How do you ride a limited express train in Japan?

For traveling on a Shinkansen (bullet train) or a Limited Express train, you need to purchase a super (limited) express train ticket in addition to a basic fare ticket. (When you will use a reserved seat, a super (limited) express reserved seat ticket is required.



Riding a Limited Express (Tokkyu) train in 2026 requires a specific ticketing process that differs from standard local trains. To board, you need two separate components: a Base Fare (Joshaken) and a Limited Express Surcharge (Tokkyuken). You can pay the base fare using a physical ticket or by tapping an IC card (like Suica or Pasmo) at the gates, but the surcharge must be purchased separately at a ticket machine or via a mobile app like SmartEX. Limited Express trains are faster than "Express" or "Rapid" trains because they stop only at major stations and offer more comfortable, forward-facing seats. When buying your surcharge ticket, you must choose between a Reserved Seat (Shitei-seki) or a Non-Reserved Seat (Jiyu-seki); in 2026, many popular lines (such as the Hitachi or Azusa) have moved to an "all-reserved" system where every passenger must have a specific seat assigned. Once on the train, keep your tickets ready for the conductor, and enjoy amenities like luggage racks and onboard toilets that are not usually found on standard commuter trains.

People Also Ask

The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.

MORE DETAILS

According to JR regulations, each passenger may bring up to two pieces of luggage onto trains, not including smaller bags. Each piece of luggage may not weigh more than 30kg, and its three dimensions (length, width and depth) may not add up to more than 250cm, while its length may not exceed 200cm.

MORE DETAILS

With your Japan Rail Pass The Hikari and Kodama trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen lines are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, and they can take you from Tokyo to Osaka in about 3 to 4 hours. In Tokyo, you can catch the Shinkansen either at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, and then arrive to Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The quickest way to travel from Kyoto to Osaka is via the Shinkansen. At Kyoto Station, Japan Rail Pass holders can board the Hikari and Kodama trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line for free, and arrive to Shin-Osaka Station after only a 15-minute ride.

MORE DETAILS

Tokyo to Osaka (Shin-Osaka) The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and a one-way ticket costs around ?13,000 (unreserved) or ?14,000 (reserved) for a seat in the ordinary car and ?20,000 for a seat in the green car.

MORE DETAILS

For instance the normal price for a green seat between Tokyo and Kyoto is ¥ 18,160 (Fare:¥ 7,980 Seat Fee:¥ 10,180). The fare will be covered by the JR Pass but not the seat fee, meaning that for this route your would have to pay ¥ 10,180.

MORE DETAILS

Even the Shinkansen (bullet trains) are equipped with several non-reserved seats cars that you can ride with your JR Pass, without booking ticket. However, it is recommended to book a seat in the Shinkansen when traveling during Japan's national holiday's periods.

MORE DETAILS