this is the BEST JAPAN TRAVEL channel ever, thank you so much!!! The guides are so easy to understand and straight forward, looking forward to my trip to Japan in about a week :D
Amazing video, the most complete video I've seen so far. Thanks a lot for sharing. During the video for the ticket options 0:41 I wanted a deeper explanation, for the readers: 1. Shinkansen (reserved seats and fare ticket) What it includes: This option combines both the basic fare ticket (for the distance traveled) and the limited express fare with a reserved seat. Key Features: Reserved seating means you’ll have an assigned seat, guaranteeing you a specific place on the train. The ticket price will include both the distance (basic fare) and the Shinkansen surcharge (limited express fare). When to choose: If you prefer to guarantee a seat, especially during peak times or on busy routes like Tokyo-Osaka. 2. Shinkansen (non-reserved seats and fare ticket) What it includes: This option also combines the basic fare ticket and the limited express fare, but with a non-reserved seat. Key Features: Non-reserved seating means you can sit in any available seat in the non-reserved cars of the Shinkansen, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The ticket includes the same basic fare and Shinkansen surcharge, but it’s usually a little cheaper than the reserved seat option. When to choose: If you want more flexibility or if traveling during off-peak hours when seats are likely available. 3. Shinkansen Limited Express What it includes: This option only covers the limited express fare, which is the surcharge for using the Shinkansen. Key Features: This is not a complete ticket-you would still need to purchase a separate basic fare ticket to travel. It’s essentially the additional fee required for using the Shinkansen service, but it does not include the basic fare (the standard distance-based charge). When to choose: You might select this option if you already have a basic fare ticket (for example, if you're combining with another type of ticket, like a rail pass or if you're extending a regular train journey onto the Shinkansen). 4. Shinkansen (fare ticket) What it includes: This is just the basic fare ticket, which covers the cost of traveling between two stations based on distance. Key Features: This does not include the Shinkansen surcharge (limited express fare), meaning you can’t use this alone to board the Shinkansen. You can use this ticket on regular trains (local, rapid, etc.) on the same route, but you’ll need to buy an additional limited express ticket if you want to use the Shinkansen. When to choose: Choose this if you only need the basic fare (for example, if you plan to take a non-Shinkansen train or need to buy the limited express fare separately).
We can't register any of our cards (Australian Visa with different banks) with Smart Ex at all. We've treid multiple times. Has anyone found a solution for this. Our banks are no help.
Same visa, Mastercard mine and my spouse as well. Call them and they were asking if my cards were 3d secure ready. They all are. We have used them abroad for the last 3 years (being expats). Just not working.
this is soooo great. I am currently planning a trip to Japan with friends and I am looking for information about this because it's quite confusing. Thank you soooo much! Just subscribed! I will definitely be watching most of this channel's videos before going. :D
A bit late I know but I'd also add that the JR West site allows you to book any train (shinkansen and regular trains) operated by JR West, Central, Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as the JR East trains in Kanto (incl Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen). This is useful if you want to book non-shinkansen trains such as the Hida train to/from Takayama, as ekinet allows booking of non-shinkansens in the JR East area, but not elsewhere, and SmartEx is shinkansen only, no regular trains.
I’m traveling to Japan in two months and this was the most concise and easy to follow guide. Thank you! One question, if we take the tickets in the station machines 3 days in advance is enough to book it or could be is already full?
We’re really glad you found the video helpful! Late March is peak season for travel so you may find the shinkansen getting full. If you’re flexible with your times, 3 days in advance may be enough for booking or you could also purchase a non-reserved ticket. However, you’re not guaranteed a seat with this option, so you’d want to arrive early to secure one.
Can’t register on smart ex. It doesn’t accept any credit card in the US. Tried visa, Mastercard and discover. Even tried an international card called wise. Please help
@@supahsofa Thanks. I bought mine on JR West website. They accepted my card. I will have to pick a physical card at the train station at Tokyo or Shinagawa. Amex is a good tip, unfortunately no one I know has one.
One important thing you completely omitted is generally, do you really need to get tickets in advance or can I just get it when I am in country and the day of travel? I.e. in Italy, going from city to city, you almost have to reserve them in advance... same goes with Korea if you go from Seoul to Busan.
Generally speaking, the trains are frequent(hourly or so) and you don’t need to book in advance everytime. Of my 5 years living there, i have only booked a ticket in advance only once, and that one time was when i overslept and missed the train haha so i opted to not book in advance in the future. Makes for a more flexible journey. Though, those were the pre-covid times and i am aware that tourism is blooming in Japan. So don’t take my word for it as trains might be fully booked due to peak periods.
Wow, very valuable information. Thank you. I've been trying to find this info, it's very inconsistent. Lot of people say to get the Japan rail pass... which seems like a waste of money for one or two trips.@@FahmiKhairil
Hi what’s the difference between the Shinkansen (reserved sear and fare ticket) and the shinkansen (fare ticket)? I hear there’s a basic fare for every train ride, but can we pay for the Shinkansen fare ticket with welcome suica card at the entry gates ? Do we have to buy the basic fare ticket at the machine?
Thanks!@@tokyocheapo Quick question tho: I just bought tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto following these steps on the app. Does "Tokyo" on my ticket stand for "Tokyo Station"? And the same for "Kyoto"?
Great video! :) Quick question: after registering my suica card in the app, does the newly purches tickect automaticly connect to it or you have to do it manually?
Loved this how informative this video was, thank you!! My girlfriend and I are visiting Japan in August and I'm still unsure whether we need a JR pass in addition to the Suica Cards we'll be getting on our phones. We plan to use the Suica card for getting around Tokyo for about a week and a half, then spending the second half of our trip visiting Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Would purchasing both be wise? Or what do you think the best option would be?
Glad to hear the video was helpful for you! With the JR Pass now being 50,000 yen per person, it won't be worth it if just traveling between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. You can use the Suica card outside of Tokyo as well, so we recommend doing that for travel in the cities and buying individual shinkansen tickets for travel between cities 😊
You need both. If you have a rail pass then it might cover the basic fare. In that case there's a button on the first screen to buy just the express fare(sometimes called seat reservation fee)
Hi there, great question! The right side at 04:34 is the bottom ones. The arrows all the way to the right show the direction the train is travelling in - so you want the right side of the train going to Osaka/Kyoto and the left side of the train travelling to Tokyo.
Hi, First of all thanks for the video, it's really informative but I just had one question I hope someone could answer : Can you buy a shinkansen going from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station while in Asakusa ? Or do you need to be in Tokyo Station to buy it ? Thanks !!
Hi need help, in Europe i can net use the app of Smart-ex. can i download qr as a file on my and use it ? Or maybe print it and scan it on the station?
Hi there! It depends on the time and route you're taking but generally we suggest getting tickets in advance. For example, travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto in spring will be quite busy so it's best to get tickets before the day. Other shinkansen lines and times of year like winter (besides New Year) will be less busy.
@@tokyocheapo Thank you so much, we are going in September. Our hotel is very close to station so we will take your advice and buy the tickets a day before we leave :D
Thank you so much for your advice about getting tickets more than 1 month in advance through the 3rd party sites. Are there any methods to get japan central railway tickets more than 1 month in advance? I'm trying to get from Nagoya to Takayama the morning/afternoon of the first day of the autumn festival. It seems my only option is the Hida limited express and there's only a few of them each day. I know there's going to be a lot of competition for these seats to get to the festival so if there's anything at all anybody could suggest I would be eternally grateful.
Hi! I,ve just bought two tickets following your guide so thank you for helping us! I have a question though; I have bought two seats so, if I link the reservation to my ic card, do I have to scan it twice when passing through the gates? Or tapping it in once is enough for both person? Thank you!
If I book in advance & my flight arrives late at Narita, is it possible to change the ticket at the ticket office or do I have to buy a new. If at Tokyo Station, if I miss the connection to Nagano for any reason, eg can't find the platform, how do I remedy the situation?
I know this is but late but i’ve beard that registering debit/credit cards on Japanese websites is notoriously difficult! This is because of debit/credit card scammers using fake accounts while away from home so Japan has stricter security measures, which in turn makes everyone unable to access buying tickets if you are not from Japan :(
Amazing video and a big fan of your videos. Unfortunately I'm unable to buy tickets online as my cards were not recognized, I saw some reviews say lot of people experience the same. For the ticket machine, what are the chances of getting a seat on the day, is it hard normally (first time to Japan, thus the question) or should I always book in advance. Also, do I always need to get both the base fare and shinkansen, wouldn't the base be covered in it already (Eg: From Odawara to Kyoto or Kyoto to Osaka)
@user-kg2to7ey2l it was not. Avoid periods like golden week. However I bought tickets either the day before or 2 days before and all was good. The only exception could be if you have a lot of luggage then you may not be able to get luggage storage at the back but in a different storage area. Your biggest luggage can also go on top and it's safe and secure.
Can I charge my US credit card with pin to my IC (Pasmo or Suica)? I heard that the credit card will consider that cash advance or just a regular credit charge??
You should be able to charge a mobile Suica with a US card, AMEX is known to work best. However you can't charge a physical Sucia card with a credit card - you need to use cash. See our Suica Guide video: ruclips.net/video/nU5bZIGVeAo/видео.html
If we reserve a seat on the smart ex app so we select “pick up ticket” option on the left side or the “pick up reserved seat” option on the bottom right side? At 0:40
hi I will be in Japan in November. I still don't understand the limited express only selection, what does it mean? In which cases should it be clicked instead of the standards?
This is so helpful! I'm traveling to Japan soon with a couple of people. If I have tickets for 4 people and my SmartEx account is connected to 1 IC card (mine) will I be able to tap all 4 of us through the gate or is it better to just buy separately?
You can still travel on trains the same day using the unreserved seats. If the route doesn’t have unreserved seats, then you can ask the JR office for help.
Your videos is really helpful for me - Thanks a lot! I've got a little question: can I get all my tickets I booked with smartEX and got an QR code for in advance at one ticket machine? Like I'm planning trips from Tokyo to Yokohame to Kyoto to Hiroshima to Fukuoka to Osaka - by arriving in Tokyo is it possible to get all tickets printet at the machine so I haven't to worry about that later on? Thank you in advance for answering! 🙇♀
Great video, so helpful :) Just wondering, if you buy tickets online and receive a QR code, how far in advance can you get the physical tickets from a machine at the station? Does it have to be the same day as departure or can you go there whenever? Thanks!
5:32 Hi again! What do you mean the "separated QR code"? The website give you two QR code or is the same that you use to obtain the paper tickets at the machine. Can you collect the tickets with that QR Code or just go to the pass machine with the same QR code? Thanks in advance
Hi there! It does work but you'll need to also download the "Suica" app so that you can access the ID number for your Suica card. Once you input this number into your reservation, the ticket will be loaded on the Suica card in your wallet.
Hi there, thanks for watching! 😊 Yes you can use a Welcome Suica card, just be aware of some of the precautions listed on the Smart-Ex website: smart-ex.jp/en/faq/category/detail/?id=484
Can I purchase multiple tickets on Smart Ex for my family members? If so, how do I get the individual tickets for each member? Or can I transfer the tickets onto their mobile SUICA card?
Thanks for the super helpful information! Is it possible to buy tickets before getting a Suica card, and then adding the ticket to the card after I get it? I'm not in Japan yet, but I was thinking of booking our first train in two weeks. Otherwise I will have four days once we are in Japan, so does it make sense to wait until I have a Suica card?
Im trying to buy my ticket through smart-ex but for some reason I don't see the option to view seat map at 4:16 portion of the video. In fact, I don't see it anywhere even when I arrived at the last final step, how do I get reserve seat?
Hi! You mentioned in the video you can connect your suica card to Shinkansen. Is there a process for it? or do I just top up my suica and use it when I want to go through Shinkansen? Thanks in advance Edit: I forgot to ask does it work for virtual suica as well? I am traveling in two weeks and I’m so excited!
On the member registration screen of Smart EX, there is a section for registering a transportation system IC card. (I think that is under the credit card registration section) Enter the IC card number there (if it is Suica, enter the number starting with JE). For Mobile Suica, if you are an iphone user, tap the i-mark on the screen when you start up your phone to confirm. If you are an Android user, you can check it by tapping on something called Suica Management from the member menu (I don't know if this translation is correct as I don't know the English version of Suica's screen). Then just put your IC card number into the Smart EX screen in the same way. (I am Japanese, so I used Deepl translation.）
Where do we find the QR code? My partner just bought tickets for our trip next year and we haven't received a QR code in the confirmation email we received after purchasing
¿Can you pick up the tickets purchase at the ekinet in the ticket machines or do you have to get them in the East JR line travel center in the Tokyo station?
So I try to Book a Ticket with a Transfer, do I really need 2 Tickets? For each of the Shinkansen rides? And can I buy e-Tickets if I have a suica Card just in my Apple wallet or do I need a physical one?
I was confused by the basic fare! I thought you needed a basic fare AND the Shinkansen fare and I am usually able to work these things out. Please help. So I no longer need a basic fare to get on the Shinkansen? I have been using it for years and had to adjust my tickets when I got to a station that I bought the tickets for. Confused! 😄😄🙄🙄
Another question… sorry I’m just so lost 😅 I’m interested in the QR code from Tokyo to Kyoto. Does the Tokyo station have QR code scanners on the entry gate? Can we also book tickets in one purchase like I plan on going from Tokyo to Kyoto but then plan to return from Osaka to Tokyo. Can I reserve tickets like this?
Once purchased on Smart Ex, where can I find these machines to get thr paper ticket? We arrive late to Haneda and will go to out hotel in Yokohama. The next morning we will take the Shinkansen from yokohama to Osaka. I believe we have to go to shin-Yokohama to catch the train. Just now sure where I can get the paper ticket if prepurchased on Smart Ex. Thanks.
Hi there, I'm trying to reserve a train ticket to go from Nagano to Kyoto. I was able to use the JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION, but then towards the end of the reservation I get a notification saying "Tickets cannot be received at Nagano Station" and that I should look for station where tickets can be received. Before then I will be in Tokyo, I don't see any options here to receive the tickets. Any ideas? Thanks ind avance.
As mentioned in the video we recommend Klook as the easiest option for buying tickets online, there should be no problem using credit cards there: tokyocheapo.com/yt/klook-shinkansen
I have a few questions, I hope someone can help me!! For some context: I’m having a two month travel in January and February, and I’m gonna be using Shinkansen quite a lot.. (which scares the sh*t out of me…) I’m gonna be two weeks in Tokyo to begin with, and then I’ll fly to Fukuoka, from there I have to use Shinkansen. I’m going from Fukuoka to Hiroshima Hiroshima to Osaka Osaka to Nagoya Nagoya to Tokyo Questions: -Would I be able to buy all the tickets needed for my entire trip in Tokyo? Or do I always need to buy them at the station that I am travelling from?? -last time I was in Japan, it was on a school trip and my teacher, bought our tickets for us, (this is my first time alone) I remember we sometimes got confused whether to put in our ticket from the “Shinkansen ticket machine” or to use our suica card and I also remembered that sometimes, we had to use both to get through?? Can anyone explain what that was about? and how to know when to use what? -Last question, I’m having a big suitcase with me, so I should always choose a seat with “oversized baggage”?? Thank you!🙇♀️
Hi there! If you're doing a reasonable amount of travel even in 3 days, the Suica card will make it a lot more seamless and convenient as you don't have to work out fares each time you hop on the train. If you have an iPhone, you can add Suica to your Apple wallet 😊
Hi there! You can't use your Suica card to travel on the shinkansen in the same way you would for local trains. But you can purchase a shinkansen ticket online at one of the sites mentioned in the video and connect the ticket to your Suica card (using the number on the back of your Suica). That way, you can use your Suica card to tap in and out of the gates.
Literally watched it while standing in queue at the machine. Very helpful, thank you!! 😅
Haha glad it was helpful! Enjoy your trip!
I'm traveling alone to Japan tomorrow and this is really helpful. Thank you!
I was so overwhelmed and confused until this video, thank you!
Same!
I go to Japan twice a year and I still found this VERY helpful!! Thank you!
You're so welcome!
this is the BEST JAPAN TRAVEL channel ever, thank you so much!!! The guides are so easy to understand and straight forward, looking forward to my trip to Japan in about a week :D
This was super helpful --- thank you so much for simplifying something that other videos made feel so complicated!
You're so welcome!
Amazing video, the most complete video I've seen so far. Thanks a lot for sharing. During the video for the ticket options 0:41 I wanted a deeper explanation, for the readers:
1. Shinkansen (reserved seats and fare ticket)
What it includes: This option combines both the basic fare ticket (for the distance traveled) and the limited express fare with a reserved seat.
Key Features:
Reserved seating means you’ll have an assigned seat, guaranteeing you a specific place on the train.
The ticket price will include both the distance (basic fare) and the Shinkansen surcharge (limited express fare).
When to choose: If you prefer to guarantee a seat, especially during peak times or on busy routes like Tokyo-Osaka.
2. Shinkansen (non-reserved seats and fare ticket)
What it includes: This option also combines the basic fare ticket and the limited express fare, but with a non-reserved seat.
Key Features:
Non-reserved seating means you can sit in any available seat in the non-reserved cars of the Shinkansen, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The ticket includes the same basic fare and Shinkansen surcharge, but it’s usually a little cheaper than the reserved seat option.
When to choose: If you want more flexibility or if traveling during off-peak hours when seats are likely available.
3. Shinkansen Limited Express
What it includes: This option only covers the limited express fare, which is the surcharge for using the Shinkansen.
Key Features:
This is not a complete ticket-you would still need to purchase a separate basic fare ticket to travel.
It’s essentially the additional fee required for using the Shinkansen service, but it does not include the basic fare (the standard distance-based charge).
When to choose: You might select this option if you already have a basic fare ticket (for example, if you're combining with another type of ticket, like a rail pass or if you're extending a regular train journey onto the Shinkansen).
4. Shinkansen (fare ticket)
What it includes: This is just the basic fare ticket, which covers the cost of traveling between two stations based on distance.
Key Features:
This does not include the Shinkansen surcharge (limited express fare), meaning you can’t use this alone to board the Shinkansen.
You can use this ticket on regular trains (local, rapid, etc.) on the same route, but you’ll need to buy an additional limited express ticket if you want to use the Shinkansen.
When to choose: Choose this if you only need the basic fare (for example, if you plan to take a non-Shinkansen train or need to buy the limited express fare separately).
very helpful, thanks a lot!
We can't register any of our cards (Australian Visa with different banks) with Smart Ex at all. We've treid multiple times. Has anyone found a solution for this. Our banks are no help.
Same issue here, Mastercard doesn’t work either
Same here
Update is we got my wife’s work Mastercard to work.
@@Grant_Ferstat do you know what company? Is it Canadian mastercard?
@@ryanasksaround no it isn’t. We’re in Australia.
Thank you for sharing! We're going to Japan next month and we cant wait!
Bruh... this video is crystal clear. Superb explanation ❤
Thank you for much for the video . I have been stressing hard about getting - Shinkansen ticket and this put my mind at ease!
That EX website doesn't accept my visa 😢
Same here
Same visa, Mastercard mine and my spouse as well. Call them and they were asking if my cards were 3d secure ready. They all are. We have used them abroad for the last 3 years (being expats). Just not working.
I was able to book a train from Tokyo to Toyama thanks to your video. I appreciate it!!
Thank you ! This video is very helpful, I was so overwhelmed by all the videos out there. This one is by far the best !
We're glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!
I subscribed to your channel. First trip in May, thanks for all the tips!
this is soooo great. I am currently planning a trip to Japan with friends and I am looking for information about this because it's quite confusing. Thank you soooo much!
Just subscribed! I will definitely be watching most of this channel's videos before going. :D
4:28 Thank you for the info on Mt Fuji! We are planning to go next year and your videos are helpful! Subscribed and liked!
Thank you for watching and subscribing!
A bit late I know but I'd also add that the JR West site allows you to book any train (shinkansen and regular trains) operated by JR West, Central, Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as the JR East trains in Kanto (incl Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen).
This is useful if you want to book non-shinkansen trains such as the Hida train to/from Takayama, as ekinet allows booking of non-shinkansens in the JR East area, but not elsewhere, and SmartEx is shinkansen only, no regular trains.
apki vajah se hamare paise bach gaye. Bhaut shukriya. Klook par mhenga tha.
This is so helpful! Thank you for explaining this so clearly!
Glad to hear it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😊
I’m traveling to Japan in two months and this was the most concise and easy to follow guide. Thank you! One question, if we take the tickets in the station machines 3 days in advance is enough to book it or could be is already full?
We’re really glad you found the video helpful! Late March is peak season for travel so you may find the shinkansen getting full. If you’re flexible with your times, 3 days in advance may be enough for booking or you could also purchase a non-reserved ticket. However, you’re not guaranteed a seat with this option, so you’d want to arrive early to secure one.
Thanks for making this video! Very easy to understand
Can’t register on smart ex. It doesn’t accept any credit card in the US. Tried visa, Mastercard and discover. Even tried an international card called wise. Please help
If you still haven't bought them, American Express works. Had to borrow one from a friend
@@supahsofa Thanks. I bought mine on JR West website. They accepted my card. I will have to pick a physical card at the train station at Tokyo or Shinagawa. Amex is a good tip, unfortunately no one I know has one.
This is great, broken down very simply!
Super helpful and clear advice. Thank you so much!
You are welcome!
2:51 How do we know if we need both fares?
One important thing you completely omitted is generally, do you really need to get tickets in advance or can I just get it when I am in country and the day of travel? I.e. in Italy, going from city to city, you almost have to reserve them in advance... same goes with Korea if you go from Seoul to Busan.
Generally speaking, the trains are frequent(hourly or so) and you don’t need to book in advance everytime. Of my 5 years living there, i have only booked a ticket in advance only once, and that one time was when i overslept and missed the train haha so i opted to not book in advance in the future. Makes for a more flexible journey.
Though, those were the pre-covid times and i am aware that tourism is blooming in Japan. So don’t take my word for it as trains might be fully booked due to peak periods.
Wow, very valuable information. Thank you. I've been trying to find this info, it's very inconsistent. Lot of people say to get the Japan rail pass... which seems like a waste of money for one or two trips.@@FahmiKhairil
Hi what’s the difference between the Shinkansen (reserved sear and fare ticket) and the shinkansen (fare ticket)? I hear there’s a basic fare for every train ride, but can we pay for the Shinkansen fare ticket with welcome suica card at the entry gates ? Do we have to buy the basic fare ticket at the machine?
going oct 25th! thank you so much for all the helpful info 😀
really good video, simply but still with a lot of information!
Thank you for making it so clear! Finally understand how it works!
You're welcome!
This was so helpful! Thanks a lot for the effor put into this :)
You're very welcome!
Thanks!@@tokyocheapo Quick question tho: I just bought tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto following these steps on the app. Does "Tokyo" on my ticket stand for "Tokyo Station"? And the same for "Kyoto"?
GREAT Video! Everything I needed to book online from overseas. THANK YOU.
Glad it was helpful! Have a great trip!
Thanks for the great video and information. Is it easy enough to buy Shinkansen tickets at the ticket office on the day you're travelling?
Thanks for the info girl. And thanks even more for your discount ❤ I just booked it.
Very helpful!! For the IC card option will it work if I'm using a digital Suica card on my Apple Wallet?
Great video! :)
Quick question: after registering my suica card in the app, does the newly purches tickect automaticly connect to it or you have to do it manually?
Loved this how informative this video was, thank you!! My girlfriend and I are visiting Japan in August and I'm still unsure whether we need a JR pass in addition to the Suica Cards we'll be getting on our phones. We plan to use the Suica card for getting around Tokyo for about a week and a half, then spending the second half of our trip visiting Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Would purchasing both be wise? Or what do you think the best option would be?
Glad to hear the video was helpful for you! With the JR Pass now being 50,000 yen per person, it won't be worth it if just traveling between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. You can use the Suica card outside of Tokyo as well, so we recommend doing that for travel in the cities and buying individual shinkansen tickets for travel between cities 😊
Do you recommend always booking tickets in advance or it’s fine just go to the ticket machine the same day?
At 2:52, what does getting the basic fare and limited express fare mean? Do I have to get both? 😅
You need both. If you have a rail pass then it might cover the basic fare. In that case there's a button on the first screen to buy just the express fare(sometimes called seat reservation fee)
Hi! :)
I would like to see Fuji when travelling to Osaka or Kyoto, The right side on that image 04:34 would be the top ones right? I m a bit confused😅
Hi there, great question! The right side at 04:34 is the bottom ones. The arrows all the way to the right show the direction the train is travelling in - so you want the right side of the train going to Osaka/Kyoto and the left side of the train travelling to Tokyo.
@@tokyocheapo Thank you so much🫶🏻🤍 Your videos are really helpful🥰
Thanks for sharing the video! I just want to ask you about Hello kitty train can I use it go to Kyoto from Tokyo? Or from Kyoto to Osaka city? Thanks
I loved the video. I want to buy from Tokyo to Kyoto. Does the price change if I buy in advance online?
this channer so helpful, easy to understand
Thank you for this super clear and helpful video. Can I ask if we need to worry about tickets being sold out on the day we wish to travel?
Yes, especially for weekend travel and during peak seasons, Shinkansen services can be fully booked
Hi,
First of all thanks for the video, it's really informative but I just had one question I hope someone could answer :
Can you buy a shinkansen going from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station while in Asakusa ? Or do you need to be in Tokyo Station to buy it ? Thanks !!
Hi need help, in Europe i can net use the app of Smart-ex. can i download qr as a file on my and use it ? Or maybe print it and scan it on the station?
Thanks for this great video. Just wondering if its better to book the ticket the day before?
Hi there! It depends on the time and route you're taking but generally we suggest getting tickets in advance. For example, travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto in spring will be quite busy so it's best to get tickets before the day. Other shinkansen lines and times of year like winter (besides New Year) will be less busy.
@@tokyocheapo Thank you so much, we are going in September. Our hotel is very close to station so we will take your advice and buy the tickets a day before we leave :D
Thank you so much for your advice about getting tickets more than 1 month in advance through the 3rd party sites. Are there any methods to get japan central railway tickets more than 1 month in advance? I'm trying to get from Nagoya to Takayama the morning/afternoon of the first day of the autumn festival. It seems my only option is the Hida limited express and there's only a few of them each day. I know there's going to be a lot of competition for these seats to get to the festival so if there's anything at all anybody could suggest I would be eternally grateful.
Hi what are the instances wherein we can purchase the limited express fare and not the basic fare thru the ticketing machine?
Excellent info! Thanks a lot!
You're welcome! 😊
Hello! If I buy a round trip ticket, will the machine issue me separate tickets? Thanks for the great info and videos
you didnt explain how to link the qr online reservation to the ic card
Hi! I,ve just bought two tickets following your guide so thank you for helping us! I have a question though; I have bought two seats so, if I link the reservation to my ic card, do I have to scan it twice when passing through the gates? Or tapping it in once is enough for both person? Thank you!
If I book in advance & my flight arrives late at Narita, is it possible to change the ticket at the ticket office or do I have to buy a new. If at Tokyo Station, if I miss the connection to Nagano for any reason, eg can't find the platform, how do I remedy the situation?
Tried 4 different Credit cards with my GF none were accapted so we couldnt register for the website...
I know this is but late but i’ve beard that registering debit/credit cards on Japanese websites is notoriously difficult! This is because of debit/credit card scammers using fake accounts while away from home so Japan has stricter security measures, which in turn makes everyone unable to access buying tickets if you are not from Japan :(
Amazing video and a big fan of your videos. Unfortunately I'm unable to buy tickets online as my cards were not recognized, I saw some reviews say lot of people experience the same. For the ticket machine, what are the chances of getting a seat on the day, is it hard normally (first time to Japan, thus the question) or should I always book in advance. Also, do I always need to get both the base fare and shinkansen, wouldn't the base be covered in it already (Eg: From Odawara to Kyoto or Kyoto to Osaka)
hello was it full when you arrived ?
@user-kg2to7ey2l it was not. Avoid periods like golden week. However I bought tickets either the day before or 2 days before and all was good. The only exception could be if you have a lot of luggage then you may not be able to get luggage storage at the back but in a different storage area. Your biggest luggage can also go on top and it's safe and secure.
Is it cheaper to buy online or at the station?
Can I charge my US credit card with pin to my IC (Pasmo or Suica)? I heard that the credit card will consider that cash advance or just a regular credit charge??
You should be able to charge a mobile Suica with a US card, AMEX is known to work best. However you can't charge a physical Sucia card with a credit card - you need to use cash. See our Suica Guide video: ruclips.net/video/nU5bZIGVeAo/видео.html
If we reserve a seat on the smart ex app so we select “pick up ticket” option on the left side or the “pick up reserved seat” option on the bottom right side? At 0:40
hi I will be in Japan in November.
I still don't understand the limited express only selection, what does it mean? In which cases should it be clicked instead of the standards?
This is so helpful! I'm traveling to Japan soon with a couple of people. If I have tickets for 4 people and my SmartEx account is connected to 1 IC card (mine) will I be able to tap all 4 of us through the gate or is it better to just buy separately?
Hello! Glad it was helpful 😊 Each person will need to tap through separately. You can assign each ticket to a separate IC card from your account.
Great video! Quick question...what happens if you miss your train? Are your tickets then worthless? Thanks
You can still travel on trains the same day using the unreserved seats. If the route doesn’t have unreserved seats, then you can ask the JR office for help.
Your videos is really helpful for me - Thanks a lot! I've got a little question: can I get all my tickets I booked with smartEX and got an QR code for in advance at one ticket machine? Like I'm planning trips from Tokyo to Yokohame to Kyoto to Hiroshima to Fukuoka to Osaka - by arriving in Tokyo is it possible to get all tickets printet at the machine so I haven't to worry about that later on?
Thank you in advance for answering! 🙇♀
Great video, so helpful :) Just wondering, if you buy tickets online and receive a QR code, how far in advance can you get the physical tickets from a machine at the station? Does it have to be the same day as departure or can you go there whenever? Thanks!
This is also something I really need to know!
What is +/- extra fee for reserved seat from Tokyo to Hiroshima? thanks.
The paying with credit card part in booth does it take dollar? Or only yen? Do I have to convert my card to yen?
5:32 Hi again! What do you mean the "separated QR code"? The website give you two QR code or is the same that you use to obtain the paper tickets at the machine. Can you collect the tickets with that QR Code or just go to the pass machine with the same QR code? Thanks in advance
Can you connect the shinkansen ticket to the apple wallet IC suica card?
Thank you so much for this video! Very helpful :) Just one question, does the Suica on Apple Wallet work for adding the Shinkansen tickets on it?
Hi there! It does work but you'll need to also download the "Suica" app so that you can access the ID number for your Suica card. Once you input this number into your reservation, the ticket will be loaded on the Suica card in your wallet.
I need a website to but JR WEST tickets and there is nothing.
Thanks so much for this info. We’re travelling to Japan in July and your videos including this one have really helped me prepare.
Really glad to hear that 😊 Hope you have a wonderful trip!
I want to go to Nagoya which line should I select?
If I’m buying two passenger tickets, how does linking the suica card work for both of us?
Wow such a great video, I have a question? if I get the welcome suica card can I link my online ticket purchase to that card?
Hi there, thanks for watching! 😊 Yes you can use a Welcome Suica card, just be aware of some of the precautions listed on the Smart-Ex website: smart-ex.jp/en/faq/category/detail/?id=484
Can I purchase multiple tickets on Smart Ex for my family members? If so, how do I get the individual tickets for each member? Or can I transfer the tickets onto their mobile SUICA card?
Do you need to buy it jn advanced?? We go to Japan in November... should we buy it online already??
Thanks for the super helpful information! Is it possible to buy tickets before getting a Suica card, and then adding the ticket to the card after I get it? I'm not in Japan yet, but I was thinking of booking our first train in two weeks. Otherwise I will have four days once we are in Japan, so does it make sense to wait until I have a Suica card?
Hi there! Yes you can add the Suica card at a later date from the reservation details screen.
How about for 2 adults? Will the ticket we got is 2 as well? Or 1 ticket for 2 people? thnak you
Im trying to buy my ticket through smart-ex but for some reason I don't see the option to view seat map at 4:16 portion of the video. In fact, I don't see it anywhere even when I arrived at the last final step, how do I get reserve seat?
How do you connect your Sui a card to my Shinkansen ticket?
Hi! You mentioned in the video you can connect your suica card to Shinkansen. Is there a process for it? or do I just top up my suica and use it when I want to go through Shinkansen? Thanks in advance
Edit: I forgot to ask does it work for virtual suica as well? I am traveling in two weeks and I’m so excited!
On the member registration screen of Smart EX, there is a section for registering a transportation system IC card. (I think that is under the credit card registration section)
Enter the IC card number there (if it is Suica, enter the number starting with JE).
For Mobile Suica, if you are an iphone user, tap the i-mark on the screen when you start up your phone to confirm.
If you are an Android user, you can check it by tapping on something called Suica Management from the member menu (I don't know if this translation is correct as I don't know the English version of Suica's screen).
Then just put your IC card number into the Smart EX screen in the same way. (I am Japanese, so I used Deepl translation.）
Where do we find the QR code? My partner just bought tickets for our trip next year and we haven't received a QR code in the confirmation email we received after purchasing
How do I specify that I have oversized luggage when booking online?
¿Can you pick up the tickets purchase at the ekinet in the ticket machines or do you have to get them in the East JR line travel center in the Tokyo station?
So I try to Book a Ticket with a Transfer, do I really need 2 Tickets? For each of the Shinkansen rides? And can I buy e-Tickets if I have a suica Card just in my Apple wallet or do I need a physical one?
As with Suica on iPhone, it seems European visa cards are not accepted. But Mastercard works with both of them
I was confused by the basic fare! I thought you needed a basic fare AND the Shinkansen fare and I am usually able to work these things out.
Please help.
So I no longer need a basic fare to get on the Shinkansen?
I have been using it for years and had to adjust my tickets when I got to a station that I bought the tickets for. Confused! 😄😄🙄🙄
So I don't need to specify the basic fare, just tell the machine where I am going and it will decide?
Another question… sorry I’m just so lost 😅 I’m interested in the QR code from Tokyo to Kyoto. Does the Tokyo station have QR code scanners on the entry gate? Can we also book tickets in one purchase like I plan on going from Tokyo to Kyoto but then plan to return from Osaka to Tokyo. Can I reserve tickets like this?
Once purchased on Smart Ex, where can I find these machines to get thr paper ticket? We arrive late to Haneda and will go to out hotel in Yokohama. The next morning we will take the Shinkansen from yokohama to Osaka. I believe we have to go to shin-Yokohama to catch the train. Just now sure where I can get the paper ticket if prepurchased on Smart Ex. Thanks.
Hi there, am I am just wondering if I can buy a group ticket (3 persons)? Do you recommend Klook?
Hi! do I need the physical credit card to retriev the tickets from the machines?
Hi there, I'm trying to reserve a train ticket to go from Nagano to Kyoto. I was able to use the JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION, but then towards the end of the reservation I get a notification saying "Tickets cannot be received at Nagano Station" and that I should look for station where tickets can be received. Before then I will be in Tokyo, I don't see any options here to receive the tickets. Any ideas? Thanks ind avance.
How do you connect the shinkansen ticket to the suica?
when i booked thru smart ex apps how do i know on the seat will be on the right of left? i want to see mount fuji view from tokyo to osaka
Heads up @Tokyo Cheapo, Visas and Mastercards do not work to book tickets online.
Which is most people abroad.
As mentioned in the video we recommend Klook as the easiest option for buying tickets online, there should be no problem using credit cards there: tokyocheapo.com/yt/klook-shinkansen
@@tokyocheapo sadly Klook also has issues with some foreign cards 😅
If I buy ticket for tomorrow via website, can I collect the ticket one day before at ticket machine?
Thank you
I have a few questions, I hope someone can help me!!
For some context:
I’m having a two month travel in January and February, and I’m gonna be using Shinkansen quite a lot.. (which scares the sh*t out of me…)
I’m gonna be two weeks in Tokyo to begin with, and then I’ll fly to Fukuoka, from there I have to use Shinkansen.
I’m going from
Fukuoka to Hiroshima
Hiroshima to Osaka
Osaka to Nagoya
Nagoya to Tokyo
Questions:
-Would I be able to buy all the tickets needed for my entire trip in Tokyo? Or do I always need to buy them at the station that I am travelling from??
-last time I was in Japan, it was on a school trip and my teacher, bought our tickets for us, (this is my first time alone) I remember we sometimes got confused whether to put in our ticket from the “Shinkansen ticket machine” or to use our suica card and I also remembered that sometimes, we had to use both to get through?? Can anyone explain what that was about? and how to know when to use what?
-Last question, I’m having a big suitcase with me, so I should always choose a seat with “oversized baggage”??
Thank you!🙇♀️
Hi, question me and my husband will be in Japan this coming April for 3 nights only. It is worth buying a Suica card or just an individual ticket?
Hi there! If you're doing a reasonable amount of travel even in 3 days, the Suica card will make it a lot more seamless and convenient as you don't have to work out fares each time you hop on the train. If you have an iPhone, you can add Suica to your Apple wallet 😊
Does Smart Ex also charge a processing fee like Kloog?
thx, regards Josef
Namaste mam I have one question can I travel by suica card in shinkansen
Hi there! You can't use your Suica card to travel on the shinkansen in the same way you would for local trains. But you can purchase a shinkansen ticket online at one of the sites mentioned in the video and connect the ticket to your Suica card (using the number on the back of your Suica). That way, you can use your Suica card to tap in and out of the gates.