Up till fairly not too long ago, using Japan’s rails was simple for overseas vacationers. They merely purchased (and redeemed) a Japan Rail Go offered it every time they wanted to board a prepare.
For causes I’ll clarify in just some paragraphs, that is typically not the case. As an alternative, most non-Japanese vacationers now do the identical because the Japanese: They purchase prepare tickets outright.
In case you’re interested in the way to purchase prepare tickets in Japan—or, maybe extra particularly, the easiest way to purchase prepare tickets in Japan—you’re in the proper place. By the point you navigate away from this text, you’ll be able to board the Shinkansen, JR Go or not.
The Japan Rail Go is (Typically) No Longer Price It
The subject of the way to purchase prepare tickets in Japan has turn into well-liked primarily as a result of the Japan Rail Go has elevated so dramatically in worth. As of October 2023, the top-selling 14-day Japan Rail Go prices a whopping ¥50,000, which is greater than most vacationers would spend shopping for prepare tickets outright when touring round Japan for 2 weeks.
Now, I generally do advocate that my purchasers purchase the JR Go, however not to economize. Quite, the Japan Rail Go now permits holders to make seat reservations on-line, saving vacationers from ever having to go to a ticket workplace (other than once they’re selecting up the go). If cash is extra necessary to you than time, nevertheless, you’ll need to proceed studying.
Methods to Purchase Prepare Tickets in Japan
Ekinet
JR East’s Ekinet web site is the official portal for purchasing Shinkansen and Restricted Specific prepare tickets in japanese Japan, together with Hokkaido and the Tohoku area. Whereas the registration course of is considerably convoluted, it’s fairly simple to make use of when you’re arrange; it’s the very same interface because the JR Go seat reservation device.
(Or related websites for JR West or JR Kyushu)
Interested in the way to purchase prepare tickets in Japan, however aren’t touring on a prepare in japanese Japan? You’ll as a substitute need to seek the advice of the ticket buy web site for the area the place you’re touring. For many vacationers, that is JR West (which serves trains to and from Kyoto and Osaka), however it might even be by way of JR Kyushu. Be aware that purchasing tickets on-line is barely vital for Shinkansen and Restricted Specific companies.
SmartEX
Passengers touring completely by way of the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, in the meantime, can avail an app referred to as SmartEX (though I like to recommend registering first on the net). Along with providing a straightforward interface that permits you to guide your ticket actually in seconds, you may also designate your PASMO or Suica card so as to undergo the Shinkansen gates just by tapping it.
On-line journey businesses
In case you solely want to purchase Shinkansen tickets (and never Restricted Specific ones), an alternative choice is to guide by way of a web based journey company, corresponding to Klook. Along with the truth that this presents a modest low cost, you benefit from the comfort of with the ability to choose your tickets up at any JR Reserved Ticket merchandising machine.
JR ticket places of work
When all else fails, you may at all times queue up at any JR ticket workplace in Japan to buy your tickets. Workers are very useful and may at all times converse a minimum of some English; even when there’s a lengthy line, it tends to maneuver fairly shortly. Whether or not the day of journey or the night time earlier than, that is often a wonderfully effective choice aside from throughout probably the most busy instances of 12 months (so, sakura season and autumn shade season).
NOTE: Whereas automated prepare ticket machines are technically open to foreigners and do have English-language interfaces, they typically don’t settle for bank cards issued outdoors Japan. In consequence, it’s sometimes impractical to buy costly, long-distance trains at such machines.
What About PASMO and Suica?
Needless to say in lots of circumstances, you don’t want a bodily ticket to board trains in Japan. The truth is, with some exceptions, you should use PASMO, Suica or different “IC” playing cards to board nearly all trains Japan not designed as “Restricted Specific” or “Shinkansen.” The place IC card turnstiles should not accessible, you may often purchase tickets from an automatic machine.
To place it one other manner, in case you don’t plan to purchase a JR Go, your IC card shall be an necessary device in your arsenal. It received’t be the one one, nevertheless, so it’s nonetheless necessary to concentrate on all the opposite methods for the way to purchase prepare tickets in Japan. In some unspecified time in the future throughout your journey, all of this can turn into second nature and also you’ll be using the rails of Japan like a professional.
Different FAQ About Shopping for Prepare Tickets in Japan
What’s the finest web site to guide prepare tickets in Japan?
So long as you may take care of the considerably clunky interface, JR East’s Ekinet web site (or corresponding web sites for JR West, JR Kyushu and JR Hokkaido) is the most effective web site for reserving prepare tickets in Japan. In case you solely plan to make use of the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, then again, the SmartEX app is extraordinarily handy.
Do you want to guide Japan prepare tickets upfront?
It’d sound shocking, however outdoors of peak journey instances (corresponding to cherry blossom and autumn shade seasons), you don’t have to guide Japan prepare tickets far upfront. The truth is, it’s typically attainable to get reserved seats simply minutes earlier than a given prepare departs!
Are you able to guide Japanese trains on-line?
You possibly can guide Japanese trains on-line, whether or not or not you’ve gotten a Japan Rail Go. Whereas the commonest manner is to guide straight via JR (or utilizing a JR-adjacent software corresponding to SmartEX), on-line journey businesses like Klook do promote Shinkansen tickets as properly.
The Backside Line
In case you’ve learn this far, you’ve acquired a reasonably good concept about the way to purchase prepare tickets in Japan. For some vacationers, the Japan Rail Go nonetheless is sensible, even at its new, a lot larger worth level. For different traveler, digital options corresponding to Ekinet or the SmartEX app are most suitable choice. For nonetheless others, old-fashioned is the best way to go: Queuing up at a station ticket workplace would possibly take a while, however it’s easy and idiot proof. Need customized assist stringing collectively your subsequent journey round Japan, irrespective of how you find yourself shopping for prepare tickets? Take into account hiring me to plan it for you!