Alternatively, IC cards can be used on selected shinkansen lines. Regular paper tickets for the shinkansen can be purchased at ticket counters, at ticket machines or online. The green symbol with the seat indicates a ticket counter (midori no madoguchi) Shinkansen Tickets On a few shinkansen trains along the Tohoku Shinkansen, Hokkaido Shinkansen and Hokuriku Shinkansen seat reservations are mandatory. 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.įor peace of mind seat reservations are always recommended, especially when traveling in groups and preferring to sit together. On many trains reserved seats do not get booked out, but on some they do. They can be made at ticket offices, at ticket machines or online. Seat reservations can be made from one month before travel date (from 10:00am) until shortly before departure time. Only the Hayabusa, Hayate and Komachi trains along the Tohoku Shinkansen and Hokkaido Shinkansen, and the Kagayaki trains along the Hokuriku Shinkansen require seat reservations. They can be made for all shinkansen trains, but are not mandatory on the trains that also carry non-reserved seating. Seat reservations allow you to secure a seat and travel with peace of mind. Japan Rail Pass holders can make seat reservations for free.ĭisplay in a station indicating the non-reserved car numbers of upcoming departures Seat Reservations
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A fee of a few hundred yen applies for making seat reservations.
BULLET TRAINS HOW TO
Bilingual signs indicate whether a shinkansen car carries reserved or non-reserved seats.Īdvance seat reservations are required to use a seat in a reserved car ( see below on how to make seat reservations). Only the Hayabusa, Hayate and Komachi 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. Most shinkansen trains offer both non-reserved seats (自由席, jiyūseki) and reserved seats (指定席, shiteiseki) in separate cars. Comparable to first class on airplanes, Gran Class offers seats that are even more spacious and comfortable than Green Car seats (in rows of 2+1 seats) and additional amenities and services. Green Cars tend to be less crowded than ordinary cars.įurthermore, Gran Class is available on new train sets along the Tohoku Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen and Hokkaido Shinkansen. The seats are arranged in rows of 2+2 seats.
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Comparable to business class on airplanes, green cars offer seats that are larger and more comfortable than ordinary seats and offer more foot space.