How do I buy a Shinkansen ticket at the station?

Follow a step-by-step guide to buying a Shinkansen ticket from a station machine or ticket office, including the English menu, seat choice and the two-ticket gate.

Published October 20, 2026 at 6:36 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: At a JR station, you can buy a Shinkansen ticket from a ticket vending machine with an English menu, or from a staffed ticket office, often called a Midori no Madoguchi. Choose your stations, date, train and seat type, then pay. You typically receive a fare ticket and a limited express ticket, and both go into the gate together.

Where Shinkansen tickets are sold

A Shinkansen ticket can be bought in several places, and each suits a different traveler. JR Central says on its English pages that tickets are sold at JR ticket offices, at ticket vending machines, through a JR travel agency counter, and through its online reservation service. It states that every ticket vending machine in its stations has an English menu, though not every machine sells reserved seats.

Ticket offices are staffed counters inside JR stations. A well-known type is the Midori no Madoguchi (literally "green window"), a reservation office for JR trains. The Japan Rail Pass website mentions these along with Travel Service Centers, and says that reserved seats cannot be booked at unmanned stations or stations that lack reservation capability.

Online buying is another route. JR East offers an online reservation service for Shinkansen and express trains, and JR Central runs its own service for the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines. Many visitors choose these because the screens are in English and they can do the booking before leaving the hotel. At the station, a machine or office issues the actual ticket if you have not chosen an e-ticket.

Step by step at a machine

First, find a machine that sells Shinkansen tickets. Not every machine sells reserved seats, so look at the labels or the illustrations on the machine, or ask a staff member. Choose English from the menu. Then select the stations you are traveling between, the date, and the train type or time.

Next, pick the seat type. You will usually see reserved, non-reserved, and Green Car (first class) choices. Choose the number of adults and children, and confirm the summary before you pay. Payment options differ by machine and station, so keep some yen on hand in case a card is not accepted.

Finally, collect your tickets and your change. You normally get a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket, sometimes printed together on one piece of paper. Check the train name, the departure time, the car number and the seat number before leaving the machine, because it is easy to fix an error right away but harder after you enter the gate.

Using a ticket office or counter

If the machine screen looks confusing, a staffed ticket office is a good choice. JR Central explains that when you buy through an agent, it helps to give your departure and arrival stations, the date and time, the train type such as Nozomi, Hikari or Kodama, the number of adults and children aged 6 to 11, and the seat type. A written note or a phone screen with these details makes the exchange quick.

Lines can be long at busy stations, and counters can be slow when busy. For that reason, many travelers prefer the machine for a simple trip and use the counter for changes, complex routes or rail pass reservations. Opening hours differ by station, so check the posted hours.

Staff can also explain how to read your ticket. Tickets show details such as the train name, date, car and seat, and formats can differ, so some tickets may have little English text. If anything on the ticket is unclear, staff at the counter can read it with you and confirm the train, car and seat before you head to the platform.

Costs and timing

Your total is made of layers. The basic fare depends on the distance, and the limited express ticket adds the Shinkansen charge for the specific train. JR East's ticket guide explains that Shinkansen and limited express trains need a basic fare ticket plus a super (limited) express ticket. Prices change from time to time, and the official fare search on the operator's site shows the current numbers.

For timing, JR Central says that reserved seats on the Tokaido line go on sale at 10:00 a.m. one month before departure. Popular days, such as the early May holidays, mid August and the year-end period, are often crowded, so book as early as you can. The Japan Rail Pass site lists those periods and states that seats are not guaranteed in them.

Machine and office hours vary. For example, the Japan Rail Pass page says that reserved seat machines and offices operate up to roughly 4:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and that actual hours vary by location. Do not leave a purchase for the last minute on a day when you must catch an early train.

Who this suits, and special cases

First-time visitors who like clear steps often do well with machines, since the English menu removes the need to speak. Families with children can ask at the counter about child fares, because children aged 6 to 11 are counted separately. Older travelers who prefer a person to talk to may feel more comfortable at the counter.

Rail pass holders follow a different process. According to the Japan Rail Pass site, pass holders reserve seats at reserved seat ticket machines or Midori no Madoguchi offices by showing the pass, and seat reservations carry no additional charge. The pass does not cover the Nozomi and Mizuho trains, which need a separate ticket.

Travelers who hold an IC card (a rechargeable tap card such as Suica or Pasmo) should know that the card pays the basic fare but not the limited express charge. JR East's ticket guide says that Shinkansen and limited express trains need a super (limited) express ticket in addition to the basic fare. JR East also lists a Shinkansen e-ticket service, so read the official guide if you prefer ticketless travel.

Common mistakes at the gate

The most common mistake is putting only one ticket into the gate. When you transfer between the Shinkansen and a conventional line, you typically insert your conventional line ticket together with your Shinkansen ticket into the Shinkansen transfer gate. If you have two tickets, feed them in together and collect both when they come out.

Another mistake is losing the ticket during the trip. Do not lose or forget to take your tickets, because they are needed for checks on board and to exit at the destination. Put the tickets in a pocket or a card holder rather than a bag.

Some travelers also forget to check the platform and car. The Shinkansen platform is usually marked clearly, but stations can be large. Allow extra time, look for the departure board in English, and ask a staff member if the platform number is unclear. Depending on the ticket type, gates accept paper tickets, IC cards or QR codes.

Planning tips, alternatives and next steps

Buy early for peak dates. Decide the train first, then reserve a seat for that exact service. If your plans may change, think about a non-reserved seat, and read the change and refund rules on the operator's page before you buy. Carry your passport if you hold a rail pass, since seat machines for pass holders ask for passport details.

If you booked online, bring the confirmation number or QR code and follow the on-screen steps at the machine or counter to issue the ticket. If you are traveling with big suitcases, reserve a seat with luggage space on the lines that require it, as JNTO describes, and leave time to find the right platform. If anything looks wrong at the gate, a staffed gate is the best place to ask.

Buying a Shinkansen ticket at the station comes down to four steps: pick a machine or counter, choose your trip and seat type, pay, and check the ticket details. Insert both tickets into the gate together when they are separate, and keep them until you exit. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you buy a Shinkansen ticket with a credit card at the station?

Payment options vary by station and machine type, and some machines and offices accept credit cards while others may not. Carry some yen as a backup. The operator's English page or a staff member can confirm the payment options at your station.

Do you need to buy tickets at the station on the same day?

No. Tickets can often be bought ahead, at stations or online, and the sale usually opens about a month before departure on major lines. Buying earlier gives better seat choice on busy days, while same-day purchase works for flexible trips outside peak periods.

What should you do if the ticket machine does not sell Shinkansen tickets?

Not every machine sells reserved seats or limited express tickets. Look for a machine with a Shinkansen or reservation label, or go to the staffed ticket office. Station staff can point you to the right machine, and an information desk can help at larger stations.

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