How to Board the Shinkansen with a QR Voucher
Your QR Voucher is not a ticket yet. Exchange it for paper tickets at a ticket machine in the station — it takes about 3 minutes. This guide shows you exactly how.
About your QR Voucher
After your purchase, you received a QR Voucher by email. One QR code covers your whole group (up to 6 passengers) — all tickets print together at the machine.
Step 1 — Find the right ticket machine
Your QR code can be read only by ticket machines operated by JR East or JR Central. It cannot be read by JR West machines.
✓ CAN USE
✓ CAN USE
⚠️ Stations where you CAN or CANNOT collect tickets
Your QR Voucher was issued via Eki-net. It can only be exchanged at ticket machines in the green areas on the map below. If your trip includes cities in the gray areas — such as Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, or Hakata — you will not be able to collect your tickets there. Plan to collect all your tickets before you arrive in these areas
| Area / Station | Can you collect at your departure station? |
|---|---|
| Sapporo, New Chitose Airport, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, Otaru etc... | ✓ YES |
| Tokyo, Nagoya, Sendai, Nagano, and other eastern Japan major stations | ✓ YES |
| Kanazawa, Toyama, Tsuruga, Hida | ✓ YES |
| Kyoto / Shin-Osaka (Shinkansen gate machines only — see notes below) | ✓ YES |
| Shin_Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata, and other cities further west | ✗ NO |
⚠️ Important: Kyoto & Shin-Osaka stations
These stations are shared with JR West, whose machines cannot read your QR code. Use the machines near the Shinkansen gates (operated by JR Central).
At KYOTO Station
| Location | Can you use it? |
|---|---|
| Machines near the Shinkansen gates (Hachijo Exit / Shinkansen Central Exit) | ✓ YES |
| Machines near the Karasuma Exit | ✗ NO |
At SHIN-OSAKA Station
| Location | Can you use it? |
|---|---|
| Machines near the Shinkansen gates | ✓ YES |
| Machines near the local train platforms | ✗ NO |
Step 2 — Issue your tickets (3 easy steps)
Use the language button at the top of the screen, then tap "Read QR code" at the bottom central.
Hold your QR code over the camera reader at the bottom right of the machine. Your phone screen works fine — turn the brightness up.
Your paper tickets print automatically — tickets for the whole group print together. You're ready to board!
If the QR code doesn't scan
- On the machine, select "Receive using a pickup code."
- Enter your pickup code (up to 17 digits).
- Press "Confirm" — your tickets print as usual.
Need help? Show this to station staff
Changing your seat at the ticket machine — for oversized baggage area or a Mt. Fuji side seat
Travelling with large luggage? You can reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area at no extra charge. You can also pick a seat on the Mt. Fuji side — seats D and E in Reserved cars, or seats C and D in Green Reserved cars. Just use the ticket machine after collecting your paper tickets.
Exchange your QR Voucher for paper tickets at the station ticket machine (see Step 2 above).
Back on the Home screen, select “Seat reservation with coupon ticket / Change of reserved seat.”
Choose “Change reserved seat” and insert all printed tickets when prompted.
Select a seat with an oversized baggage area, or a seat on the Mt. Fuji side (seats D–E in Reserved cars, C–D in Green Reserved cars) — subject to availability. Collect your new tickets and keep them for your journey.
Step 3 — Board your train
Insert your ticket(s) into the Shinkansen gate. If you have two tickets, insert both at the same time. Take your tickets back after passing through — you'll need them to exit at your arrival station.
How to read your printed tickets: JR Central's official guide
