Can I change my Shinkansen time?

Yes you can change your reserved tickets at any time. Just go to the ticket window at any JR station and tell the staff you wish to make a change.



Yes, you can change your Shinkansen time, but the rules depend on your ticket type and whether you have already "issued" the physical ticket. In 2026, if you booked through the SmartEX or JR-West Online systems, you can change your reservation as many times as you like for free via the app, provided the train has not departed and you haven't picked up a paper ticket. If you have a standard physical ticket purchased at a station, you are allowed one free change to a different time or date at any "Midori-no-madoguchi" (ticket office). After the first change, further adjustments require a refund and a new purchase, involving a fee (typically 340 to 560 yen). If you miss your reserved train, your ticket is still valid for "Non-Reserved" (unreserved) seats on any later train of the same category on the same day, but you lose the right to a specific assigned seat. Note that "Hayatoku" (early bird) discounted tickets often have stricter "no-change" policies, so always check the fine print on your booking.

People Also Ask

What should I do if I book a seat on a Shinkansen and miss it? Can I just get on the next train and go to the unreserved area? You can ride on unreserved car of later Shinkansen trains on the same day. If you have a JR Pass - you can get on the next available Shinkansen **that the pass is valid for.

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The high speed railway is called the Shinkansen and is known for its safety and reliability. In addition, the Shinkansen is well known for punctuality. As a matter of fact, the average delay of trains is less than one minutes every year.

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The official rule is that you can still travel but have to use a non-reserved seat. Though JR Staff generally will issue new reservations for you if a train is not crowded. There is no penalty for missed trains or for re-booking a ticket.

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Note that for the Shinkansen, you need a “super (limited) express” ticket in addition to the basic fare ticket for that route (we sell these as a set). Do Shinkansen tickets sell out? Yes, especially for weekend travel and during peak seasons, Shinkansen services can be fully booked.

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Advance tickets are only valid for travel on the specific date and time of the train selected when booked. The ticket will not be valid on other trains and you may be required to buy a new ticket if you travel on a different train than the one booked.

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Speak to the train staff to find out if you can board the next train with your existing ticket, they may advise you to go to the ticket office at the next station to exchange you ticket for a new one, free of charge. If you are traveling with one of the following carriers.

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Shinkansen or bullet train In only about 2 hours and 30 minutes, it can take you from Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka to Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. However, it is not covered by your JR Pass, and you must purchase a one-way ticket that costs 13,620 yen (unreserved seat) or 14,650 yen (reserved seat).

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All Shinkansen trains are covered by the JR Pass. The Nozomi and Mizuho high-speed trains (Tokaido and Sanyo lines) are also included, subject to purchase of a special complementary ticket. JR Pass holders wishing to travel free on these lines can board local and semi-fast trains.

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The Japan Rail Pass gives you access to JR train lines countrywide, with very few exceptions. With your pass, you can take unlimited rides on most shinkansen (bullet trains), as well as on rapid, express and local JR trains.

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Some trains do not have non-reserved seats (all seats are reserved). There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line (Shin-Osaka—Hakata), or on Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line.

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