Mastering the Shinkansen: A Beginner's Guide to Tickets and Gate Navigation

The Shinkansen is a convenient way to travel between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka in about 2.5 hours and between Tokyo and Hakata in about 5 hours.

It's not only a way of commute, but an enjoyable activity, too. Some notable activities being: viewing notable landmarks like Mt. Fuji from the train windows, enjoy ekiben (boxed lunches) and in-train sales, and many other activities on board.

Wi-Fi is also available, so you can work or study on your PC or smartphone.

This article introduces such Shinkansen rides for first-time travelers.

Please refer to the following for a comfortable Shinkansen trip.

Shinkansen Lines and Companies

There are 10 Shinkansen lines: Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen, Kyushu Shinkansen, Kitakyushu Shinkansen, Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Hokkaido Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen and Yamagata Shinkansen.

The operating company for each Shinkansen line differs.

For example, the Tokaido Shinkansen connecting Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka Station is operated by JR Tokai, and the Tohoku Shinkansen connecting Tokyo to Fukushima, Sendai, Shin-Aomori, etc. is operated by JR East.

The following is a list of Shinkansen lines and operating companies.

Line	Areas	Operating Company	Reservation Website
Hokkaido Shinkansen	Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto - Shin-Aomori	JR Hokkaido	Ekinet (JR-EAST Train Reservation)
Tohoku Shinkansen	Tokyo - Shin-Aomori	East Japan Railway Company	Ekinet (JR-EAST Train Reservation)
Akita Shinkansen	Tokyo - Akita	East Japan Railway Company	Ekinet (JR-EAST Train Reservation)
Yamagata Shinkansen	Tokyo - Shinjo	East Japan Railway Company	Ekinet (JR-EAST Train Reservation)
Joetsu Shinkansen	Tokyo - Niigata	East Japan Railway Company	Ekinet (JR-EAST Train Reservation)
Tokaido Shinkansen	Tokyo - Shin-Osaka	Central Japan Railway Company	Smart EX (Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service)
Sanyo Shinkansen	Shin-Osaka - Hakata	JR West Japan	Smart EX (Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service)
Hokuriku Shinkansen	Tokyo - Tsuruga	JR East, JR West	Ekinet (JR-EAST Train Reservation)
Kyushu Shinkansen	Hakata - Kagoshima Chuo	JR Kyushu	Smart EX (Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service)
West Kyushu Shinkansen	Nagasaki - Takeo Onsen	JR Kyushu	Smart EX (Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service)

When making reservations for Shinkansen tickets and seats on the Internet, please note that the site differs depending on the Shinkansen line.

For the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, use “Smart EX (Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service)”.

Shinkansen Multilingual Information

Shinkansen trains are basically available in both English and Japanese. The electronic bulletin boards, information displays, menus, and voice announcements inside stations and trains are available in both English and Japanese.

The reserved-seat ticket machines for buying Shinkansen tickets are available in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

In addition, JR's official website is available in many other languages, including French and Spanish.

Also, some station attendants and station staff are able to communicate in English.

However, not all staff members speak English, so it is recommended to check information on the Internet when possible.

You can also use a translation application or other tools.

Some stations also have multilingual translation machines.

・Multilingual information on the Shinkansen bullet train

	Item	Supported Languages
Inside stations	Electronic bulletin board	Japanese and English
	Information Display	Japanese and English
	In-premises broadcasts	Japanese and English
	Reserved-seat ticket machine	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean
	Station attendant	Japanese, English (in some cases)
Inside the Shinkansen	Electronic bulletin board	Japanese and English
	Information Display	Japanese and English
	In-train vendor	Japanese and English
	Wi-Fi	Japanese, Japanese, English, Chinese, Thai, German, French, etc.
	Attendant	Japanese, English (in some cases)
Internet	JR Official Website	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, etc.
	Seat Reservation Site	Japanese and English

Official JR website is recommended to check the operation status

The official websites of JR companies are available in multiple languages including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, and German.

The official websites provide information on bullet train departures, arrivals, delays, and other information.

If you want to know when the Shinkansen is coming or when it will not arrive at the scheduled time, it is a good idea to view the official website with your smartphone or tablet.

・Multilingual information on the official websites of JR companies

Company	Supported Languages	Official Website
Central Japan Railway Company	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, French, German	https://jr-central.co.jp/
East Japan Railway Company	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, French, German, Spanish	https://www.jreast.co.jp/
JR West Japan	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Thai	https://www.westjr.co.jp/
JR Kyushu	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean	https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/
JR Hokkaido	Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean	https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/

Tickets for the Shinkansen

Two types of tickets are required to ride the Shinkansen: a boarding ticket and an express ticket.

A boarding ticket is the fare for the section of the train to be ridden, which is the same as that for a conventional train (a regular JR line that is not the Shinkansen).

When riding the Shinkansen, in addition to the boarding ticket, you must also purchase a limited express ticket as an additional fare for the Shinkansen.

There are two types of limited express tickets: non-reserved seat limited express tickets and reserved seat limited express tickets.

Also, reserved-seat express tickets include special seats called Green Car (regular upgrade) and Grand Class*.

In airplanes, Green Car is like business class and Grand Class is like first class.

*Grand Class is only available on the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen and the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen. Tokaido Shinkansen and other Shinkansen lines do not have it.

Ticketless boarding (Smart EX, Shinkansen e-Ticket)

In recent years, “ticketless boarding,” in which passengers board the Shinkansen simply by touching their smartphone or transportation system IC card to an automatic ticket gate, has become popular.

Ticketless boarding is available by making a reservation online after registering for free with the service of each operator.

Ticketless boarding is called “Smart EX” for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines of JR Tokai, and “Shinkansen e-Ticket” for the Hokkaido, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Yamagata, and Akita lines of JR East.

If you live overseas, the overseas version of Smart EX, “Tokaido Sanyo Kyusyu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service,” is convenient.

In addition to the ease of boarding, another advantage of ticketless boarding is the discount on the fare.

・Examples of Ticketless Ride Discounts

	Normal fare	Smart EX Service
Tokyo - Nagoya	11,300 yen	11,100 yen
Tokyo - Shin-Osaka	14,720 yen	14,520 yen
Tokyo - Hiroshima	19,760 yen	19,560 yen

How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets

Shinkansen tickets can be purchased through the following methods

Internet Reservation Site

Internet reservations are convenient for purchasing Shinkansen tickets.

Ticketless boarding is also available by simply holding up a QR code on your mobile phone.

Various discounts are also available, including early-bird discounts and “Tokudane” discounts.

Please note that the reservation site differs depending on the type of Shinkansen you are boarding, such as Tokaido Shinkansen or Tohoku Shinkansen. If you live overseas, we recommend using the following sites.

Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service (Smart EX)

If you are traveling by JR Tokai, JR West, or JR Kyushu, please use the overseas version of Smart EX.

How to buy tickets and make bullet train reservations with Smart EX is as follows.

・How to buy tickets with Smart EX

Credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, and DISCOVER) can be used for payment on the overseas version of Smart EX.

In stations (reserved seat ticket machines and Shinkansen ticket booths)

When purchasing tickets in stations, reserved-seat ticket vending machines that support multiple languages are convenient.

These are located near ticket gates and Shinkansen ticket vending machines.

To purchase a ticket from a reserved-seat ticket machine, follow the instructions below.

・How to buy tickets at reserved-seat ticket machines

If you would like to purchase tickets from station staff, use the Shinkansen ticket offices located inside the station.

How to go through the Shinkansen ticket gate

The way to go through the Shinkansen ticket gate is slightly different depending on whether you use a ticket or a QR ticket.

Passing through with a ticket

If you are using a ticket purchased from a ticket machine in the station, you must insert both a boarding ticket and an express ticket on top of each other.

Please note that you cannot pass through with only one ticket.

Passing through with a QR Ticket

If you have reserved a seat using Smart EX, you can print out a QR Ticket or add a QR Ticket to your Apple Wallet and go through the ticket gate.

In this case, simply hold the QR Ticket over the Shinkansen ticket gate to board the train.

If you use a QR Ticket to pass through the ticket gate, please be sure to receive a seat guide such as “EX ticket slip”.

The seat guide may be checked by the train crew inside the train.

You will also need your QR Ticket when exiting the ticket gate, so be sure not to lose it.

How to get on and off the Shinkansen platform

After passing through the Shinkansen ticket gate, the procedure for boarding and alighting from the Shinkansen is as follows.

1. Check the departure number line on the electric board

First, check the train departure number on the electric bulletin board in the station (inside the ticket gate).

The electronic board displays the train name, destination, departure time, etc.

Check the information on your ticket or EX ticket to see which platform your Shinkansen train will depart from.

・Example of electric bulletin board display

Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Departure Information
Train Name	Train No.	Time	Destination	Boarding point	Unreserved cars
Nozomi	223	10:20	Shin-Osaka	14	Cars 1-3
Kodama	647	10:26	Nagoya (city)	17	Cars 1-6 & 13-16
Nozomi	25	10:30	Hakata	18	Cars 1-3
Hikari	509	10:33	Shin-Osaka	15	Cars 1-5
Nozomi	107	10:50	Hiroshima (city)	18	Cars 1-3

2. Move to the platform and wait for the train

Once you know the platform number where the Shinkansen will arrive, move to that platform and wait for the train.

If you have a reserved seat, the car number and seat number are written on your ticket and seat guide, so move to the car you will board and wait for the train.

You can check the location of each car on the electric bulletin board and information display on the platform.

For example, Nozomi trains are numbered 1-3, and so on.

Move to where the unreserved seat car stops and wait for the train.

If you have a non-reserved seat, you can sit in any seat you want in the non-reserved car.

If the train is crowded, you may not be able to sit where you want, so it is recommended to go early and wait.

3. Board the Shinkansen when it arrives

When the Shinkansen arrives, wait for the doors to open and board.

There are passengers getting off from inside the train, so it is good manners to wait for them to get off before boarding.

4. Find your seat and sit down

Find the seat number on your ticket and sit down.

If you have an unreserved seat, you may sit in any seat in the unreserved seating car.

If there are no seats available, you may stand on the deck.

Place your luggage at your feet or in the luggage area above your seat.

After placing your luggage and taking a seat, wait until the Shinkansen departs.

5. Departure

After the Shinkansen departs, you are free to spend your time in your seat.

You can rest on your seat, eat and drink at the station bento box lunches and other food and beverages sold on the train, and enjoy your time on the train to your heart's content.

6. Get off the train when you arrive at your station

When the Shinkansen arrives at the station indicated on your ticket, get off the train with your luggage.

If you are transferring to a conventional train, go to the conventional train transfer gate.

You can check the location of the ticket gate or transfer gate on the electronic bulletin board or on the information display.

It is also a good idea to use a transit information application such as Google Maps.

Also, you will need a ticket (boarding ticket + express ticket) or QR ticket at the ticket gate, so it will be easier to exit the gate if you have it ready before getting off the train.

Shinkansen Speed and Travel Time

The maximum speed of the Shinkansen is 320 kilometers per hour, and its nominal speed (average speed in actual commercial operation) is around 150 kilometers per hour.

The speed varies from line to line, but all Shinkansen trains can travel between cities at high speeds.

・Maximum speed and nominal speed of Shinkansen

	Maximum speed	Nominal Speed
Tokaido Shinkansen	285km/h	Approx. 130km/h
Sanyo Shinkansen	300km/h	Approx. 150km/h
Hokkaido Shinkansen	260km/h	Approx. 120km/h
Tohoku Shinkansen	320km/h	Approx. 160km/h
Yamagata Shinkansen	300km/h	Approx. 130km/h
Akita Shinkansen	320km/h	Approx. 160km/h
Joetsu Shinkansen	275km/h	Approx. 130km/h
Hokuriku Shinkansen	260km/h	Approx. 120km/h
Kyushu Shinkansen	260km/h	Approx. 120km/h
West Kyushu Shinkansen	260km/h	Approx. 120km/h

Incidentally, as of July 2024, the world's fastest trains in commercial operation are the “Hayabusa” and “Komachi” of the Tohoku and Akita Shinkansen lines.

With a maximum speed of 320 km/h, they travel at high speed between Tokyo and Sendai in as fast as 1 hour and 29 minutes, and between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori in as fast as 2 hours and 58 minutes.

Travel time between major Shinkansen stations

The time required for the Shinkansen depends on the type of train and the station it stops at.

For example, if you take “Nozomi” of Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, the time required between major stations is roughly as follows.

Travel time for Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen

Tokyo - Shin-Osaka	Approx. 2 hours 22 minutes
Tokyo - Nagoya	Approx. 1 hr. 34 min.
Tokyo - Kyoto	Approx. 2 hours and 10 minutes
Tokyo - Hakata	Approx. 3 hours and 50 minutes
Osaka - Hakata	Approx. 2 hours 28 minutes
Nagoya - Hakata	Approx. 3 hours and 20 minutes
Kyoto - Hakata	Approx. 2 hours and 40 minutes

Note that there are three types of Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains: Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama.

The Nozomi is the fastest of the three.

It has only a few stops, so it can travel between major stations in a short time.

The Hikari stops at more stations than the Nozomi, so the travel time is slightly longer.

The Kodama bullet train stops at all stations, so it takes the longest time.

The Shinkansen journey time can be affected by bad weather conditions such as strong winds and snow.

Travel times between major stations can also be found on JR-CENTRAL's Timetable (https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/timetable/).

How to spend and enjoy your time in the Shinkansen

The following options are available for spending time and having fun inside the Shinkansen.

Please refrain from making loud noises or engaging in other activities that may disturb other passengers on the Shinkansen.

Smoking is prohibited on all Shinkansen trains.

Please take all trash with you when you leave the train. Please enjoy your Shinkansen ride with good manners.

If you have trouble getting on the Shinkansen

If you have any problems on the Shinkansen, please consult with the crew.

If you feel sick or your luggage is missing, please do not hesitate to ask for help.

Information on Shinkansen delays and cancellations can be found on information displays and announcements inside trains and stations, as well as on the JR official website.

The JR official website is available in multiple languages, so we recommend that you check the information on your smartphone first.

If there is no information on the website regarding transfer boarding or refunds, please check with the train crew.

Mastering how to take the Shinkansen makes sightseeing in Japan more comfortable!

Traveling by Shinkansen is speedy and the environment inside the train is very comfortable.

We hope you will enjoy traveling by Shinkansen when you travel in Japan.

To reserve a seat on the Shinkansen, we recommend online reservations such as Smart EX, the overseas version of the Shinkansen.