Do you want to know how to book a Shinkansen to travel in between Tokyo and Osaka but don’t know where to start? Here my easy guide to the two most popular ways to book to help you choose the best one for your trip!
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Travelling on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka is an easy, fast way to move between the two major cities. Also known as the Japan bullet train, this rapid, smooth mode of travel can seem confusing to book at first. Especially from overseas! But don’t worry – it’s really easy once you know how.
How do I book a Shinkansen from Australia?
Booking from Australia (works for most international locations), I decided to trial both popular methods for our trip to Tokyo via Nagoya. I wanted to settle which Shinkansen booking method was easiest for tourists. Here’s how it went…
How do I book a seat on a Japan Shinkansen?
There are two popular methods for tourists to book a Japan Shinkansen seat.
- Online using an official partner booking service like Klook or KKDay. For this comparison we used Klook.
- Online using the official JR Smartex website
Which Shinkansen booking service is the best?
Out of the two major ways to book Shinkansen, my recommended choice for the easiest way to book a Shinkansen is using the Klook website. My second choice would be using the JR Smartex site. The end results are the same, but the processes are very different!
Who or what is Klook?
Klook is a huge, trusted booking company and an official third-party Shinkansen ticket seller. Klook is popular for booking attractions, transportation and accommodation. I have personally used Klook on many of our overseas trips and I now partner with them.
Why is Klook the best way to book a Shinkansen online?
Booking with Klook is much more user-friendly for tourists. The Klook website is easy to use and simple to understand. Users simply choose the date, then the time and type of Shinkansen, plus select tick boxes for your preferences, such as an Oversized Luggage Seat.
Klook will find your Japan bullet train seats for you and confirm soon after you book with your seat numbers.
My oversized luggage seats were confirmed in less than an hour. Whilst there can be a small difference in price, I found it outweighed the inconvenience of booking with the Japanese Shinkansen website.
Best of all, at the Shinkansen Station both tickets work the same.
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What is the official Shinkansen booking website?
The official JR Shinkansen English booking website is called Smartex.
Why was Smartex my second best choice to book a Shinkansen?
The Smartex website took me a couple of nights of playing around to learn the steps to book. It first requires setting up a free membership account which holds your payment method separately. Then you need to login to the website to book. It’s only after you have logged in that you can search and book your Shinkansen tickets – and it logs out if you take too long – so you can find yourself back at the start several times if you take too long.
This more complex booking system was difficult to navigate, and I found myself fruitlessly searching for almost an hour until I stumbled across an obscure filter to find available oversized luggage seats.
After I booked, all was fine. The booking was immediate and confirmed via email. The QR codes aren’t able to be saved to your iphone Wallet like Klook’s are, but there is a separate Smartex App you can install.
Ultimately, learning how to book using Smartex took me a lot longer than Klook.
Shinkansen booking sites comparison
Klook Shinkansen booking advantages
- Five minutes to book, an hour to have seats confirmed.
- Tickets are accessible both in the Klook app and can be saved in your iphone wallet.
- Klook tickets work the same as Smartex tickets – scan a QR Code at the gate
- You can pay in your own currency (so no exchange fees)
- You get important Klook information messages and reminders on your phone if you have the app downloaded
Klook Shinkansen booking disadvantages
- Last minute bookings and changes not possible
- Changes cost a small fee and need to be re-confirmed
- Tickets can be more expensive
JR Smartex website Shinkansen booking advantages
- Bookings are immediate
- Booking changes are free, and are able to be made up to 4 minutes prior to departure time
- Tickets can be cheaper
JR Smartex website Shinkansen booking disadvantages
- A membership and then login was required before being able to even view the Shinkansen times and dates to book
- The website itself was difficult to understand and required several separate steps to book
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Partners. Conditions apply. Klook exclusions list here.
Do both Klook and Smartex tickets work the same at the station?
Yes, both are tap-through QR Codes. You’ll need to also tap your Suica card first if you are transferring from another local train within the station (just like you would need to normally tap out of the station). There are staff at the Shinkansen gates to assist if you have any issues.
Shinkansen FAQs
Should I reserve a Shinkansen seat?
Yes, reserving Shinkansen seats is a good decision. If you reserve your Shinkansen seats, you’ll have pre booked seats together with your party. You will be able to relax when boarding, knowing that you have seats waiting for you, rather than having to board quickly to try and get seats together. If the Shinkansen is a busy one you may not even get a seat at all, as Shinkansens can be over-booked in unreserved cabins. (We’ve had this happen!)
In addition, if you wish to take your larger suitcases on board with you, you must reserve Oversized Luggage seats or pay a fine of 1,000JPY and have to sit with your bag in front of your knees.
Reserved Shinkansen seat disadvantages
- More expensive than unreserved
Reserved Shinkansen seat advantages
- You don’t need to rush onboard quickly to get seats together with your traveling party
- If the Shinkansen is overbooked, you know you have a seat
- You can book your large luggage to travel with you
Are Japanese bullet trains all the same?
No, there are three main types of Japan Shinkansen bullet trains.
- Nozomi – the Nozomi is the fastest Shinkansen with the least station stops. The Nozomi is the most frequent Shinkansen by far with 12 arriving per hour and is the best choice for the Shinkansen to Nagoya (Legoland Japan & Ghibli Park) or the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto and Shin Osaka.
- Hikari – the Hikari is the less frequent, second fastest Shinkansen with a few extra station stops. It is about an hour slower than the Nozomi.
- Kodama – the slowest stop-at-all-stations Shinkansen – good for rural city visits.
Are there different classes of travel on the Shinkansen?
Yes, there are usually a couple of unreserved seating carriages, and the rest are reserved seating split into two classes – Ordinary (Second Class) and Green (First Class) carriages.
The Green carriages are the more expensive service. Their seats are bigger with a footrest. The seat layout is two seats together either side of the aisle. There is a passenger service via attendant and you can order limited food and drink onboard via mobile order menu. There are some amenities such as receiving a washcloth upon boarding.
The Ordinary carriages are the standard service and have three seats on one side and two seats on the other per row. The Ordinary cars are still a very comfortable, clean and roomy Shinkansen service.
Can I use my JR Pass on a Shinkansen?
You can use your JR Pass for the Hikari and Kodama trains, but you need to buy an extra Mizuho ticket to ride the Nozomi train. This additional ticket is 4,960jpy and is available from a machine at the stations and covers all classes of travel.
When should I arrive at the Shinkansen station?
Tokyo, Shin Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and other Shinkansen Stations are all large and busy, but they are well run and signposted. At the station, arrive about an hour before your train arrives so that you have plenty of time and are not rushed. Allow enough time to locate the Shinkansen area, scan in through the gates, find your platform, buy some snacks and locate where your reserved carriage doors will open for you to board.
How do I find the Shinkansens at the station?
When you arrive at your departure station, you’ll see the Shinkansens signs. Follow the Shinkansen signs to the special Shinkansen scan-in gates.
How do I scan my Shinkansen ticket?
At the main Shinkansen area gates, there are plenty of staff to help you at the scan in gates if you have any problems.
First tap your Suica card or train ticket if you arrived on a local train to “tap off” that train like you would if you were exiting the station.
Next you tap your booked Shinkansen QR Code which you received from Klook (remember you’ve probably saved it in your iphone wallet) or Smartex.
As you tap your Shinkansen QR Code a paper Seat Information slip will pop up. Take this out of the gate to take with you. This is to show any staff who may ask you for it on board the train (nobody did).
After you have successfully tapped in and retrieved you Seat Information slip, make your way to the information board inside the Shinkansen scan-in gates to check which platform to go to using your Shinkansen train number information provided with your ticket voucher, then proceed to your platform.
How do I know which Shinkansen to take at the Station?
Each Shinkansen bullet train has a service name and number which you will find on your booking and ticket, along with your carriage and seat number. This number is how you identify your train on the train station information board and train platform. “Nozomi 247” for example.
On the train platform your Shinkansen’s name and number will be on the big platform signs which list each pending Shinkansen’s time of arrival, and it will also be on a sign in front of and also on the side of the train itself.
How do I know where to board the Shinkansen?
Your carriage and seat number will be in your booking information. If you look you will see carriage number signs on the ground and on the gate – it will be on the train too when it arrives. Walk to your carriage boarding point ready to queue there around ten minutes before it’s time for your train to arrive. It may take you a couple of minutes to walk to the correct spot, so you may like to check where it is in advance, like an airport gate! Don’t worry, if you get mixed up – you can always walk to the correct carriage onboard. Shinkansen trains have carriages that are inter-connecting with automatic doors. There are staff circulating through the train too, who can help you if needed.
Will I have enough time to get onboard?
Yes, don’t worry! Although the Shinkansen’s are intimidatingly fast, you do get enough time to get on and get seated! You get about five minutes to board after the Shinkansen stops. There’s around ten minutes between each Shinkansen arriving at the station platforms. People generally queue to board their train right after the departure of the train before theirs. Don’t worry – if you’ve reserved your seats no one will take your seat or luggage space. You’ve paid for your spot!
Can I eat on the Shinkansen?
Yes, you can eat and drink on the Shinkansen. On the Shinkansen station platform, you’ll find vending machines plus small food stores where you can buy snacks, drinks and traditional Bento Boxes to take on board with you to eat.
Eki-ben (Bento Boxes for the train) are in disposable cardboard boxes and have cold rice and meat or vegetarian dishes. Bento Boxes are a fun part of the Shinkansen experience!
The Green car food service is the only onboard Nozomi/Hikari Shinkansen food available, and it is exclusive to 1st Class passengers. The online mobile order food service offers limited food and drinks available from a menu via a QR Code, such as coffee, ice cream and other snacks.
At each Shinkansen sear there are fold down tables to rest your laptop or to eat. You can even recline your seat – it’s like being on a plane but with more room!
Can I charge my phone on the Shinkansen?
Yes, there are power sockets for plugs onboard at every seat. Remember to take your actual Japan power plug and not just the USB or C charge cord.
Is there free wifi on the Shinkansen?
Yes there is free Wi-Fi on the Shinkansen in all carriages. Sign up is with an email. It’s easy to connect and works well.
Are there toilets on the Shinkansen?
Yes, there are toilets on the Shinkansen at the end of the carriages.
How long does the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin Osaka take?
It takes two and a half hours on the Shinkansen Nozomi service (fastest service) to get from Shin Osaka to Tokyo Station.
How long does it take to get from Osaka to Nagoya on the Shinkansen?
It takes 50 minutes to get to Nagoya from Shin Osaka on the Shinkansen. Nagoya is home to Legoland Japan and the Ghibli Park theme park.
Which side of the Shinkansen can I see Mount Fuji from?
If you sit on the left side of the Shinkansen heading to Tokyo from Kyoto/Osaka, or the right side of the Shinkansen heading to Kyoto/Osaka you will see Mount Fuji! You can even pay extra to ensure you get one of those seats on Klook. You will need the weather to cooperate of course – Mount Fuji is notorious for hiding behind clouds!
Can I take luggage onboard the Shinkansen?
Yes, but you must reserve what are called oversize luggage seats. These are usually the back row of each reserved seat carriage. There is room for your suitcases to go behind your seat. If you don’t book these seats and only have normal reserved seats there is room for your suitase to go in front of your knees, however you may need to pay a fine. You can learn all about taking your luggage onto the Shinkansen including size dimensions in my Shinkansen Luggage Guide here.
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