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Ticket Instructions
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Ticket Instructions

Thank you for choosing our service! Here's everything you need to know about using and boarding with the tickets we've delivered to you.

Published March 27, 2019 · Last updated September 8, 2026

Getting on board

Taking the Shinkansen

Arrive early. Get to your departure station before your scheduled time — ideally at least 30 minutes early, since finding your platform can take longer than expected.

Go straight to your platform. There's no need to activate your ticket or buy anything extra at a ticket counter.

Keep your ticket on you. You'll need it again to exit at your destination station.

Don't lose it. We're unable to reissue tickets, so take care to keep it safe.

Plans changed?

If something doesn't go as planned

Tap the situation that matches yours.

Missed your reserved train?

For Reserved tickets only: you can use your ticket for an unreserved seat, in an unreserved cabin, on a later train scheduled for the same day.

Want to change your train's date or time?

You can change your train's date and/or time as long as it's done before the departure time shown on your ticket.

To make this change, visit a ticket counter at any JR station.

If you're unable to change the ticket, or run into communication difficulties with station staff, purchase a new ticket directly at the station, then follow the cancellation process for your original ticket. Provided you complete those steps, we'll arrange a refund for you at a later date.
Need to cancel your ticket?

As stated in our Cancellation & Refunds Page, Paper Tickets cannot be cancelled once shipped, in principle.

As an exception, if your ticket is unused, you may be eligible for a refund by following our unused ticket refund procedure. Refund amounts vary depending on the timing and circumstances of your cancellation.

Lost your ticket, or left it in your country?

Please follow our lost ticket repurchase procedure to complete the necessary steps.

Seating

How to check for an oversized luggage space

Seat number showing an S mark indicating an oversized luggage space

If there's an "S" at the far right of your seat number, your seat has an oversized luggage space. If you requested a large luggage space, check for this mark.

Japanese tickets

How to read your ticket

For tickets printed in Japanese, here's how to read each part — it's simple once you know what's written.

Sample Japanese Shinkansen ticket with numbered sections
1

Departing station — see the station name list below.

2

Arrival station — see the station name list below.

3

Departure date — 月 means "month," 日 means "day."

4

Departure time

5

Arrival time

6

Train type & number — のぞみ (Nozomi), ひかり (Hikari), or こだま (Kodama), followed by a train number.

7

Car & seat number — 号車 marks the car number, followed by the seat number and letter.

Example: The ticket above is from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, departing 18:00 and arriving 20:33 on July 3rd, train Nozomi 121, Car 9, Seat 3C.

Station name list

東京Tokyo
品川Shinagawa
新横浜Shin-Yokohama
小田原Odawara
三島Mishima
新富士Shin-Fuji
名古屋Nagoya
京都Kyoto
新大阪Shin-Osaka
新神戸Shin-Kobe
姫路Himeji
広島Hiroshima
博多Hakata
鹿児島中央Kagoshima Chuo

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