How to Use the Shinkansen in Japan: Tickets, Seats, Luggage & How to Buy

I photographed Tokyo Station’s reserved-seat ticket machine, Midori-no-Madoguchi, and JR EAST Travel Service Center to show the choices you will actually see at the station. My simple rule for a Tokyo–Kyoto or Tokyo–Shin-Osaka trip is to use SmartEX before travel, a reserved-seat ticket machine for a straightforward purchase, or a JR ticket counter when you need help.

1. Quick answer

Reserve ahead for Golden Week, Obon, the year-end/New Year period, long weekends, and popular cherry-blossom or autumn weekends. During designated peak periods, Nozomi trains operate with reserved seats only, although Hikari and Kodama may still have non-reserved cars.

2. Three ways to buy a Shinkansen ticket

I recommend the station machine for a straightforward ticket you want to buy immediately, SmartEX for an advance Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka booking, or a JR counter when your itinerary is complicated or you want to ask questions.

SmartEX is the official online service for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen. Other regions use different JR reservation services, so do not assume SmartEX covers a journey such as Tokyo to Kanazawa, Nagano, Sendai, or Hokkaido.

If you need help at Tokyo Station: which counter should you use?

I photographed the two main kinds of staffed ticket support at Tokyo Station. Both can help with JR tickets, but they are designed for slightly different needs.

Tokyo Station also has several Midori-no-Madoguchi locations, including the Marunouchi Underground North Exit, Marunouchi South Exit, and Yaesu North Exit areas. If your train and route are already decided and you only need a standard purchase or ticket procedure, use whichever JR ticket office is closest. Check the official Tokyo Station page for current locations and hours, which can change.

This is the counter I recommend for visitors who want help in English:

3. How to buy at a station machine

I photographed a reserved-seat ticket vending machine outside the ticket gates for travelers who prefer to buy without visiting a staffed counter. At a major JR station, look for a machine labeled Reserved Seat or Shinkansen / Limited Express Tickets. The color and screen design vary by station, so I recommend checking the label rather than relying on the machine color alone.

1. 1
   Find a Reserved Seat Ticket Machine

   Use a machine labeled Reserved Seat or Shinkansen / Limited Express Tickets. A standard local-ticket machine may not sell the ticket you need.

2. 2
   Switch to English and select Shinkansen

   Choose the English-language button, then select the option for a Shinkansen or reserved-seat ticket. Avoid selecting only a local-train fare.

3. 3
   Enter the route, date, time, and passengers

   Select your departure and arrival stations, travel date, approximate departure time, and number of adults and children. The machine will then show suitable trains. For Tokyo to Kyoto, Nozomi is normally the fastest direct option.

4. 4
   Choose reserved or non-reserved, then select a seat

   Reserved seating is easier for a first trip, family, busy date, or fixed itinerary. Use the seat map to choose seats together and select an oversized-baggage seat if required.

5. 5
   Review, pay, and collect every ticket

   Check the stations, date, train, passengers, and seat before paying. You may receive one combined ticket or separate basic-fare and limited-express tickets, plus a receipt. Keep every travel ticket until you leave the station at your destination.

4. Reserved vs non-reserved: which is easier?

“Non-reserved” does not mean standing anywhere you like. Board only a car marked Non-Reserved, and take an empty seat. If all seats are occupied, you may need to stand until one becomes available.

5. Should you book in advance?

• Ordinary weekday: same-day tickets are often practical, but popular morning and evening trains can still fill. Reserve if your schedule is fixed.
• Weekend or long weekend: book ahead if you want a specific time, window seat, or adjacent family seats.
• Golden Week, Obon, and year-end/New Year: reserve as soon as your itinerary is firm. JR announces the exact all-reserved Nozomi dates each year.
• Cherry-blossom and autumn foliage seasons: tourist routes and convenient departures can be busy even outside JR’s formal peak periods.

Standard reserved seats sold at stations normally go on sale at 10:00 a.m. one month before departure. SmartEX accepts some reservations earlier, but train times and seat numbers for early applications are finalized later and availability is limited.

6. Large luggage rules

On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, add the suitcase’s length, width, and height:

• 160 cm or less: no special reservation is normally required. Store the bag safely in the overhead rack, at your feet, or in an available permitted area.
• 161–250 cm: reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area before travel. The reservation does not add a separate luggage charge.
• Over 250 cm: the item cannot be brought onboard under the standard rule.

If you board with qualifying oversized baggage without the required reservation, you may be charged ¥1,000 and instructed by the crew where to store it. The area behind the last row is not open storage; it is linked to designated reserved seats.

7. Example: Tokyo to Kyoto

1. 1
   Choose the Tokaido Shinkansen

   Enter Tokyo as the departure station and Kyoto as the destination. You can also board at Shinagawa if that is easier from your hotel.

2. 2
   Choose Nozomi for the fastest direct trip

   Hikari is a slower alternative and is commonly used by travelers whose rail pass does not include Nozomi. Check the conditions of your exact pass.

3. 3
   Book a reserved seat

   It is the easiest first-time choice, especially for a family or anyone traveling with luggage.

4. 4
   Collect one or two travel tickets

   A paper purchase may produce one combined ticket or two tickets: a basic-fare ticket and a Shinkansen limited-express ticket. The machine may also print a receipt. Keep all travel tickets together.

5. 5
   Follow Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen signs

   At Tokyo Station, do not follow signs for the Tohoku, Hokuriku, or Joetsu Shinkansen. Confirm your train name, departure time, platform, and car on the board.

For a chance to see Mount Fuji on a clear day, select a seat on the right side of the train when traveling west from Tokyo. The view is never guaranteed because of weather, buildings, and your train’s exact position.

8. Already bought your ticket?

A paper purchase may issue one combined ticket or separate basic-fare and Shinkansen limited-express tickets. Keep every travel ticket together and collect anything returned by the gate.

9. Common mistakes

• Confusing reserved and non-reserved cars: check both the ticket and the car sign before boarding.
• Following the wrong Shinkansen line at Tokyo Station: Kyoto and Osaka use the Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen gates.
• Forgetting tickets at the gate: take every ticket that reappears after you insert it.
• Ignoring the oversized-luggage rule: measure the total of three sides and reserve the correct seat before travel.
• Assuming a SmartEX booking is stored in your Suica balance: SmartEX charges the registered payment card. A linked IC card is used as a boarding key; it does not mean the Shinkansen fare is deducted like an ordinary local train ride.
• Linking one IC card to several travelers: each traveler using IC boarding needs an eligible IC card assigned to that person’s reservation.
• Throwing away the SmartEX seat-information slip: the small slip printed at the gate is a seat reminder, not a paper ticket to insert at the exit.

If you plan to link SmartEX to an IC card, see my English-screen guide to buying and using Suica first.

10. My tip for a first Shinkansen trip

Buy food and drinks before going to the platform if you want them; onboard sales are not guaranteed. Stand at the floor marker for your car, let arriving passengers leave first, and keep your tickets accessible until you are fully outside the gates at your destination.

11. Quick FAQ