Trains in Japan : online reservation overview

Published on : 03/11/2018
by : Japan Experience

Reservations with a Japan Rail Pass

Train in Japan : online reservation Overview with a Japan Rail Pass

Shinkansen and Limited Express

Seat reservations on line for Limited Express or Shinkansen with a Japan Rail Pass are still difficult even if we can notice effort on the JR Company’s websites. The best way is to do the seat reservations you need as soon as you have exchanged your voucher, and the ideal time for reservations is the New Year period and the Golden Week. When purchasing train tickets online, the option to reserve a seat comes with each individual ticket, though non-reserved seat tickets are also available.

Please note that in Narita and Haneda airport the JR Travel Service Center will allow only one reservation. Other reservations can be made in any big stations within Tokyo.

JR East Train reservation

This is the only website with a reservation online system.

JR Kyushu Train reservation

You can do on line seat reservation for Kyushu Limited Express trains only if you have booked a Kyushu Rail Pass with a referred travel agency.

It is only for the following limited Express :

Yufuin no Mori (Hakata ↔ Yufuin/Beppu),
Yufu (Hakata ↔ Beppu/Oita),
Ibusuki no Tamatebako (Kagoshima-Chuo ↔ Ibusuki),
Kawasemi Yamasemi (Kumamoto ↔ Hitoyoshi),
A-Train (Kumamoto ↔ Misumi),
Umisachi-Yamasachi (Miyazaki ↔ Nango),
Aso Boy! (Beppu/Oita ↔ Aso),
SL Hitoyoshi (Kumamoto ↔ Hitoyoshi)

Price : 1000 yens

JR West and JR Central :

JR West and JR Central have launched an Tokaidosanyo shinkansen App available in United States, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand.

With this app, you can easily book seats and purchase Shinkansen tickets!

Beginning one month prior to departure
Both inside and outside of Japan
For up to 6 people at once

You can reserve seats if you are using a Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass (Tohoku area /Nagano, Niigata area), JR Tokyo Wide Pass, Hokuriku Arch Pass, JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, or Hokkaido Rail Pass.

Other useful Apps are available : click here to learn more.

JR West has also launched a new service on its website : reservation on line that you can receive directly on a ticket machine.

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