You can buy a Shinkansen ticket in under a minute at a station machine, or set it up entirely on your phone before you've even landed in Japan. Which method suits you depends mainly on whether you're using a Japan Rail Pass, how comfortable you are with an app in a foreign language, and whether you want a guaranteed seat. Here's exactly how each option works.
The three ways to buy: machine, app, or counter
Shinkansen tickets are sold through three channels, all producing a valid ticket for the same trains:
- Ticket machines at any JR station, with an English-language option, accepting cash and most international cards.
- Smartphone apps — mainly EX app (for the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen network) and Smart EX, which let you book, pay and board using your IC card or the app's QR code, without ever printing a paper ticket.
- Staffed ticket counters (midori-no-madoguchi), useful for complex itineraries, seat changes, or if you simply prefer speaking to someone — though these counters are gradually being reduced in number at smaller stations as digital booking expands.
For a first-time visitor without a rail pass, the EX or Smart EX app is generally the smoothest option: register a credit card once, and every booking after that takes a couple of minutes, with the ticket living on your phone or linked IC card.
Using a ticket machine
Machines at JR stations switch to English with a single tap and talk you through selecting your route, date, train and seat type. They accept cash, IC cards for top-ups, and most major international credit cards for ticket purchases. If you already hold a Japan Rail Pass exchange voucher or activated pass, some machines let you make seat reservations directly against it without any extra payment — look for the button dedicated to rail pass holders, or use a staffed counter if the machine doesn't offer that option at your station.
The EX app and Smart EX explained
These are the two main booking apps for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines (the Tokyo–Osaka–Hiroshima–Fukuoka corridor and its branches):
- Smart EX is aimed at visitors and works with a standard credit card and a physical IC card (such as a Suica or a dedicated Smart EX-linked card) that you simply tap at the gate — no paper ticket needed.
- EX app is a more fully featured version generally used by residents with a Japanese address and payment setup, though English-language support and features for overseas visitors have expanded significantly.
Both let you change your reservation to a different train for free up to a certain number of times before departure, which is a genuinely useful flexibility that a printed paper ticket from a machine doesn't offer in the same easy way. Neither app currently covers every Shinkansen line in Japan — some regional lines outside the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu network still rely on station machines or counters, so check coverage for your specific route before assuming the app will work end to end.
Booking with the Japan Rail Pass
If you're using a Japan Rail Pass, the pass itself covers travel on most Shinkansen services (with Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido/Sanyo line notably excluded), but it does not automatically include a seat — you still need to make a reservation, which is free for pass holders but must be done separately at a machine or counter, or increasingly through a linked digital pass system. Our Japan Rail Pass guide covers current pass pricing, coverage and whether it's worth it for your itinerary in more detail.
Reserved vs non-reserved seating
Most Shinkansen trains have a mix of reserved-seat carriages and non-reserved carriages, and understanding the difference matters for planning:
- Reserved seats guarantee you a specific seat on a specific train, for a small additional fee over the non-reserved fare (or free with a rail pass reservation). This is the safer choice at busy travel times — Japanese national holidays, cherry blossom season, and Friday evenings on commuter-heavy routes can see non-reserved carriages fill standing-room only.
- Non-reserved seats are first-come, first-served within the designated non-reserved carriages, and the ticket costs slightly less. This works well outside peak periods and gives more flexibility if your plans are fluid, since you can simply catch the next train rather than being tied to a specific departure.
A green (first-class-equivalent) car is also available on most Shinkansen for a premium fare, always reserved, with extra legroom and a quieter carriage — worth it for longer journeys like Tokyo to Hiroshima or Fukuoka if comfort matters to you.
What you'll need at the gate
If you booked via machine or counter, you'll usually have one or two paper tickets (a base fare ticket and, if applicable, a separate reserved-seat ticket) to insert into the ticket gate together. If you booked via Smart EX or EX app, you simply tap your linked IC card at the gate — no paper involved. Japan Rail Pass holders typically show their pass at a staffed gate rather than using the automated ticket gates, though this is gradually changing at some larger stations as IC-linked pass systems roll out.
Travelling with luggage
If you're carrying a large suitcase, check whether it needs a free oversized-baggage reservation before you book your seat — our Shinkansen luggage rules guide covers the 160–250cm rule that catches out a lot of first-time visitors. It's far easier to add this at the same time as your seat booking than to sort out at the gate.
Booking ahead vs turning up
Reservations open about a month before departure and can be made right up until shortly before the train leaves. For popular routes at peak times — major holidays, weekends around festivals, the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons — booking your reserved seat a few days to a week ahead is a sensible precaution. Outside those windows, Shinkansen services run so frequently (often every 10–15 minutes on the busiest corridors) that turning up and buying a same-day ticket, reserved or non-reserved, is usually entirely workable. This is quite different from booking windows on many European high-speed routes; see our guide to booking European trains in advance for that comparison if you're travelling on both continents.
Which should you choose?
For most visitors without a rail pass, Smart EX is the easiest method once set up — book from your phone, tap an IC card at the gate, and change plans for free if needed. If you're using a Japan Rail Pass, make reservations at a station machine or counter as you go, ideally a little ahead of busy travel days. Ticket machines remain a solid fallback for anyone who prefers not to rely on an app, and staffed counters are worth seeking out for anything more complicated than a simple one-way booking. If you're deciding whether the pass is worth buying in the first place, our rail passes explained guide covers the general logic of when a pass beats point-to-point tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Shinkansen tickets on my phone?
Yes. The Smart EX and EX apps let you book, pay and board using a linked IC card, without needing a paper ticket, on the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen network. Coverage varies on other regional lines.
Do I need a seat reservation on the Shinkansen?
Not always — most trains have non-reserved carriages that are first-come, first-served. Reserved seats cost a little more (or are free with a rail pass reservation) and are worth it during busy periods.
Does the Japan Rail Pass cover all Shinkansen trains?
It covers most services, but Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido/Sanyo line are excluded. You'll also need a separate, free seat reservation even with a valid pass.
How far in advance can I book a Shinkansen ticket?
Reservations open about a month before departure and can be made right up to shortly before the train leaves. Booking a few days ahead is wise for peak holiday periods.
Sources and further reading:
- Booking systems and coverage: JR operator information (EX app, Smart EX).
- Rail pass details: our Japan Rail Pass guide.
- Route and timetable cross-checks: The Man in Seat 61.