Book your train tickets with JR.
JR is the national railway operator in Japan, connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Kagoshima.
Trains operated by JR
JR operates the Shinkansen high-speed railway service with trains running at a maximum speed of 240–320 km/h.
- - Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka
- - Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Fukuoka
- - Kyushu Shinkansen between Fukuoka and Kagoshima
Shinkansen trains carry Green Cars with business class seats and Ordinary Cars with standard class seats distributed in Reserved and Non-reserved seats. In total, Shinkansen trains offer three passengers classes: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Japan.
Routes
Travel with ticket
We facilitate advance ticket booking for Shinkansen trains operated by JR.
| Stations | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA |
| Tokyo | |||
| Shinagawa | |||
| Shin-Yokohama | |||
| Odawara | — | ||
| Atami | — | ||
| Mishima | — | ||
| Shin-Fuji | — | — | |
| Shizuoka | — | ||
| Kakegawa | — | — | |
| Hamamatsu | — | ||
| Toyohashi | — | ||
| Mikawa-Anjo | — | — | |
| Nagoya | |||
| Gifu-Hashima | — | ||
| Maibara | — | ||
| Kyoto | |||
| Shin-Osaka |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA | MIZUHO | SAKURA |
| Shin-Osaka | |||||
| Shin-Kobe | |||||
| Nishi-Akashi | — | — | |||
| Himeji | |||||
| Aioi | — | — | — | ||
| Okayama | |||||
| Shin-Kurashiki | — | — | — | ||
| Fukuyama | — | ||||
| Shin-Onomichi | — | — | — | ||
| Mihara | — | — | — | ||
| Higashi-Hiroshima | — | — | — | ||
| Hiroshima | |||||
| Shin-Iwakuni | — | — | — | ||
| Tokuyama | — | ||||
| Shin-Yamaguchi | — | ||||
| Asa | — | — | — | — | |
| Shin-Shimonoseki | — | — | |||
| Kokura | |||||
| Hakata |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | MIZUHO | SAKURA | TSUBAME |
| Hakata | |||
| Shin-Tosu | — | ||
| Kurume | — | ||
| Chikugo-Funagoya | — | — | |
| Shin-Omuta | — | — | |
| Shin-Tamana | — | — | |
| Kumamoto | |||
| Shin-Yatsushiro | — | ||
| Shin-Minamata | — | ||
| Izumi | — | ||
| Sendai | |||
| Kagoshima-Chuo |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Destinations
JR serves the following destinations in Japan:
Kanto region
Kanto region comprises Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen trains operated by JR.
Train routes to Tokyo
Train routes to Yokohama
Chubu region
Chubu region comprises Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama, Nagano and Niigata prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen trains operated by JR.
Train routes to Shizuoka
Train routes to Nagoya
Kansai region
Kansai region comprises Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen trains operated by JR.
Train routes to Kyoto
Train routes to Osaka
Train routes to Kobe
Train routes to Himeji
Chugoku region
Chugoku region comprises Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Shimane and Tottori prefectures. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen trains operated by JR.
Train routes to Okayama
Train routes to Hiroshima
Train routes to Yamaguchi
Kyushu island
Kyushu island is the third largest of Japan's five main islands. This region is served by the Kyushu Shinkansen trains operated by JR.
Train routes to Kumamoto
Train routes to Kagoshima
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| JR | Change time/date |
| Fare Green car seat (Shinkansen) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shinkansen) | Permitted |
If you wish to change your booking with JR, please Contact Us. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
- No change once the physical ticket has been issued by the ticket vending machine
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| JR | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare Green car seat (Shinkansen) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shinkansen) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your ticket with JR, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 320 JPY of the ticket fare + 200 JPY per ticket if the physical ticket has not been issued by the ticket vending machine
- No refund once the physical ticket has been issued by the ticket vending machine
Reviews
Parfait! Le train est parti et arrivé à l’heure. Site très simple, plusieurs options possibles, service client réactif et très aimable. Tout a été parfait! Carole
Great service on helping arrange our seats. Also for a late upgrade also. Thomas
Thank you Andrea
I felt that the time allowed between both rail journeys was not enough for me to comfortably navigate Tokyo station to get from the end of the Shinkansen journey, collect my ticket from a machine, and then find my way to the Narita Express platform. David
Shinkansen is an excellent way to travel across japan. My journey departed on time and arrived exactly on time to the minute and had a smooth trip in the green car with spacious comfortable seats. Neil
Easy to book online and tickets arrived in good time which we collected at the station machine with the QR code. Andrew
The email with the tickets should make it clear you need to enter the station through a Shinkansen specific entry point, not a regular JR entry point. Paul
Nothing to tell. Saifudin
I think the journey was very good, staff at ticket gates excellent to help with QR code. Only this missing is food, beverage not available on the train. Saifudin
I mistakenly missed the train, however staff at ticket check point was helpful and promptly assisted to change to subsequent train. Thank you. Mai
No share luggage spaces in between row of seats (similar to train system in Western Europe), not everyone can lift luggage up to the overhead racks, and not everyone is fluent with "luggage forward system" or have needs to. Also passengers not allow to stay with their luggages in common areas (if not able to store them properly). The fares for both single and passes are very high compare to many other system in both Europe and Asia in re. to distances, seat sizes, comfort & speed even when purchase far in advance. Mai
Our experience with Baolau has been incredible. Guy
Used the QR code in my booking confirmation worked great thanks plus the shinkansen trip was great. Neil
Cero incidentes, instrucciones fáciles de seguir Angel
Comfortable, quiet and fast ride to Osaka. Derris
Very good service Gwilym
Efficient and an enjoyable experience Gary
Service delays, but otherwise OK. Richard
QR code provided worked fine at gates so no need to print tickets. Luggage has to stay with you so if you have a large case it will need to be in front of you at your seat (fair amount of room) or if smaller on the over head rack. Angela
The Shinkansen service is terrific from the perspective of on-time performance, cleanliness of the seats and cars, clarity on arrival points, etc. One small disappointment in first class was the lack of available meal or beverage service......or awareness of same IF it did, in fact, exist. Louis
Well signposted at the station and easy to find the track to board the train mostly written in English as well as local language - get to the station earlier rather than later in case you need to print your tickets out Angela
Not anyone's fault but it ran over 4hrs late due to Heavy Rain. Linda
Efficient. Fast. Punctual. Clean. Clear instructions. Keith
Both booking and travelling was super easy and efficient. Daniel
Ease of use in retrieving my ticket from the machine. I was also able to use the ticket machine to exchange my ticket when I decided to leave on a later train. Dennis
Extremely easy to get our tickets from the ticket machine at Tokyo Station. Great instructions. The train trip was very comfortable. Susan
The train is brilliant Phoebe
Very easy access ticketing system. Had no problems when booking through Baolau. Deborah
Could not be more pleased with the bookings we have made through Baolau. Incredibly easy and seamless. Made train travel in Japan effortless! Patricia
This is my second review of Baolau which I used to buy three different sets of Shinknasen tickets to travel throughout Japan. The day before our last leg of our trip, we wanted to leave Kyoto earlier than the tickets we had purchased. Having had experience with the timely manner that a Baolau agent responds, I felt comfortable requesting the change. Within a few hours, I heard back from them, and they had found an earlier booking for us and asked for our confirmation.. It was a seamless process with no additional charges and we were able to use the e-ticket QR code without a problem. Having reserved tickets ahead of time, gave us more time to enjoy the sights and took the stress out of buying tickets at the train station. Wendy
Our first Shinkansen ride went smoothly. Nice to have a JR office right by the entrance and exit to the Shinkansen trains ito help you out. Wendy
Instructions worked perfectly once I read them. Roger
Helpful signs & staff in the station, on time & clean, and a smooth journey - great! West
Very comfortable, efficient and super fast. The onboard food/drink service was great too (green car only) Aran
Trip was great but asking for assistance at rail station was terrible. We were directed to the wrong platform and caught the wrong service - right destination but lost our seats Michelle
The trip was easy to navigate and very comfortable. Leslie
It is unfortunate that Japan Railways discontinued the food and beverage service trolley on the Shinkansen! Richard
Excellent service! John
We found the ability to use the QR codes on our phone at the train turnstiles very helpful, effective and easy. Patricia
The whole process was fantastic Pablo
Great trains, QR code ticket works very well. Sean
The trains are good but there are NO refreshment facilities at all so take lots of food/drink with you on long journeys. Sean
Great train journey in green class. Neil
Great journey Andrew
No area for large luggage in Shinkansen train carriage. Adrian
All was slick and issue at the barrier with my QR code. All on time. Andrew
No problems using the QR code with station tickets machines Robert
QR code worked perfectly. All great Andrew
Tokaido Shinkansen serving Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka