There may be some delays and cancellation of Shinkansen when unforeseen accidents or natural disaster occur in Japan.
However, tourists from outside Japan who don't speak Japanese often get left behind, since many of the announcements are often made in Japanese only.
Here, we have gathered information provided by Japan Railway, which will help you find the latest status of Shinkansen and other limited express trains.
Latest train Operation status can be searched from these links:
List of train numbers will be shown in these links when there's any cancellation or delay. No special message will be shown when everything is on schedule.
JR Central (Tokaido Shinkansen: Tokyo - Kyoto - Shin-Osaka)
https://traininfo.jr-central.co.jp/shinkansen/pc/en/index.html
JR West (Sanyo Shinkansen: Shin-Osaka - Okayama - Hiroshima - Hakata)
http://global.trafficinfo.westjr.co.jp/en/sanyo
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/
JR East
(Tohoku Shinkansen: Tokyo - Sendai - Akita - Shin-Aomori - Shin-Hakodate Hokuto)
(Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo - Karuizawa - Nagano - Toyama - Kanazawa)
http://traininfo.jreast.co.jp/train_info/e/service.aspx
Telephone-based Service is also available:
JR Central
+81-50-3772-3910 (or 050-3772-3910 from Japan)
Please press "3" while the guidance (in Japanese) is in operation. The operator will answer in Japanese, but an English speaking operator is standing by, so please talk to the operator in English and ask for the English translation.
JR East
+81-50-2016-1603 (English, Chinese and Korean) (or 050-2016-1603 from Japan)
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/infoline.html
For those who purchased tickets from us
For those who purchased tickets from us (Shinkansen-ticket.com, not from JR directly) and have the tickets in your hand, please check the information above and visit the ticket counter [みどりの窓口] at a JR station directly if you need to make any changes or cancellation, as you always need to have the tickets physically in order to make any changes or get refunds.
Please make sure to visit the counter BEFORE your departure time printed on the ticket (or actual departure time if the train is delayed), as the ticket becomes ineffective (will be exempt from the refund) once the train departs.
If your reserved train is cancelled, please bring your ticket to the ticket counter to get a refund.
If you are not able to make a change or get a refund at a ticket counter for any reason, please ask the staff at the counter to put a reimbursement stamp [払戻申出] to your ticket and have the tickets returned to our office address in Tokyo below:
Shinkansen-ticket.com
6th Floor, Konotora Building, 1-1-14 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 1530064, JAPAN
We will refund to you after we have received your tickets. Again, we need to have the ticket physically in order to make any refund.
(We will bring your returned ticket to the JR ticket counter and ask for a refund. The actual refund amount or % will be varied by the situation).
Regular seats used on Reserved cars and Unreserved cars of Shinkansen. Consider it as "economy class" seat.
Better seats with more space than ordinary seats. All Green Seats are reserved only. Consider it as "business class" seats.
Your seat is reserved and secured when you book your tickets. Head to the station with a peace of mind.
Seats are the same as Ordinary Seat.
Better seats and free blankets. Popular among Japanese business persons, executives and people who
Know as "First Class" of Shinkansen seats. Only available on Hokuriku and Tohoku Shinkansen lines.
You can take any open seats in unreserved cars of any train on the departure date. (No departure time will be indicated on your tickets.)
The best seat type if your priority is the cost and are traveling during less-crowded season/time.
For further information and photos, please visit official page at http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/types.html