All About Japan Shinkansen: Ticket Price, Timetable, & Routes

Ride Japan’s bullet trains, the speediest way to get to Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, Kyushu, & more! Book Shinkansen tickets at the cheapest price here — no promo code required 🚅

In a nutshell

• What is Shinkansen? This is Japan’s popular bullet train network that runs up to 320 kph or 199 mph. You’ll be able to travel to different parts of the country in the fastest way possible — perfect if you want to discover the country extensively or have a packed itinerary.
• Where can you go with the Shinkansen bullet trains? The Shinkansen Railway in Japan is comprised of 9 rail lines. The most popular of which is the Tokaido Railway, which will allow you to travel between Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. There is also the Sanyo Shinkansen Line, which runs between Osaka to Fukuoka.
• How can I book Shinkansen train tickets? While you can purchase tickets at the station, you can easily find cheaper tickets here. Booking online will not only save you time and money, you’ll also be able to make reservations with add-ons without any language barriers.
• How much are Shinkansen tickets in Japan? Ticket prices vary depending on distance and seat class. For instance, both the Tokyo-Osaka and the Osaka-Fukuoka routes cost around $88 for a one-way trip. Traveling from Narita Airport to Shibuya will cost you around $20, while taking short-distance trips cost as low as $10. See the price of bullet train tickets on your travel dates here. 🎫
• Shinkansen train tickets vs. JR Pass. To take the Shinkansen bullet trains, you can either purchase individual tickets or get a Japan Rail (JR) Pass. With individual tickets, you can get a one-way or roundtrip ride for one route or segment — an economical choice for many. However, if you are planning to discover Japan’s various cities and regions, you can take advantage of the JR Pass. This travel pass comes in many options, but the standard pass will give you unlimited access to all 9 lines of the Shinkansen trains; rapid and local trains in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka; JR buses to Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Disneyland, and more attractions; and ferry rides for Kansai Airport to Kyoto, Narita Airport to Tokyo, and more. Discover more about the JR Pass here.
• Are bullet trains in Japan worth taking? Yes! Check out this 5-star review: “[Traveling] with the Shinkansen [is] always very convenient. It’s impressive how [it] can take you to an extremely far away place in just a few hours. The trains are always super clean, and even if you don’t reserve a seat, you [are] most likely going to find one.” Find more reviews for the Shinkansen train ticket on Klook here.
• Planning to visit a theme park in Japan? Browse ticket deals for Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, Legoland, and 40 more spots here.

All About Shinkansen: Japan’s Bullet Trains

When planning a trip to Japan, most tourists book a ride or two on the country’s bullet train. Aside from the convenience of high-speed travel, it’s also quite an experience. Japan’s Shinkansen or bullet trains, specifically the Nozomi Shinkansen that runs between Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, run as fast as 320 kph or 199 mph. This means you can hop between regions at the shortest time possible compared to taking long-distance night buses like this one.

Below let’s find out where you can go aboard the Shinkansen, as well as the amenities and seat upgrades available:

Japan Shinkansen Train Railways

The popular Shinkansen trains, operated by the Japan Rail (JR) Group, run on these 9 lines:

• Tokaido Shinkansen
• Sanyo Shinkansen
• Tohoku Shinkansen
• Akita Shinkansen
• Yamagata Shinkansen
• Joetsu Shinkansen
• Kyushu Shinkansen
• Hokkaido Shinkansen
• Hokuriku Shinkansen

The most popular line is the Tokaido Shinkansen, which has bullet trains traveling between Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. There is also the Sanyo Shinkansen Line, which can take you from Osaka to Fukuoka for as little as 2 hours and 12 minutes at just around $88 per one-way ticket.

The rest of the Shinkansen railways can take you further north or south to destinations like Shinjo, Kagoshima, Kanazawa, Hakodate, and more. To find all available Shinkansen train stops and popular routes, click below:

Amenities

Aside from Shinkansen ticket prices and timetable, you may also be curious about the amenities available for bullet train passengers. We’ve listed them down below so you know what to expect (know that availability of these amenities vary per train type):

• Free WiFi on most Shinkansen trains. Yes, you can stay connected during your trip! However, if you want a more private and secure connection, you can also rent a Ninja WiFi (use our promo code TRAVLISTS to get 5% off) or an eSIM from Ubigi or Airalo.
• On-board luggage. Passengers of Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan can bring up to two (2) pieces of luggage weighing up to 30kg only and with a size of up to 250cm. (Note that Shinkansen trains on Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu no longer have separate storage compartments for luggage. You will need to have your bags with you throughout your ride.)
• Additional luggage and equipment. Strollers, musical instruments, & sports equipment of all sizes are allowed on board at no additional fee.
• Bicycle storage. At no additional cost, you can use the bike storage inside the bullet train. Just make sure that your ride’s front wheel is removed (if not a foldable bicycle) and covered with a bicycle bag.

Shinkansen Seat Reservations & Green Car

Additionally, you also have the choice of booking specific seats for your ride. If you want to purchase tickets with guaranteed seats of your choice, make sure to select the Reserved Seat option here as shown below:

Booking a non-reserved seat does not guarantee a seat but offers flexibility in terms of travel dates. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the Green Car is the first-class train ticket on Shinkansen. Booking a Green Class seat comes with many perks including the following:

• Reclining seats
• Wider legroom
• Luggage compartment
• Reading materials
• Refreshments (drinks or snacks)
• Oshibori (hot or wet towel depending on the season)

How to Buy Shinkansen Train Tickets in Japan

Tickets are available for purchase at the train station. However, to save money and secure a refund for unforeseen emergencies, we recommend booking your Shinkansen train tickets online here. From time to time, they have Shinkansen train promo codes available, which can save you extra money that you can use on other things while you travel.

Moreover, you will also receive a QR code that you only need to show at the counter to collect your ticket (QR-code ticketing is available on most routes).

Shinkansen Train Ticket Price & Schedule

Curious to see how much bullet train tickets cost in Japan? Check out our Shinkansen price table for one-way and roundtrip tickets (subject to change depending on season):

1. Narita Airport Terminal 1 (NEX) – Shibuya Shinkansen Train

• PRICE: Book here starting at $20.5
• INCLUSIONS: One-way Shinkansen ticket & reserved seat on an Ordinary Car or Green Car
• TRAVEL TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 36 minutes depending on train
• JAPAN SHINKANSEN SCHEDULE OF DEPARTURES:
  • Morning: 7:37am, 8:12am, 8:49am, 9:16am, 9:46am, 10:15am, 10:45am, 11:14am, 11:44am
  • Afternoon: 12:20pm, 12:45pm, 1:14pm, 1:45pm, 2:20pm, 2:45pm, 3:14pm, 3:44pm, 4:20pm, 4:44pm, 5:16pm
  • Evening: 6:15pm, 6:49pm, 7:14pm, 7:49pm, 8:44pm, 9:44pm

2. Tokyo – Kyoto Shinkansen Train

• PRICE: Book here starting at $83.99
• INCLUSIONS: One-way Shinkansen ticket & non-reserved or reserved seat on an Ordinary Car or Green Car
• TRAVEL TIME: 2 hours 1 minute to 2 hours 40 minutes depending on train
• SHINKANSEN SCHEDULE OF DEPARTURES: Multiple departures available per hour between 6am-9:30pm

3. Osaka – Tokyo Shinkansen Train

• PRICE: Book here starting at $87.49
• INCLUSIONS: One-way Shinkansen ticket & non-reserved or reserved seat on an Ordinary Car or Green Car
• TRAVEL TIME: 2 hours 17 minute to 3 hours 54 minutes depending on train
• SHINKANSEN SCHEDULE OF DEPARTURES: Multiple departures available per hour between 6am-9:30pm

4. Shinjuku – Kawaguchiko Shinkansen Train

• PRICE: Book here starting at $26.05
• INCLUSIONS: One-way Shinkansen ticket & non-reserved or reserved seat on an Ordinary Car or Green Car (seats with view of Mt. Fuji available)
• TRAVEL TIME: 1 hour to 2 hours 13 minutes depending on train
• SHINKANSEN SCHEDULE OF DEPARTURES: Multiple departures from 7:30am to 8pm

5. Kyoto – Nagoya Shinkansen Train

• PRICE: Book here starting at $32.6
• INCLUSIONS: One-way Shinkansen ticket & non-reserved or reserved seat on an Ordinary Car or Green Car
• TRAVEL TIME: 34-49 minutes depending on train
• SHINKANSEN SCHEDULE OF DEPARTURES: Multiple departures from 6am to 10:40pm

Shinkansen Bullet Train Stations

The 5 routes listed above are just examples of the journeys you can have aboard the Shinkansen bullet train. Here’s a list of the stations for reference (not exhaustive):

Reviews

What’s the experience like of travelers who took Japan’s bullet train? One Klook user wrote this review for their Tokyo-Kyoto trip: “Had really good and enjoyable experienced with [Shinkansen. I] chose [Mt. Fuji] seat and it [had a really] good view [from] the reserved seat… Invest a bit more…for a priceless view. Thank you for the seat arrangement that [allowed] me to take…numerous photos of [the] beautiful Mt. Fuji!”.

Here’s another review of the Japan Shinkansen train on Reddit:

Definitely worth it. One of the highlights of our trip in 2019. Very easy to mange trip through the app and you can even move to a later train up until a few minutes before departure.

BNATiger

Shinkansen Train Ticket vs. JR Pass

To take the bullet train in Japan, you can either purchase one-way or roundtrip tickets for the routes mentioned in this post. However, if you have a packed travel itinerary designed for a cross-country trip, then you can save more money with a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). This integrated transportation pass gives you access to the following:

• Shinkansen trains (all 9 lines)
• Rapid and Local trains
• JR bus services
• Select ferry services

The pass can be used for unlimited travels for 7, 14, or 21 days. Find more details here.

FAQ

1. Are train tickets refundable?

Refer to the following cancellation and refund guidelines on Klook:

• For QR-code tickets: Cancel anytime before your booking is confirmed. Once confirmed, you have up to 1 day before your scheduled ticket pick-up and usage date to cancel the tickets.
• For delivery or pick-up: Cancellation is only possible before the ticket reservation is confirmed.

2. How do I get my Japan bullet train ticket?

It depends on your ticket type. QR-code tickets need only be scanned at the ticketing machine so you can get your actual ticket. If you’re traveling between Hakata and Kokura or Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo, you will need to pick up your Klook Shinkansen ticket at Fukuoka International Airport.