Guide to Riding the Shinkansen Bullet Train in Japan

“How do I ride the shinkansen?”, “Is there a pass that allows cheap or free rides on the Shinkansen?” Japan’s answer to high-speed intercity travel is the Shinkansen (新幹線), called “bullet train” in English. The Shinkansen allows people to travel between cities in a short period of time. To ride the Shinkansen, a limited express ticket in addition to a regular ticket is required. Sounds confusing, right? 

In this article, we will teach you how to buy shinkansen tickets and how to ride the shinkansen. We have also compiled a list of train passes that come with shinkansen ticket discounts, which will come in handy when planning your next trip. 

Table of Contents

1. What is Shinkansen?
   1. Shinkansen Lines and Places of Interest
   2. Shinkansen Service Types
   3. Shinkansen Seat Types
2. How to buy Shinkansen Tickets?
   1. 2 Tickets Required to Board
   2. How and Where to Buy Shinkansen Tickets
3. How to Ride the Shinkansen
   1. How to Use Shinkansen Ticket Gates
   2. Finding Your Platform and Boarding the Shinkansen
   3. Amenities and Services Onboard
   4. Shinkansen Manners and Etiquette
4. Shinkansen Rail Passes and Discount Ticket for Foreign Travellers
   1. Japan Rail Pass
   2. Japan East Pass
   3. Japan West Rail Pass
5. Shinkansen Schedule and Transit Information
6. Summary

What is the Shinkansen?

The Shinkansen (新幹線) is Japan’s high-speed railway system, known as the “bullet train” in English. The Shinkansen consists of a network of railway lines that connects cities in Japan with trains that run at speeds of 200 km/h or more, and high-speed trains that run in those networks. In addition to being able to travel long distances quickly, it also offers a comfortable ride with little turbulence. As a result, many people use the shinkansen for travel, business trips, work commute and other excursions.

The Shinkansen first started operation in 1964 with service between Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka Station. Since the shinkansen was born, regular train lines came to be called “conventional lines (在来線 zairaisen)”.

Shinkansen Lines and Places of Interest

The Shinkansen network comprises 9 railway lines. 

Shinkansen Service Types

There are mainly 3 types of train services on shinkansen lines: 

1. Fast : only stops at main stations

2. Semi-Fast : stops at main stations and some minor stations

3. Local : stops at every station 

For example, let’s have a look at the Tokaido Shinkansen. The fast train for the Tokaido Shinkansen is called Nozomi, the semi-fast train is called Hikari, and the local train is called Kodama. 

Why is this important to know? Because the price of tickets also depends on the service type, reserved seats on fast trains are usually more expensive. In addition, fast trains (like the Nozomi) may not be covered by Japan Rail Pass. 

Shinkansen Seat Types

There are different types of seats on the shinkansen, with different seat sizes and services offered, so be careful when buying shinkansen tickets. Here are the important words you need to know when purchasing a shinkansen ticket. 

• 自由席 / jiyuu seki : unreserved or non-reserved seat; these seats are not assigned seats, so you can sit anywhere you like in a non-reserved seat railcar. On a first-come-first-served basis, you may not be able to sit when there are many passengers. 
• 指定席 / shitei seki : reserved seat; these seats are fully assigned, so you must sit only at your assigned seat. The advantage is guaranteed seating. 
• グリーン席 / guriin seki : “green seats” are in “green cars”, the term for first-class seating on shinkansen; all seats are reserved, so you must sit only at your assigned seat. Larger and more comfortable seats than reserved seats. 
• グランクラス / guran kurasu : “grand class” seats are the most comfortable among the 4 types of shinkansen seats. Larger and more comfortable seats aside, free snacks and refreshments are also provided. Only some trains on the Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Hokuriku Shinkansen have Grand Class seating. 

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How to buy Shinkansen Tickets? 

To ride the Shinkansen, you need 2 types of tickets: a passenger / basic fare ticket, and a limited express ticket. Here, we will explain how to buy Shinkansen tickets. 

Passenger and Limited Express Tickets are Required

To board the Shinkansen, you will need:

• 乗車券 / jousha-ken / passenger ticket : from nearest station of departure to your destination 
• 特急券 / tokkyu-ken / limited express ticket : for the section of Shinkansen you are travelling on 

The price for the limited express ticket varies depending on the type of Shinkansen seat. The cheapest tickets are for non-reserved seats. Reserved seats and green seats are more expensive, so check the prices carefully before purchasing a ticket. 

When transferring from a conventional line to the shinkansen, 2 tickets will be issued: 1 passenger ticket and 1 limited express ticket. If you do not use a conventional line, and the travel route for the passenger ticket and limited express ticket is the same, then only 1 ticket will be issued. If you want to change to a different shinkansen along the way, you will need a limited express ticket for each train you board. 

How and Where to Buy Shinkansen Tickets

Shinkansen Tickets (passenger and limited express tickets) can be purchased at JR Ticket Offices (みどりの窓口 midori no madoguchi), ticket machines, and online. 

When purchasing tickets at JR Ticket Offices, tell them your travel route, date and time of travel, and seat type. If you are not confident in your Japanese abilities, you may opt to purchase on ticket machines, most of which are available in English. Online ticket purchase and seat reservations are also an option, this way you can easily make your travel arrangements whilst on-the-go. 

Limited express tickets can be purchased from 1 month before the date of boarding. We recommend purchasing early during peak seasons like Year-End and New Year, Golden Week, and Obon. 

How to Ride the Shinkansen

The Shinkansen railway system is operated by the JR Group, which is why you will need to go to a JR train station to board or gain access to the Shinkansen. When you arrive at a JR station operating a shinkansen route, look for the shinkansen ticket gate. Even if it uses the same station (station name is the same), there are different ticket gates for Shinkansen and conventional lines. If you are travelling to a shinkansen station via a conventional line, go to the Shinkansen transfer gate.

Allocate plenty of time between your arrival at the JR station to the time of shinkansen departure as it can be difficult to navigate the station and find the boarding platform for shinkansen, especially if the station is a large one. 

How to Use the Shinkansen Ticket Gate

Located the Shinkansen ticket gate? Insert both your passenger ticket and limited express ticket into the machine at the same time. Do not forget to collect them when passing through. Be careful not to lose your tickets, you will need it when disembarking or when ticket inspection on-board the train occurs. 

When you get off the train, the limited express ticket will not be returned after being inserted in the ticket gate. If you are transferring to a conventional line, remember to collect the ticket that will be issued. Just insert this ticket through the conventional line ticket gate to change trains. 

Finding Your Platform and Getting On/Off the Shinkansen

After passing through the ticket gates, check the electronic bulletin board for your arrival platform. When heading to your arrival platform, check your ticket for which railcar you will be seated at, and use the escalator closest to where your railcar will arrive. When you arrive at the platform, join the queue and wait at where your designated railcar will arrive. 

There is not much time to board the shinkansen. Once it arrives, get on as soon as you can. 

During the ride, you will be notified of arrival stations by audio announcements and electronic boards inside the station. When you are close to your destination, pack up your belongings and get ready to disembark. 

Amenities and Services Onboard the Shinkansen

• Free Wi-Fi is available on Shinkansen trains as well as many of the shinkansen train stations. 

• Some shinkansen operate food cart services that sell ekiben (駅弁; station bento), snack food and drinks to onboard passengers.

• Toilets, sometimes gender-separated. 

• Designated phone area to make or take a call without disturbing other passengers. 

• Trash cans for disposing of your rubbish can usually be found near the toilet and near the exit. 

• Oversized luggage storage space is available behind the last row of seats on every railcar. Passengers with oversized luggage are required to reserve these seats in advance, or incur a 1000 yen baggage fee. For more about this including oversized baggage dimensions, check here. 

Riding Shinkansen Manners & Etiquette

• Be considerate of other passengers, do not block the aisle with luggage and keep your voice down when engaging in conversation. 

• Set your phone to silent mode. Use the designated phone area or in-between railcars to make phone calls. 

• No smoking allowed, except in the smoking zone. 

• Keep your seat clean. Discard your rubbish in the trash cans onboard the train or at the station.

• Alert the person behind you before reclining your seat. Restore your seat to its original position before getting off the train. 

Shinkansen Rail Passes and Discount Tickets for Foreign Visitors

Travelling by Shinkansen may be convenient and fast, but it can also be expensive, sometimes more so than flights. Thankfully, there are some ways to minimise the cost such as discount passes that allow you to ride the shinkansen as many times as you like, or for a hugely discounted price. 

In this part, we will introduce shinkansen rail passes and discount tickets available to foreign visitors. Have a look and consider which one is most beneficial for your travels. 

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass allows unlimited usage of JR Group trains throughout Japan including the shinkansen. It is only available to overseas tourists, namely foreign nationals with a “short stay” status of residence or tourist visa. The Japan Rail Pass is available in 2 types - reserved seats and green seats, and in durations of 7, 14, or 21 days.

The Japan Rail Pass is recommended for travels in Japan spanning across different regions from north to south. It is a great deal that includes unlimited travel on most shinkansen and limited express trains, as well as conventional lines provided they are operated by JR. Note that Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen trains are not included. 

※ Japan Rail Pass

JR East Pass

The JR East Pass provides unlimited usage of JR-East trains that run in parts of eastern Japan and Hokkaido. There are 6 types of JR East Passes that have different areas of coverage, price, duration and even purchase eligibility. 

For Foreign Tourists and Foreign Residents in Japan 

These JR East Passes are available not only to foreign tourists (“short stay” status of residence) but also foreign residents in Japan (original valid passport must be presented when purchasing). 

• JR East Pass (Tohoku area) : Unlimited usage of JR-East and certain railway lines, including Shinkansen, Joyful Trains & Narita/Haneda Airport access, in the Tokyo Metropolitan area and the Tohoku Region for 5 consecutive days. Does not include usage of Tokaido Shinkansen. 

• JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area) : Unlimited usage of JR-East and certain railway lines, including Shinkansen, Joyful Trains & Narita/Haneda Airport access, in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, Nagano Prefecture, and Niigata Prefecture for 5 consecutive days. Does not include usage of Tokaido Shinkansen. 

• JR Tokyo Wide Pass : Unlimited usage of JR-East and certain railway lines, including Shinkansen & Joyful Trains, in the Tokyo Metropolitan area and other places of interest (Mt. Fuji, Kusatsu, Nikko, Karuizawa, Izu) for 3 consecutive days. Does not include usage of Tokaido Shinkansen or Haneda/Narita Airport access. 

For Foreign Tourists Only

These JR East Passes are available only to foreign tourists with a “short stay” status of residence, or tourist visa. 

• JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass : Includes unlimited rides on Shinkansen to and from Tokyo, south Hokkaido, the Tohoku region for 6 consecutive days.

• JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass : Includes unlimited rides in the Tohoku region and south Hokkaido for 6 consecutive days. The difference with the above JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, is that this pass does not include the Tokyo area. 

• Hokuriku Arch Pass : Includes shinkansen connections from Tokyo to Kansai and Hokuriku for 7 consecutive days. 

※ JR-East, “Fares & Passes”

As previously mentioned, be careful when purchasing a JR East Pass, as the coverage area and period of use differs depending on the type. 

JR West Rail Pass

Just like the JR East Passes, the JR West Rail Passes provide unlimited usage of JR-West trains that run in western Japan. There are 10 JR West Rail passes that cover different areas, have different prices and different durations of usage. 

For Foreign Tourists Only

These JR West Passes are available only to foreign tourists with a “short stay” status of residence, or tourist visa. 

• Kansai WIDE Area Pass : Same travel area as the above Kansai WIDE Area Excursion Pass. However, this pass is limited to purchase by foreign tourists only as is valid for 5 consecutive days. It is also available to purchase all year round and not for a limited time. 

• Kansai Area Pass : Unlimited travel in the major Kansai areas, this pass and the above Kansai WIDE Area Pass is recommended for first-time visitors to Kansai. A unique feature of this pass is you can choose a validity period from 1~4 days, the longer the duration the higher the price. 

• Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass : Includes unlimited rides from Kansai to Hiroshima, plus JR-West ferry to visit Miyajima Island for 5 consecutive days. 

• Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass : Includes unlimited rides from Kansai to the Hokuriku Area - Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama and Ishikawa for 7 consecutive days. 

• Hokuriku Area Pass : Covers travel in the Hokuriku Area - Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama and Ishikawa for 4 consecutive days. The same Hokuriku area as above Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass sans the Kansai area. 

• Sanyo San’in Area Pass : Unlimited travel in the Sanyo San’in Area, also known as the Chugoku Region. Includes shinkansen access from Kansai and Fukuoka to cover a wider area including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hakata for 7 consecutive days. 

• San’in Okayama Area Pass : A cheaper pass that covers unlimited travel in a smaller area consisting of Okayama, Tottori, Shimane and Hagi for 4 consecutive days. 

• Hiroshima - Yamaguchi Area Pass : Unlimited travel from Fukuoka to Hiroshima and Yamaguchi for 5 consecutive days. 

• Okayama - Hiroshima - Yamaguchi Area Pass : An expanded area pass of the above Hiroshima - Yamaguchi Area Pass with the addition of Okayama area and Takatmatsu for 5 consecutive days. 

• JR-West All Area Pass : As its name implies, unlimited travel in the whole JR-West area spanning Kansai, Hokouriku, Sanyo San’in and Hakata for 7 consecutive days. 

Pay attention to the details when purchasing a JR West Rail Pass before choosing one that suits your itinerary, budget, and also physical strength! Some of these passes are more suited for slow-pace travelling, whilst some like the JR-West All Area Pass that covers such a huge area for only 7 days are more suited to an intense travel itinerary or wider coverage in a short time. 

※ JR-West, “JR-WEST RAIL PASS”

Check Shinkansen Transit Information with Multilingual Apps 

Technology is incredibly useful, and especially when it comes to looking up shinkansen and local train lines in Japan. Here are some apps we recommend to help you look for transit information and train times. 

• Japan Travel by NAVITIME : Available in English, Chinese, and Korean.

• Japan Transit Planner : Supports 12 languages including English, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian.

• Google Maps : The go-to for many of us. Available in multiple languages. 

Summary

Riding the Shinkansen allows you to travel at high speeds from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south, saving the most valuable asset we have, time. The Shinkansen is not only fast, but also very comfortable. If you are a foreign tourist visiting Japan, or a foreign resident living in Japan, explore your JR Pass options to make the most of shinkansen and to save money. 

Whether you are a tourist, commuter, or on a weekend excursion, the shinkansen will surely get you to your destination safely, quickly, and comfortably.