Help on buying Shinkansen tickets

[StarG]

Preparing for a trip to Japan, I am now researching the best way to buy Shinkansen tickets and wondering if anyone here knows the answer to my questions:

1) Travelling Osaka-Tokyo (one way), is it possible to buy the tickets online?
2) What is the cheapest way to buy it? (Online/through agent/advance purchase, etc.)
3) Any specific line/company to select for this route?
4) Do they have different classes of service on that particular line?

My last trip on Shinkansen was about 20 years ago back when I didn't really care which airline I travel on.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[kapitan]

Preparing for a trip to Japan, I am now researching the best way to buy Shinkansen tickets and wondering if anyone here knows the answer to my questions:

1) Travelling Osaka-Tokyo (one way), is it possible to buy the tickets online?
2) What is the cheapest way to buy it? (Online/through agent/advance purchase, etc.)
3) Any specific line/company to select for this route?
4) Do they have different classes of service on that particular line?

My last trip on Shinkansen was about 20 years ago back when I didn't really care which airline I travel on.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best way to buy is to buy from the station.... the counter attendent normally understand English. When you are at the head of the queue, you then specify your destination, the car (Green or normal car), and also best id to reserve seat if in normal car.

For Osaka, you will have to be at Shin Osaka Station to get onboard a Shinkansen. All Shinkansen are operated by JR (Japan Rail).

[jhm]

You have to take the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka operated by JR Central (English website with timetable, fares, how to buy tix etc).

As Kapitan says, there's the normal class of service and the so called Green Car (nicer seats but that's it so not worth it IMO for a few hours). There are carriages for those with reservations and without reservations (reservations are free and can, I believe, be made at any JR ticket office so book when you arrive in Japan).

If your trip is a return, consider buying a JR rail pass (which you can only buy before arriving in Japan), e.g. the cost of a return trip on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto (near Osaka) is the same cost as a 7-day rail pass (giving you unlimited travel on nearly all trains!).

My last trip on Shinkansen was about 20 years ago back when I didn't really care which airline I travel on.

You realise that the Shinkansen is a train and not a plane, right ?

But that's a good point. Have you thought about flying ? I think I posted before gushing about my JL domestic F experience between ITM and HND - a very comfortable seat for the short 40 minute flight, a choice of food and absolutely amazing service. The F service has been going since 1 December 2007:

http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200709/000733.html (pictures etc)

NH also (of course!) have a domestic F service but I haven't tried that.

Edit: the only downside of flying from Osaka to Tokyo (and not the other way round) is that you don't get to use the JL domestic F lounge at Haneda (the security channel just for F/OW emeralds is next to the check-in desks and goes straight from check-in into the lounge).

[jhm]

Also:

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/dom/f/

[stargold]

Preparing for a trip to Japan, I am now researching the best way to buy Shinkansen tickets and wondering if anyone here knows the answer to my questions:

1) Travelling Osaka-Tokyo (one way), is it possible to buy the tickets online?

I haven't yet seen an option to buy Osaka-Tokyo shinkansen tickets online, but it is very easy to buy it on the day at the station, and as far as I know the trains are rarely booked up (unless very peak season). I found it very easy to just use the self-service machines as they have English menus.

2) What is the cheapest way to buy it? (Online/through agent/advance purchase, etc.)

I believe there is no difference in price between methods of purchase - no real discount from anywhere.

3) Any specific line/company to select for this route?

No choice - the only differences in the trains are which series you get on. I would personally suggest trains marked N700 as they are really remarkable trains...

4) Do they have different classes of service on that particular line?

Green car, as jhm pointed out above, is their "First Class" product but it's very little difference between the Green Car and Standard Car. The pitch in Shinkansen is massive even in the Standard Car because the seats are designed to be swung around to face direction of travel when it reaches the destination and has to turn back, as can be seen in my trip report.

So I would just save the surcharge (especially with the v.v.v.high JPY!) and have a nice meal when I get to the other end

[stargold]

But that's a good point. Have you thought about flying ? I think I posted before gushing about my JL domestic F experience between ITM and HND - a very comfortable seat for the short 40 minute flight, a choice of food and absolutely amazing service. The F service has been going since 1 December 2007:

The JL F cabin is JPY8,000 surcharge, no? That's almost 80 quid... and would buy a lot of sushi at Tsukiji!

[jhm]

The JL F cabin is JPY8,000 surcharge, no? That's almost 80 quid... and would buy a lot of sushi at Tsukiji!

It is JPY 8,000 surcharge per person but it's money paid for being fussed over on JL F (plus a light snack/meal) compared to nothing at all on the Shinkansen. It's like saying why pay miles for NH F when NH J will do!

In terms of time, I believe the Hikari Shinkansen take about 3 hours between Tokyo and Osaka whilst the faster Nozomi take 2:30 hours. I think the plane at 40 minutes plus time for checking-in etc, getting to/from the airport etc is comparable (particularly when, like here, you're using Haneda and Itami rather than Narita and Kansai).

[HUGE AL]

As Kapitan says, there's the normal class of service and the so called Green Car (nicer seats but that's it so not worth it IMO for a few hours).

Keep in mind we ARE talking about the "Luggage Master" here. If you've got even one large (26") bag, you'll want Green Car for the luggage storage -- which is much larger and less crowded than the normal class.

StarG, you may want to check with the JTB office in S'pore or Bali (there isn't one in Jakarta) as they do offer nice discounts for prepaid Rail Passes purchased ex-USA. I used them last year and it was super easy.

http://www.jtbgmt.com/sunrisetour/08_branches.html

I may be taking the Bullet next week ex-Osaka, so I can let you know the drill.

[Kyo]

As Kapitan says, there's the normal class of service and the so called Green Car (nicer seats but that's it so not worth it IMO for a few hours). There are carriages for those with reservations and without reservations (reservations are free and can, I believe, be made at any JR ticket office so book when you arrive in Japan).

NH also (of course!) have a domestic F service but I haven't tried that.

Two things to note - reservations are free if you're on a JR Pass. However when I was in Hokkaido 10 days ago, reserved seats incurred an additional 700 Yen (Toya - Chitose). Your mileage may vary, but my understanding is reserved seats *do* cost more. But you do get to choose your seat.

I tried also NH's Premium Class on KIX - CTS (Chitose airport - Sapporo) as the cost was a 5,000 Yen surcharge, which I think is the NH domestic F being referred to here and I was really, really glad I did! Pity out of 3 domestic NH flights I had under the Star Alliance Japan Airpass, this was the only route / plane that had a 2-class config. The food was great, the seat was really super for domestic, the drinks were all flowing, you get ANA slippers, and most importantly, tip-top Japanese service. I found the ANA lounges (with the exception of NRT) pitiful though - no food but plenty of alcohol!!! Only an ANA snack mix consisting of rice crackers!

If you're not going during these times, you may want to consider the Skypass (only valid if you're flying in/out of Japan on *A) instead, which I was able to utilise far more than I could with the JR Pass - after all, most people want to stay and explore the city they are travelling to, not just for a few hours, maybe even a couple of days where days of the JR Pass are essentially wasted:

The first domestic departure date must be by March 31, 2010. Travel not permitted for 19 Dec 08 - 5 Jan 09, 13 Mar 09 - 31 Mar 09, 17 JUL 09 - 31 AUG 09.
(For embargo period after August 2009, please contact your travel agent or ANA for details.)
If that works for you, the cost will be much cheaper (and you also get to accumulate *A miles.

Of course, if riding the shinkansen is your main aim, go for it. It's great. If you can narrow down to one particular locale, it can prove way cheaper. E.g. I wanted to JR around Kyushu (South Japan) and I realised they just launched a North Kyushu pass - 3 days, and only 7,000 Yen. Jumped on it and saved myself a heck of a lotta Yen. Even when compared to a West / Kyushu pass by itself.

[jhm]

Two things to note - reservations are free if you're on a JR Pass. However when I was in Hokkaido 10 days ago, reserved seats incurred an additional 700 Yen (Toya - Chitose). Your mileage may vary, but my understanding is reserved seats *do* cost more. But you do get to choose your seat.

You're right! I had a JR rail pass so didn't have to pay for reservations. I believe that for the fastest Nozomi trains, you must pay for a reservation but that wasn't relevant to me as you can't ride the Nozomi with a JR rail pass anyway.

I tried also NH's Premium Class on KIX - CTS (Chitose airport - Sapporo) as the cost was a 5,000 Yen surcharge, which I think is the NH domestic F being referred to here

On that point, I don't know about NH but with JL, they have Y, J and F on domestic routes. (I don't know whether the F flights also have J or whether it's just F and Y on those flights.) I also tried domestic J on JL and that was nothing special at all (a nicer seat similar to intra-Europe J but that's it) - even the advertising only shows a bloke sat in a seat holding a paper JL logo cup!

I found the ANA lounges (with the exception of NRT) pitiful though - no food but plenty of alcohol!!! Only an ANA snack mix consisting of rice crackers!

That's the same for the JL domestic lounges. Even the best - the Diamond Premier JL lounge at Haneda (for F pax and OW emeralds) - had no food to speak of other than (IIRC) some nibbles. However, the lounges are designed that way because you're not meant to spend a lot of time in there - Japanese efficiency being what it is (including well trained domestic pax), check-in closes 15 minutes before departure and it's perfectly feasible to arrive at that time, check-in, go through security and catch the flight.

[StarG]

Thanks kapitan, stargold, Kyo and jhm for all the useful information.

I have to tourlead a group of high-maintenance people (total 16 pax) for a vacation to KIX and NRT. Osaka -> Tokyo Shinkansen (one way) is part of the plan and I thought it is best to secure seats in advance, with best prices possible. The local TA only sells RT tickets.

Air travel is not an option as the total travel time might be similar to the Shinkansen anyway.

Thanks HUGE AL, I might just do that when I am in SIN this week.

Yeah, lots of luggage are involved. Fortunately, I am not the only porter in the group.

[Kyo]

The JTB office in Singapore (Robinson Rd) is very friendly and helpful. They are able to sell most JR passes, but for some reason they couldn't sell the North Kyushu JR pass - not sure if there may be other ones they can't sell too. They asked me to go to Takashimaya in Orchard Rd to purchase it, good thing I was calling from the ANA office (other side of Robinson Rd) and it so happened they were able to sell it.

[kapitan]

The JTB office in Singapore (Robinson Rd) is very friendly and helpful. They are able to sell most JR passes, but for some reason they couldn't sell the North Kyushu JR pass - not sure if there may be other ones they can't sell too. They asked me to go to Takashimaya in Orchard Rd to purchase it, good thing I was calling from the ANA office (other side of Robinson Rd) and it so happened they were able to sell it.

JTB and ANA will sell the JR pass....but for JAL, unless you are book to travel into Japan with them, they will not sell.

[9V-JKL]

I have to tourlead a group of high-maintenance people (total 16 pax) for a vacation to KIX and NRT.

In all seriousness, if you're looking to move 16 high-maintenance people, from KIX-NRT, perhaps a private jet charter could work out. A G4 could move all of you + luggage.

[Kyo]

JTB and ANA will sell the JR pass....but for JAL, unless you are book to travel into Japan with them, they will not sell.

I wonder how the OP will travel to Japan - anyway for me personally, I don't foresee myself flying JAL anytime soon, nor buying tickets from them when the lovely ladies at ANA are just two blocks away.