How do you board a Shinkansen with JR Pass?

With a national Japan Rail Pass, you can travel on many (but not all) Shinkansen without making prior reservations. Just board one of the non reserved cars - these are marked ??? - pronounced jiyuseki. Take any unoccupied seat, or stand if there are none available.



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With a JAPAN RAIL PASS, you can go through the automatic ticket gates. Many JR stations have automatic ticket gates. When going through the gate, insert the JAPAN RAIL PASS into the slot. After passing through the gate, do not forget to pick up the PASS after it comes out on the other side.

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When boarding directly from a Shinkansen station, please insert your tickets into the Shinkansen ticket gate prior to boarding. Your tickets are required for on-board ticket checks and exiting the station at your destination. Please do not lose or forget to take your tickets.

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When boarding directly from a Shinkansen station, please insert your tickets into the Shinkansen ticket gate prior to boarding. Your tickets are required for on-board ticket checks and exiting the station at your destination. Please do not lose or forget to take your tickets.

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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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Pick up your tickets from a ticket vending machine at the Shinkansen transfer entrance. First insert your ticket into the Shinkansen ticket gate, then touch your registered IC card. The fare for the conventional line will be deducted from the balance on your IC card.

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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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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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Each person will need their own JR Pass.

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If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a JR Pass. However, if you take into account journeys on Shinkansen high-speed trains or other means of transport, the savings you make become substantial.

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With your Japan Rail Pass The cities of Tokyo and Kyoto are linked to each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line. A one-way trip from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station on a Hikari or Kodama train costs 13,080 yen (unreserved seat) or 13,800 yen (reserved seat), but is completely free with a JR Pass.

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Eating and drinking on Japanese trains You should eat on trains only when taking a long-distance train, such as the Shinkansen. These types of trains have a tray and cup holder at every seat, and snacks are sold from a vendor trolley. When taking this type of train, it is also acceptable to bring your own food.

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When boarding the Shinkansen, the following regulations apply: You may bring up to two pieces of baggage on board free of charge. For each bag the total of the length, width and height must not exceed 250 centimetres, the length must not exceed two meters and the weight must be no more than 30 kilograms.

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