking Japan’s famous Shinkansen? You’ve found the right article. This is Shink 101, a comprehensive guide to taking some of the fastest trains in the world. It covers everything from bullet train speeds to seat reservations, with a few fun facts thrown in for good measure. Let’s begin with the basics.

Just looking for Shinkansen tickets? You can buy them on Klook and Rakuten Travel Experiences .

Why take the Shinkansen?

This question needs to be rephrased. Why not? The Shinkansen is one of the quickest, easiest ways of traveling between major cities in Japan. Boarding at Tokyo Station? You can be in Osaka in just over 2.5 hours on the fastest bullet train service. With maximum speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph), the Shink will get you from Point A to Point B, wherever that may be, in no time at all.

The Shinkansen is more comfortable than taking a bus or flying economy class, as well as more convenient (it doesn’t require schlepping to any airports). It also sometimes works out cheaper, if you take advantage of a Japan Rail Pass — more about that below.

These trains are also super safe. Launched ahead of the first Tokyo Olympics in 1964, Japanese bullet trains have carried more than 10 billion passengers over the years, with zero fatalities due to derailment or collision. That’s some safety record.

The Tōkaidō Shinkansen (which connects Tokyo with Osaka/Kyoto and Nagoya) has something like 323 trains running every day — and there are hundreds more on the other lines. The average delay, across all lines? Under 60 seconds, even in extreme weather conditions.

The Shinkansen network runs the length of Japan’s main island (Honshū), up to Hakodate in southern Hokkaidō, and down to the southern-most point in Kyūshū. You can step onto a train at Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture and step off (well, with one transfer) in Hakodate 10 hours and over 2,000km later — it’s mind-blowing.

Leave a low carbon footprint

The Shinkansen (especially the newer generation trains) have lower carbon emissions compared with most other forms of transport. The Shinkansen is powered by electricty and ( according to JR ) emits carbon at rate of 0.0093kg per km (per seat), whereas a regular JR train runs at 0.019kg / km — twice as much.

The precise emissions do depend on the power source behind the electricty. Currently most of Japan’s nuclear power stations are offline, so much of the Shinkansen network will still be running off electricty sourced partly from fossil fuels (Japan runs a mix of renewables, nuclear, and fossil fuel). Either way though, the Shinkansen is still likely the lowest emission option for traveling longer distances in Japan.

Carbon emissions for travel between Tokyo and Osaka

Single tickets vs. the japan rail pass.

If you’ve decided to take the Shinkansen, you now need to work out which is the more economical choice: single tickets (available on Klook or Rakuten Travel Experiences ) or a JR rail pass .

In addition to the countrywide JR Pass , there are numerous regional rail passes allowing discounted travel around particular parts of the country, like Tōhoku or Hokkaidō.

Rule of thumb: If you’re doing a one-way trip or traveling for just a day or two, single tickets are the way to go. JR Passes — both national and regional — are better value if you make several long-distance trips.

For example: A single ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto costs approximately ¥ 13,320 without a seat reservation (more about that below). Round-trip, that comes to ¥ 26,640 . Meanwhile, a 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs ¥ 50,000 . You’ll need to make a least one more long-distance trip before you start to see savings.

Also keep in mind that seat reservations cost extra if you buy a single ticket, but they are free with the JR Pass.

Pro tip: Use the Tokyo Cheapo Shinkansen fare calculator to compare ticket prices.

Important! Only foreign passport holders entering Japan on a “temporary” (tourist) visa are eligible to purchase the Japan Rail Pass. There are a number of regional rail passes for foreign residents , but otherwise these are also restricted to inbound travelers.

Standard class (Economy) vs. Green Car on the bullet train

All of the prices above are for “standard class” (economy) carriages on the Shinkansen. There are also the so-called Green Car carriages, which is basically business class. The latest trains, which run on select routes, often have a first class called GranClass.

In a Green Car, you get is a little more legroom, and the guarantee of just one passenger sitting beside you, instead of two. (The Green Car sits two and two while standard class seats three and two). The seats are also plushier and the atmosphere tends to be more serene.

From Tokyo to Kyoto, a one-way Green Car ticket costs approximately ¥ 18,840 , so about ¥ 5,000 more expensive. All Green Car (and GranClass) seats are reservation only.

How to buy and use a Japan Rail Pass

To get a Japan Rail Pass (and many of the regional rail passes), you’ll need to purchase it online before arriving in Japan. Then, when you arrive, you can simply take the exchange order to a major train station and get your pass. It’s fairly straightforward and speedy. 

When you are ready to start your Shinkansen journey, you can activate the pass and reserve seats. Japan Rail Pass holders do not need to pay a seat reservation fee.

How to reserve seats on the Shinkansen

To reserve space for your bottom, you simply go in to a Midori no Madoguchi (“ Green Counter”) office at a major JR station, or a designated JR Travel Service Center (like the one at Narita). The staff will take care of the rest for you.

You can risk skipping the seat reservation bit, and opt for unreserved seats (there are designated carriages for this) if you like. This is no longer recommended, however, as you could end up standing in between the carriages for the entire journey.

Japan Rail Pass holders can take all Shinkansen, including the two fastest ones — the Nozomi and Mizuho. As the other models (Kodama excepted) are only marginally slower, it doesn’t really make much of a difference. For example, you can still get from Tokyo to Osaka in just three hours on the Hikari Shinkansen.

What if I’m buying single tickets?

You can buy one-way or round-trip bullet train tickets at any  Midori no Madoguchi ticket office, as well as at ticket machines (available at certain stations). You will be able to make your seat reservation at the same time.

Buying an unreserved ticket is cheaper; again, keep in mind you might end up standing if there are no seats available. If you have lots of time at your disposal, you can save a few thousand yen by booking a ticket on the slowest model of Shinkansen — the Kodama. It stops at every Shinkansen station. Every. Single. One.

Luggage on the go: Charges and fines

Since 2020, JR has decided to bring in limits for “extra large” luggage on certain routes.

Luggage with a combined width, height, and length of more than 160cm and up to 250cm requires its own reservation (free). This policy does not apply to prams, bikes (although they must be packed in a bike bag), musical instruments, sports equiment, or wheelchairs. But you can make a reservation for them if you think you’ll need one.

If smaller than the set dimensions, items can go in the overhead luggage racks; if larger, it cannot be taken onto the train at all.

Which train lines are affected?

The luggage rules are limited to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (between Tokyo and Osaka, including Kyoto), the San’yō Shinkansen (between Shin-Osaka and Fukuoka, including Himeiji and Hiroshima) and the Kyūshū Shinkansen (between Hakata and Kagoshima).

How to reserve a space for your bag

You won’t actually have to pay anything to reserve a spot for your luggage. But you will have to pay for a reserved seat (a few hundred yen more than an unreserved seat). This will allow you to make a “luggage reservation” and will give you access to the specially designed secure luggage storage sections at the end of certain carriages. If these are full up, you can try to get a reservation in the Green Car (Business Class).

What happens if you don’t reserve?

If you fail to reserve a space for your luggage, you will be issued with a ¥ 1,000 fine. And you will have to upgrade to a reserved seat if you haven’t already. It’s currently unclear what will happen if there are no spaces left, you may have to wait for the next available train (or abandon your worldly goods, it’s up to you).

Different Shinkansen lines in Japan Read about: The Tōhoku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Aomori) The Jōetsu Shinkansen --> Fun Shinkansen facts

• The English welcome message that you hear upon boarding the Shinkansen was recorded by Ozzie singer Donna Burke .
• Most Shinkansen have a food cart that gets wheeled around a few times on the trip (cheapo tip: buy snacks before you board, to save money). Try the coffee.
• There is WiFi available on Shinkansen these days — although it’s open, so use a VPN for security.
• All Shinkansen have toilets and overhead luggage racks.
• The word “Shinkansen” means “new trunk line”. Not quite as exciting as you’d hoped, right?
• Here’s something a little cooler: cleaners get the entire shink spick and span in no more than seven minutes when it gets to its end-destination. They also flip the seats around so that you can face forward (you can flip them back if you’re traveling in a group and want to face your friends).
• More routes are being opened up, and better bullet trains being built. A maglev version destined to run between Tokyo and Nagoya is expected to debut in 2027; it broke records by cracking the 600km/h mark during tests in 2015. That could shorten the journey between the two cities to just over an hour. Meanwhile, the Hokkaidō Shinkansen line should reach as far as Sapporo by 2030.

If you’re interested in reading more about the Shinkansen and how it helped sculpt modern Japan, this article provides a good overview.

Frequently asked questions about the Shinkansen

We answer some of the most common questions about taking the bullet train in Japan.

Can you buy Shinkansen tickets in advance?

Yes — Shinkansen tickets can be bought in advance online or at the station. If you’re doing it in person, you can buy them at a ticket counter or a ticket machine.

Should you buy Shinkansen tickets in advance?

The benefits to buying in advance are getting seats on busy days/times/routes, getting to pick a seat (as in, where you’d like to sit in the carriage), snapping up what might be limited reserved baggage spots (see above), and just making your train-catching experience a little simpler. Sometimes, you can also score discounts if you book in advance online via Ekinet.

Can you buy a JR Pass in Japan?

Yes — until March 31, 2024, JR Passes are being sold at a number of JR ticket sales offices, including those at Haneda, Narita, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other major stations. Previously, JR passes had to be bought outside of Japan, so this makes things a lot easier. You still have to have a foreign passport, and must be travelling under a “temporary visitor” stamp. However, note that the prices are higher in you buy the JR Pass in Japan.

Can you reserve a Shinkansen ticket with a JR Pass online?

Yes — generally, people reserve in person at ticket desks, but there are also online options. If you purchased your JR Pass online through the official site, you can use the dedicated JR Reservation website to book seats afterwards. But don’t forget, you still have to collect your reserved tickets from a machine or ticket counter before you can board the bullet train.

Ekinet allows for reservations to be made on the JR East routes, covering Hokkaidō, Tōhoku, and Tokyo. They can be made from (at most) one month before you travel to three days before, so it’s not a last-minute option by any means. But it’s useful if you’re planning to travel at a peak time and are planning your trip from abroad.

Can you take a bicycle on the bullet train?

Yes, but it has to be packed away in a bicycle bag. It’s a bit of a faff, but it’s non-negotiable.

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in May 2017. Last updated in October 2023.

• Bullet train
• Cheap train tickets
• Japan travel
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Everything you need to know about Japan’s bullet trains

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written by Rebecca Hallett

updated 08.04.2024

Surely one of Japan ’s most iconic images is an impossibly fast bullet train (or “shinkansen”) speeding past snow-capped Mount Fuji – you know the photo. Clichéd as it is, it captures that most Japanese of phenomena, the seamless blending of the ancient and the modern.

So, how are bullet trains any different to regular trains?

Where can i go on the bullet train, and where can’t i go, how much does it cost.

• What's this JR Pass I keep hearing about?

How do I get tickets?

Are there any rules or manners i need to remember, anything else i should bear in mind, what’s the future of the bullet train.

Beautiful views aside, the bullet train really is one of those must-do Japanese experiences. It can feel a bit daunting to try and figure out how to use it, but don’t worry – we’ve got a few tips on how to get the most out of Japan's bullet trains.

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They’re fast. As in, really fast. The Tōkaidō line between Tokyo and Kyoto takes between about two and a half hours (Nozomi or Hikari bullet trains) and four hours (Kodama bullet trains); by bus this takes about eight hours, and if you go by local trains it’s closer to nine.

Bullet trains also have plenty of “why don’t all trains have this” features, like seats which you can turn around (to make space for your luggage, or sit in a group with your friends), and they look pretty space age.

If you have planned a shinkansen ride from Tokyo, take care of a place to stay in Tokyo and enjoy exploring the city.

© kawamura_lucy/Shutterstock

The bullet train lines snake across most of the country, from Kagoshima at the southern tip of Kyūshū to Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaidō. Most of the big tourist sites have a station nearby, so you can easily take one to see the ancient temples of Kyoto, Hiroshima’s Peace Park, or of course Tokyo.

The big gaps at the moment are in Shikoku (the fourth-largest island, just by Kyūshū) and almost all of Hokkaidō ; if you want to explore the far north of the country, you’re probably better off flying to Sapporo and continuing from there.

Unsurprisingly, riding a bullet train isn’t cheap. You pay a base fare for your journey, depending on distance and time, plus a bullet train supplement.

You’ll pay extra for a seat reservation (reserved seats are called shiteiseki ; non-reserved are jiyūseki ), and a whole lot extra if you want to go in the Green Car (first class).

Overall, an average Tokyo to Kyoto fare – one-way, regular class – would be about 13,000–14,000¥ (around US$140).

© CHEN MIN CHUN/Shutterstock

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What's this JR Pass I keep hearing about?

If you plan on using bullet trains quite a lot on your trip, it’s worth considering a JR Pass . You can get one for the whole country (starting at 29,110¥ for adults), or a cheaper pass only covering part of the network; the newest one is the JR East–South Hokkaidō Pass (26,000¥ for an adult). You can’t use the very fastest trains (Nozomi and Mizuho ones) with JR Passes, but the others are still ridiculously quick.

There are a few other money-saving options, too. Perhaps the most useful is the Puratto Kodama Economy Plan , which gives you reduced-price tickets on the Tōkaidō line (Ōsaka–Tokyo). For instance, you can buy a ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto for 10,100¥, when a regular fare would set you back 13,600¥.

If you’ve got a JR Pass, you won’t need to buy tickets at all – you can just walk onto the platform, head for the non-reserved carriage, and you’re off. You might want to get a seat reservation, though, which you can do at JR-affiliated travel agencies, at midori no madoguchi (“green window”) ticket offices, on ticket vending machines or through Japan Rail websites.

If you don’t have a pass, you’ll need to buy a ticket. You can buy these from the same places as the seat reservations, and can reserve a seat at the same time if you’d like. It’s worth looking up routes and prices ahead of time – Hyperdia is a useful site.

Thankfully, it’s all pretty straightforward. Head to the platform and line up by the door which matches your seat reservation. Wait for everyone to get off before you get on; at some stations, cleaning staff will board before you, and you should wait for them to finish up before getting on.

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On the train just be generally mindful of the other passengers, and you shouldn’t go too far wrong. Oh, and don’t expect even a thirty second grace period if you’re running late: Japanese trains are ruthlessly punctual.

© 56Photo/Shutterstock

Don’t miss out on the institution that is the ekiben , or “railway meal” – you can buy them in stations or on the train, and they put other countries’ soggy sandwiches and slightly crushed bags of crisps to shame. Expect perfectly prepared meat and fish, vegetables cut into cute shapes, local ingredients and flavours, and maybe even a mini bottle of wine.

Do ask about which seats have the best views when booking; the most famous is of course the view of Fuji-san when heading from Tokyo to Kyoto or Ōsaka, which you’ll get if you sit on the right-hand side (ask for a yama-gawa or “mountain side” seat).

Hopefully more trains, going further and faster. The Hokuriku line (currently Nagano–Kanazawa) should be extended to Tsuruga by 2022; the world’s longest and deepest undersea tunnel was built from Aomori to Hakodate in 2016, and the line should reach Sapporo by 2030; and the network in Kyūshū will have a Nagasaki service in 2023. This does still leave Shikoku shinkansen-free, though, and the vast majority of Hokkaidō.

Because apparently 275mph isn’t fast enough, new Maglev trains with current top test speeds of 375mph are going to be in use in the not-so-distant future. The name comes from “magnetic levitation”, and yes, they are real life hover trains. They will be wheeled out (pun intended) on a new line between Tokyo and Nagoya by 2027, continuing to Ōsaka by 2045.

A final note for anyone slightly concerned at the thought of travelling so fast: since starting in 1964, the whole bullet train network has had a total of zero fatalities due to crashes or derailments. Yes, you read that right – zero.

Rebecca flew between London and Tokyo with Finnair . If you want to do some research before you go, try checking your nearest JNTO office, and explore more of Japan with The Rough Guide to Japan . Compare flights , book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.

Top image © Natee Meepian/Shutterstock

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