jr tokai tours platt kodama

Platt Kodama for Foreign Residents?

• April 6, 2023

I’m planning to visit Tokyo from Osaka for a couple of days during Golden Week and trying to do it as economically as possible, but the return fare for the Shinkansen is nearly 2.8万, on top of the 1万 for the Tokyo Wide Area Pass I need to get for going travelling to Nikko, Izu, Kamakura & Fujiyama.

I considered a highway bus before remembering I can’t sleep at all on Willer Express and 9 hours on one would be tantamount to physchological torture, but then I came across the ‘Platt Kodama’ ticket, and for ¥6000 cheaper than the standard return fare, I’m more than willing to spend an extra hour on a Kodama train watching the world go by.

My only question (and apologies if the answer is stupidly obvious) is: are foreign residents eligible to use it? It’s a fact that virtually all the options for discounted rail travel here are reserved solely for foreign & international tourists (and I hope the JR executive who decided us gaijins can’t use the Kansai Wide Area Pass anymore finds a fingernail in his miso soup every morning), but there’s no information on JR Central’s website that specificially states whether we can use it or not?

Many thanks.

*Edit: I’m incapable of Maths. The Shinkansen costs 2.8万,* ***not*** *28万.*

• Living in Japan
• Residents in Japan

It’s a general ticketing option available to the travelling public regardless of nationality or residence status.

How is the Osaka-Tokyo shinkansen 28man!?!

You do know that 万 = 10,000 right? Shinkansen 28万 = 280,000…

Platt kodama should be available for foreigners

Flying is almost always cheaper than the Shinkansen (although depending on where you live/how you plan to get to/from the airport it might be roughly the same factoring in transport to/from the airport)

Shinkansen is generally more expensive because it’s more convenient to ride, no need to show up 2 hours before your departure and deal with baggage and check in and security and all that

Sorry this isn’t the question you’re asking but might be worth checking if it could save any significant amount of money

The Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen also has slightly discounted tickets if you confirm your reservation at least 21 days (Hayatoku 21), or 3 days (Hayatoku), in advance. You can read a bit more about it [here]( https://smart-ex.jp/en/product/ ).

But, do also note that golden week is peak travel period, so you might like to try to find out when exactly do the tickets for your travel date(s) will open, and jump on them first thing they become available online… More so if you’re traveling with luggage.

Might even be good to register yourself with [Smart-EX]( https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php ), and figure out how the app works before then.

Yes, anyone can use it. I used it last year and found it quite nice even with the added time. I think JR Tokai Tours’ Japanese website has more information than JR Central, but it functions basically the same as a normal shinkansen ticket.

Yes, I’ve used it a few times, although I think the English website no longer works so you have to use the Japanese one.

Also, as far as I know the Kansai Excursion pass is still sold to any foreigner, even residents ([JR West]( https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_wide_excursion/ ) and [kkday travel agent]( https://www.kkday.com/en/product/119079 ) or others)

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Japan welcomes increased NATO involvement in Indo-Pacific region

Recommendations for home maker or architect/construction companies in hyogo, you may also like, limit to spouse visa extensions.

• December 12, 2023
• No comments

Anyone else finding Rakuten Link to have become almost completely unusable?

• October 10, 2022

Weekly Praise Thread – 15 September 2023

• September 14, 2023
• 17 comments

COVID-19 Coronavirus Notice

Friday, december 2, 2016, know your trains: tokaido shinkansen.

• Tokyo / Shinagawa: The largest city in Japan and the world.
• Shin-Yokohama: Japan's second-largest city, with one of the country's most famous Chinatowns.
• Odawara: Gateway to the Hakone hot springs resort area.
• Mishima / Shin-Fuji: Gateways to Mt. Fuji from western cities.
• Nagoya: An economic centre with industrial and historical sites.
• Kyoto: Japan's history-laden former capital city.
• Shin-Osaka: The economic and culinary centre of the Kansai region.
• Nozomi services are NOT covered by the Japan Rail Pass.  Even if you have a JR Pass active, if you take one of these trains, you must pay the full fare out of pocket .  On the Tokaido line, services are marked by different colours on signboards.  If you're using a JR Pass, beware of yellow text/backgrounds -- this denotes a Nozomi train!
• The "Platt Kodama" travel plan , offered by JR Tokai Tours, is a package which includes a ticket for a one-way ride on any Kodama train, and a voucher one free soft drink or beer.  This package can save users ¥2,000 to ¥4,000 over regular fares.
• Multiple regional passes sold by JR East and JR West cover some regular trains in the areas crossed by the Tokaido Shinkansen, but do not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen itself, which is instead owned by JR Central.
• If departing from, or arriving at, Tokyo, you may want to consider using Shinagawa Station instead of the eponymous Tokyo Station.  Shinagawa serves some of the same JR lines as Tokyo (Yamanote (JY) , Keihin-Tohoku (JK) , Tokaido (JT) , and Yokosuka (JO) ), but is somewhat smaller and more manageable.  It also serves the Keikyu Main Line, which goes to Haneda Airport on one end, and through the Asakusa Subway (A) line on the other.
• Some Kodama trains terminate at Nagoya.  If you wish to use a Kodama train to get to Kyoto or Osaka, please be mindful of your train's terminal station before boarding.
• Most trains continue beyond Shin-Osaka station on to the San'yo Shinkansen.  Most Nozomi trains terminate at Hakata Station in Fukuoka, and Hikari trains terminate at Okayama or Hiroshima stations.
• Do not confuse Shin-Osaka Station with Osaka (a.k.a. Umeda) Station. The latter is closer to the city centre, but is not served by the Shinkansen.  The two are still close together and are linked by the JR Kyoto (A) line (4 minutes, ¥160) and the OsakaMetro Midosuji (M) subway (6 minutes, ¥230).
• On the older 700-Series trains, cars #10, 15, and 16 are smoking.  All cars are non-smoking on the newer and more common N700-Series trains; smoking rooms are available at the ends of certain cars.
• It is possible to see Mount Fuji from the Tokaido Shinkansen, between Mishima and Shin-Fuji stations.  Look to the right when heading for Osaka, or to the left when bound for Tokyo.  If you wish to reserve a seat where you can see Mt. Fuji, get a seat in row E for regular cars, or row D for Green Cars; this is true whether the train is going to or from Tokyo.
• The name Tokaido (東海道, Tōkaidō) means "eastern sea road" in English.  It originally referred to a road linking Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period .  The old road roughly paralleled the modern-day Tokaido Main Line and Tokaido Shinkansen.
• The name Kodama (こだま) means "echo" in English.  It was previously used for a limited express service, running between Tokyo and Osaka in under 7 hours one-way.  At the time, this was the first train service with which it was possible to travel from Tokyo to Osaka and back in one day, hence the name "echo".  It operated from 1958 to 1964, ending the day before the Tokaido Shinkansen launched.
• The name Hikari (ひかり) means "light" in English.  It was previously used for a limited express service, running between Fukuoka and Beppu.  Like the old Kodama, it operated from 1958 to 1964, ending the day before the Tokaido Shinkansen launched.
• The name Nozomi (のぞみ) means "hope" or "wish" in English.  The Nozomi service was added in 1992, and used faster trains to cut the time between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka from 3 hours to 2½ hours.  Hikari used to have a similar limited-stop pattern as the Nozomi; additional stops were added to the Hikari's schedules to let Nozomi trains pass.

JR Tokai Tours launches “EX Travel Pack Day Trip Plan” and “Platte Kodama,” which allow ticketless boarding on Shinkansen trains.

JR Tokai Tours will release “EX Travel Pack Day Trip Plan” and “Platte Kodama” at 10:00 a.m. on February 1, 2012.

JR Tokai Tours “EX Travel Pack Day Trip Plan

The “Zurashi-Tabi One-Day Plan,” a special one-day Zurashi-Tabi package that includes a reserved round-trip Shinkansen seat that allows ticket-less boarding and a Zurashi-Tabi experience coupon of your choice, is now on sale. Reservations can be made until 9:00 p.m. the day before, and the train can be changed as many times as necessary before departure.

Plans other than the “Zurashi-Tabi One Day Plan” will be released in due course.

Applicable departure dates: Departures from February 2 to March 31, 2024

*Scheduled to go on sale sequentially from mid-February for departures in April and thereafter.

Directions: Tokyo, Yokohama, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, etc.

© Source travel watch

Auto Amazon Links: No products found.

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Travel Tips
• Transportation

All About Flex Rail Tickets: Discounted Bullet Train Tickets for Foreign Residents in Japan!

International visitors to Japan can enjoy highly discounted travel throughout Japan thanks to the Japan Rail Pass system. Foreign residents in Japan, however, often realize that getting anywhere on the bullet train without a pass can be seriously expensive. Bullet train discounts are usually pretty hard to come by, but there is a little-known system that gives foreign residents and travelers alike up to 25% off tickets between destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto. Read on for all you need to know about the Flex Rail Ticket package via JR Tokai Tours!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

How Flex Rail Tickets Work

The Flex Rail Ticket is a rail pass offered by JR Tokai Tours  for the Tokaido line between Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Mt Fuji (Mishima Station) and Hakone (Odawara Station).

The tickets are designed as a kind of tour package, and because of this, there are some restrictions. For one, you can only buy return tickets, and your return trip also needs to be within seven days. The tour package actually has no tour included. Instead, you get some discount coupons to use during your trip. And although it's called a tour, there is no minimum group size, so you can use this pass for solo holidays or even work trips, too. 

Unlike some other discount tickets and rail passes, you can choose any train you like. This includes the Nozomi, the fastest train on the Tokaido line that connects Tokyo to Kyoto in 2 hours and 20 minutes. Seats are non-reserved, which should be kept in mind if you're traveling in busy times. You should also be aware that the pass is not available during the peak New Year's period from December 25th to January 5th.

You will need to show your foreign passport when booking, but unlike the Japan Rail Pass, there's no residence restrictions, so exchange students and expats in Japan can take advantage of it too. Unfortunately, Japanese passport holders are not able to take advantage of the discount. We'll give another option below that covers Japanese citizens, too!

Pricing and Where to Buy

The below diagram shows prices to Tokyo from Shin-Osaka Station, Kyoto Station, or Nagoya Station. To give a sense of the discount, a regular price of a return trip in a non-reserved seat between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is 27,240 yen. As you can see, the Flex Rail Ticket equates to around a 25% discount. For full pricing details, visit the Flex Rail Ticket page for your destination.

Tickets are only available in person at JR Tokai Tour outlets. In Tokyo, these are located within Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, and also at the Shinjuku branch of JR Tokai Tours, which is around a 7-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. They are also available at branches in Shin-Yokohama Station, Nagoya Station, Kyoto Station, and Osaka Station. For more information about the locations, you can see the JR Tokai Tour branch directory here . 

While the tickets aren't available online, you can simply buy a ticket at the station on your travel date, so there's no need to make a special trip to buy them. You will need to show your foreign passport to demonstrate eligibility, so if you're a foreign resident who doesn't usually keep it on your person, make sure you remember to bring it with you on the day.

Since tickets aren't reserved, you can simply board any train that suits your schedule after purchase. As we mentioned, there are no restrictions on trains, so we'd recommend taking advantage and picking the fastest available!

Alternative Bullet Train Discounts

While the Flex Rail Ticket can cover a lot of bases for residents in Japan, the fact that it is only available as a return ticket that must be used within seven days means it's not as suitable for longer, one-way, or open-jaw trips.

An alternative option also offered by JR Tokai Tours is the Platt Kodama ticket . This is even more affordable than the Flex Rail Ticket, and can be purchased one-way to suit your needs. Travelling between Tokyo and Osaka is only going to cost you 10,700 yen, and between Tokyo and Nagoya is just 8,500 yen. Upgrading your trip into the first-class Green Car seats only costs an extra 1,000 yen between Tokyo and Nagoya, and 1,500 yen between Tokyo and Osaka. This ticket also comes with a free voucher for a beer or soft drink.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of trade-offs, the biggest being that your travel is restricted to the slowest Kodama train. You also must buy the ticket at least a day in advance, and seats are reserved on a specific train with no rescheduling allowed. There are also some surcharges during peak periods. For more information, visit the Platt Kodama page at JR Tokai Tours.

Still, if you have firm travel plans and don't mind kicking back on the shinkansen for an extra hour or two, this is a pretty flexible discount that can be used by foreign residents and Japanese citizens alike. The Platt Kodama must also be bought in person at the JR Tokai Tours outlets mentioned above.

Save Money on Travel Within Japan!

We hope this overview of the Flex Rail Pass helps you save some money on your next trip within Japan. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, it's good to know your options and to keep in mind that you don't always have to pay full price for bullet train tickets!

For more information about the shinkansen, including details on the Japan Rail Pass for international tourists in Japan, check out our complete guide below!

Header Image: Ampika Muangthong / Shutterstock

If you want to give feedback on any of our articles, you have an idea that you'd really like to see come to life, or you just have a question on Japan, hit us up on our  Facebook ,  Twitter , or  Instagram !

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

tsunagu Japan Newsletter

Subscribe to our free newsletter and we'll show you the best Japan has to offer!

• bullet train

About the author

Related Articles

Related interests.

• Cars & car rental
• Coin lockers & luggage storage
• Accessibility
• Trains & stations
• Travel passes

Restaurant Search

Tsunagu japan sns.

Subscribe to the tsunagu Japan Newsletter

Sign up to our free newsletter to discover the best Japan has to offer.

Connect with Japan through tsunagu Japan

Let us introduce you to the best of Japan through our free newsletter: sightseeing spots, delicious food, deep culture, best places to stay, and more!

Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

Hacking the Shinkansen | How to Cheaply Use the Bullet Train

• August 11, 2017
• Travel Tips

The Shinkansen or bullet train is by far the most comfortable and convenient way to travel between Japan’s major cities. Unfortunately with great convenience comes great costs; the Shinkansen is far from being the most budget-friendly option. Furthermore, many travelers who are intent on staying longer than a just week or two may also be hesitant to fork out a lot of money for a Japan Rail Pass (which are now much more expensive as of Oct 2023).

Luckily though, JR East offers some great deals on shinkansen tickets, a fact that is still relatively unknown among international travelers. If you’re willing to forgo the lightning fast speeds of the Nozomi trains for the slower Kodama , there’s a great deal called the “Platt Kodama.” For those on a budget, this hack can sometimes mean the difference between seeing another city or not!

You’ll end up adding some travel time to the trip but the fare is about 3,600 yen cheaper than normal prices. Furthermore, you can also upgrade to the Green Car for only an additional 1,500 yen! This means you can travel in comfort all the way to Osaka on the Green Car for a lot less than the normal price. You’ll even get a drink voucher to enjoy a beer or soft drink en route.

The Plat Kodama option is also great for travelers who wish to explore some of the lesser-known destinations in between Tokyo and Osaka. With just a simple transfer, destinations like Odawara, Hakone and the Izu peninsula are all easily within reach. If you’re sick of dealing with crowds of tourists, I highly suggest checking some of these spots out on your next trip!

English information on how to purchase the Platt Kodama tickets is available online at JR Tokai Tours’ official website . Note that tickets are only valid on the Tokaido route from Tokyo to Osaka and must be purchased at least one day before the date of travel.

For those exploring western Japan, JR West also has some discounts for Kodama Shinkansen. While it’s no comparison to the Platt Kodama, parents traveling west of Osaka are eligible for 1,500 yen children seats. Furthermore there are also adult deals for mom and dad too but they come with a catch; the tickets are not available for solo travelers. You’ll need at least two people in your party to buy.

Like with the aforementioned deals, these must also be purchased at least a day in advance. You can reserve any time within one month of your date of travel via the website . The code name for the ticket is e5489 but unfortunately their website is only in Japanese. Instead of relying on Google Translate, I suggest you instead visit a major JR Station and ask them to make the reservation for you.

Be forewarned that not all routes are available for a discounted fare. If you are departing from Osaka for example, you will not be able to get discounted fares to relatively close stops such as Kobe, Nishi-Akashi, or Himeji. Put another way, the only routes departing from Osaka which are available for the discount are the stops between Okayama and Hiroshima.

Lastly for those traveling even further west, there’s one more hack you can use. While it is possible to just buy an onward Shinkansen ticket departing from Hiroshima to Hakata, the travel agency KNT offers an even better 7,300 yen deal on Osaka to Hakata Shinkansen fares. The catch is that the reservation must be done no less than 4 days in advance and again the website is all in Japanese.

If you’re already in Japan when trying to book these, your hotel or hostel staff may be able to assist you. Alternatively, there is also always the option of walking into a KNT office should there be one nearby. Usually travel agencies have offices in or around major train stations. The Kansai region for example has shops in Kyoto, Kobe and Himeji as well as several in Osaka.

If you do decide to make a visit in person, be sure to check out some of their other deals. They often have a number of offers at excellent discount that you might want to consider as well!

Until next time travelers…

Subscribe to My Newsletter

Donny Kimball

I'm a travel writer and freelance digital marketer who blogs about the sides of Japan that you can't find in the mainstream media.

Niigata's Murakami City: Enjoy Fun Events, Sightseeing, and Local Cuisine!

We use cookies to improve our contents. Check the detail and update your settings here .

We use cookies to improve our services.

For more details, please click here .

• Change setting
• Food & Drink
• Accommodation
• Things To Do
• All the categories

Transportation

• Weather & Seasons
• Long-Term Stay
• Travel Tips
• Event Tickets
• About MATCHA
• Company Profile
• Things To Do in Kyoto
• Food & Drink in Kyoto
• MATCHA Special Features

How to Travel to Kyoto From Tokyo: The Fastest and Cheapest Ways

There are five travel options to reach Kyoto from Tokyo! Read on for a comprehensive guide on costs and travel time as we compare the pros and cons of each transportation method.

Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto

Photo by Pixta Many people traveling to Japan are probably interested in visiting Kyoto .

Kyoto prospered as the capital of Japan from 794 to 1869. It is currently one of the world’s leading travel destinations where you can experience the traditional beauty of Japan. Thanks to being close by, you can also have fun traveling from the old capital to Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city.

Kyoto is slightly closer to Tokyo than Osaka, with the direct distance between the two cities around 372 kilometers . There are several transportation methods that only a popular travel destination would have.

Book the JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days) on KLOOK

Table of Contents:

Travel Time and Price Comparison 1. Shinkansen (Bullet Train): Convenient and Comfortable 2. Highway Bus: For Affordable Travel 3. Airplane: Take into Account Airport Travel Times for Flights 4. Regular Trains: Get On and Off the Train as You Please 5. Rental Car: For Driving Enthusiasts Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Time and Price Comparison

This is a comprehensive guide on travel time and price among transportation methods from Tokyo to Kyoto. Learn the pros and cons of each method and find the one that best suits your itinerary!

We recommend the Shinkansen (bullet train) if you value speed and comfort. If you prefer saving money, then we recommend taking the highway bus. You can experience a completely different atmosphere in Kyoto than in Tokyo, so please try venturing out of the modern-day capital.

The Convenient and Comfortable Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

The most convenient way to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto is via the Shinkansen (bullet train). Take the Nozomi train from JR Tokyo Station to JR Kyoto Station, and the travel time will be about two hours and 10 minutes. It costs 14,170 yen one-way (price of reserved seats as of April 2023).

The Shinkansen is relatively quiet, with little to no shaking. Therefore, you can relax on a comfortable ride in clean seats. We recommend this method for those interested in traveling between the cities in a short amount of time and hoping to preserve their strength for later . There are also English announcements in the passenger cars.

Shinkansen Types and Prices

There are three types of trains—the Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama—on the Tokaido Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo and Kyoto. The respective trains have different station stops and travel times.

The Nozomi is the fastest train line, arriving at Kyoto Station in two hours and 10 minutes. Kyoto Station is the fourth stop from Tokyo Station.

The Hikari takes two hours and 50 minutes, while the Kodama requires three hours and 40 minutes. Prices, however, will be slightly lower at 13,850 yen if you take either the Hikari or Kodama.

How to Save Money Riding the Shinkansen

Picture from: Japan Rail Pass Guide - How and Where to Buy, Merits, and Tips

Tickets can be purchased at a lower price through Platt Kodama (Japanese), provided by JR Tokai Tours, for 10,700 yen (prices increase during peak seasons). This cost reflects a reserved seat on an ordinary car on a Kodama train.

However, there are limitations. The registration deadline is 22:00 the day before your desired departure date. Please remember that no changes can be made to the date of use, train, route, or reserved seats.

On the other hand, we recommend using the Japan Rail Pass , an unlimited ride pass, for interantional visitors planning to travel to other cities outside of Tokyo and Kyoto. This pass grants you unlimited rides on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and JR train lines across Japan for an amazing deal.

Please take a look at Klook and related articles below for details on the Japan Rail Pass’ coverage range and prices. Make sure to keep in mind that you can only take Hikari and Kodama trains on the Shinkansen with the Japan Rail Pass.

Book the JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass): How to Buy and Use, Price, and Benefits

Take the highway bus for affordable travel.

Do you value affordable prices? Then we recommend the highway bus .

There are various options available. It takes anywhere between six to eight hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, with costs ranging from 2,000 to over 10,000 yen. For example, a search conducted in April 2023 shows that a bus from WILLER TRAVEL is 3,900 yen on weekdays.

Travelers have the option of booking a day or night bus. The night bus often departs from Tokyo between 23:00-24:00 and arrives in Kyoto between 6:00-7:00 the next morning. The fact that you won’t need to spend money on accommodation the night you travel is great.

A highway bus won’t be as comfortable as the Shinkansen. However, there has been an increase in comfortable buses in recent years that provide bathrooms, reclining seats, electrical outlets, and free Wi-Fi.

There are various platforms for buses bound for Kyoto, including JR Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit or the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal at JR Shinjuku Station South Exit. On the other hand, the arrival destination in Kyoto is mainly the Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit.

Highway Bus Reservations: WILLER TRAVEL

Take into Account Airport Travel Times for Flights

Kyoto does not have an airport. If you wish to travel by plane, you will need to fly to either Kansai International Airport (KIA) or Itami Airport (Osaka International Airport, ITM) in Osaka and transfer by train or bus from the airport.

Main Routes and Prices

The table below shows the results from a search on Skyticket in mid-April 2023 on airline companies and ticket prices.

By traveling on an LCC, or low-cost carrier (i.e., Peach or Jetstar), departing from Narita Airport to Kansai International Airport as indicated below, it sometimes is more affordable than a Shinkansen to Kansai International Airport.

Travel Time and Price Comparisons from the Airport to Kyoto

It’s also important to consider the time and money spent going to and from the airport if you travel by plane.

It takes an hour and 20 minutes from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto Station by the limited express Haruka, costing 3,110 yen. It takes 50 minutes by bus from Itami Airport to Kyoto Station and costs 1,340 yen. However, it takes an hour and costs around 1,000 yen if you take the monorail or train.

It costs 1,300 yen by bus from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport. Once all these costs are included, flying via an LCC to Kansai International Airport could be slightly more affordable than the Shinkansen.

However, flying by plane is time-consuming once you add the time it takes to travel to the airport, check in for your flight, check any luggage, then claim your luggage after landing. A plane may be faster than the Shinkansen if you’re only looking at the time on board. But the time it takes as a whole is not shorter than the Shinkansen. Outside of circumstances like visiting places near Itami Airport or Kansai International Airport, there may not be any benefits to flying from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Get On and Off the Train as You Please

There is the option of taking a local train if you don't mind a londer travel time. Taking a local train costs 8,360 yen from Tokyo to Kyoto and takes around eight hours .

Discount Seishun 18 Kippu Tickets

Instead of traveling directly to Kyoto, are you interested in stopping by various local cities while hopping on and off the train? Then purchasing the Seishun 18 Kippu is a great option. The price for a ticket is 12,050 yen (as of March 2023, adults and children are the same price).

The ticket permits passengers to hop on and off the train as they please with non-reserved seats in ordinary cars on any local or rapid JR train in Japan . A separate charge will apply to take a limited express train, which is not included in the ticket’s coverage.

However, you need to pay attention when using this ticket because ticket sales and validity periods are limited to three times a year during spring, summer, and winter . For example, the sales and validity periods for 2023 are indicated below:

Sales and Validity Period Spring Sales Period: February 20 - March 31, 2023 Validity Period: March 1 - April 10, 2023

Summer Sales Period: July 1 - August 31, 2023 Validity Period: July 20 - September 10, 2023

Winter Sales Period: December 1 - December 31, 2023 Validity Period: December 10, 2023 - January 10, 2024

Destinations like Hakone and Nagoya are located along the route between Tokyo and Kyoto. Wouldn't it be fun to venture off into one of these popular travel destinations?

Enjoy Driving? Then We Recommend a Car

Photo by Pixta

When taking the expressway from Tokyo to Kyoto, the travel time is around five hours without any rest stops. The highway toll fees cost 10,070 yen once the ETC card discount is applied. Additionally, please calculate and account for gasoline over a 500-kilometer distance.

This method isn’t more affordable than other travel methods when considering the total cost and travel time. On the other hand, we recommend a car if you have a lot of luggage or traveling with children, friends, or a large group!

Do you want to travel to Kyoto with some leeway or make pit stops with friends in a camping-car? Then why not consider this option?

MATCHA offers a 10% discount coupon for overseas visitors when renting a car from Nippon Rent-A-Car, one of Japan’s leading car rental companies.

There are numerous Nippon Rent-A-Car offices in Itami Airport, Kansai International Airport, and Kyoto. Are you planning to rent a car after arriving in Kyoto by plane or Shinkansen? Then be sure to check out this deal!

Coupon Included! How to Rent a Car in Japan: A Guide for International Visitors

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: are there periods when tickets for the shinkansen (bullet train), plane, or highway bus are cheaper or more expensive.

A: LCCs (low-cost carriers) like Jetstar (Japanese) and Peach will occasionally have sales. Please check the respective LCC website for details.

Moreover, prices for the Shinkansen, airlines, and highway buses will increase during periods when Japanese people tend to travel, including Golden Week (typically around April 27-May 6), Obon (around August 10-19), and the New Year’s holiday (around December 28-January 6). For example, Shinkansen prices usually increase by 400 yen for reserved seats on the Super Express during Golden Week.

A source of stress during this period is being unable to get any tickets because everything is sold out. Even driving might end up with you sitting in congested traffic on the expressway during this time. Be sure to make your reservations early and check traffic information beforehand when traveling during peak seasons.

Q2: What’s the best option when traveling to Kyoto by Shinkansen from Tokyo? Boarding the train from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station?

A: The train will arrive at Kyoto Station five minutes earlier from Shinagawa, but there isn’t any price change.

However, Shinagawa Station is only 15 minutes by train from Haneda Airport. It would be better to use Shinagawa Station if you’re traveling from Haneda Airport.

Q3: What highlights does Kyoto Station have?

A: Kyoto Station itself is a popular sightseeing spot.

The architecture is gorgeous and designed to be conscious of the city’s grid system, a classic feature of Heiankyo (Japan’s capital between 794-1869. Present-day Kyoto). From the Skyway walkway above the station, you can look out over the streets of Kyoto.

There are various shopping facilities inside the station building and many gourmet food spots like Kyoto Ramen Koji .

Q4: Are there any discount ride passes when traveling around Kyoto?

A: You can use the Subway & Bus One-Day Pass in Kyoto for unlimited rides on municipal subways and buses.

Another discount ride pass that overseas visitors can use is the JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass for unlimited rides on any JR line in the Kansai region, which includes Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, and other areas.

Please read the MATCHA article below for more on ride passes exclusive to overseas travelers!

Enjoy Your Trip to Kyoto!

There are multiple ways to travel to Kyoto from Tokyo. We recommend the Shinkansen for speed and comfort, while the highway bus is ideal for inexpensive prices . Please select the method that best fits your schedule and budget for a fulfilling stay in Japan.

This MATCHA article introduces wonderful accommodations in Kyoto recommended for families with children or couples. These places are also where you can experience Japanese culture. Additionally, check out Booking.com and agoda when searching for the best deals on accommodations in Kyoto.

日本への訪日外国人の方が、もっと増えますように！

Related topics

Top articles.

How to Travel to Kyoto From Osaka: The Fastest and Cheapest Ways

Shopping in Kyoto: Top 16 Department Stores, Malls, and Shopping Streets

Amanohashidate: Embark on a Day Trip from Kyoto with Beautiful Views

Miyazu / Kyotango

Related Article

Kyoto: 50 Things to Do, Places to Visit, Hotels, and Travel Tips

How to Travel to Nara From Tokyo: The Fastest and Cheapest Ways

Transportation Expenses In Japan: Cost Of Trains, Buses, Taxis, And Rental Cars

Kyoto Travel Tips: Transportation and Major Sightseeing Areas

Ready to Go to Japan? A Guide to Visas and Immigration Procedures

Accessing Kagawa From Major Cities And Takamatsu From The Airport

Accessing Atami, A Hot Spring And Resort Day Trip From Tokyo

Getting Around In Japan: How To Use Trains, Buses And Taxis

Start planning your trip

Special Features

Popular Searches

Latest news.

Showa Kinen Park Flower Festival 2024: Enjoy Nemophila, Tulips, and More!

A Must for Nature Lovers! Win a Free Stay at Unzen Amakusa National Park

A World of Light and Color! Van Gogh Alive in Japan 2024

Cherry Blossom Light-up in Tokyo! Yomiuri Land's Jewellumination

Cherry Blossoms and Sky Lanterns! Aichi Hanami Lights 2024

Japan's Public Holidays and Long Weekends in 2024

Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom: A Shopping Mall Featuring a Resort Aura

Suica and Pasmo IC Cards: Prepaid Transportation Passes in Japan

Riding Taxis in Japan: The 6 Best Apps to Grab a Cab

New articles.

What is Kamoshika Tool Shop like? ♬

A must-see for sauna lovers! A spectacular view that Toyama is proud of! "TATEYAMA SAUNA"

Capture your travel memories in photos in the heart of Shibuya! Shibuya Street Photography Plan by Capture My Japan

Get your photos taken by a professional at SHIBUYA SKY! A special photoshoot plan from Capture My Japan

Toyama food and sake tasting event "Ichiyo Ichie" held in Akasaka, Tokyo

How to Get on Shinkansen – Tickets, Baggage, what to Know

Tokaido Shinkansen

3 types of trains on tokaido shinkansen, 3 classes and fares for tokaido shinkansen, all trains are 16 cars on tokaido shinkansen, luggage on shinkansen, before getting on the train, make sure to get foods and drinks, check the platform track number of your train, enjoy the ride, platt koama, links related to this article, how to get on shinkansen – tickets, baggage, what to know..

Shinkansen is a fast train service connecting different parts of Japan from northern Hokkaido to Kyushu in the south.　It has a separate rails from other train rain lines, and Shinkansen is running as fast as 320 km per hour. Which is 198 miles per hour.　Shinkansen opened as a first rapid transit system in the world, before the first olympic game in 1964.　Even though there are highway buses and airplanes between Tokyo and Osaka, Shinkansen is still the most competitive way to travel especially to Kyoto. It’s a strong advantage that you can get off right in the middle of the city.

As usual, you can enjoy this contents on video format too on Youtube.

How to Get on Shinkansen

JR which is former Japan national railways are split to several different companies, and   one in the Tokyo region is JR East, Nagoya is JR Central (which is called JR Tokai in Japanese ) And JR west for Osaka. There are also JR Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.  

Probably the most   major route is Tokaido Shinkansen operated by JR Central. You will take it when you go to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka. And It directly connect to Sanyo Shinkansen that connects to Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Further from there, There are kyushu shinkansen to Kagoshima.  

To the north, there are shinkansen network going to Kanazawa, Niigata, and futher north to Tohoku and Hokkaido region.   Today, I’d like to take the most major route – Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto, and show you how to get on the Shinkansen and what the trip would be like.  

So now I’m Tokyo Station and let’s go to Shinkansen gate.  

From Tokyo area, You can get on Tokaido Shinkansen or from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station.

You can get ticket at the ticket machines or at the counter. Some machines are just for the use of credit card.   The price changes slightly depends on which train type you get, and which class you want to get.  

First, Tokaido Shinkansen has three types of trains, Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama.  

Nozomi is the fastest service, and it stops only major cities such as Nagoya and Kyoto. It runs frequently, and you see Nozomi is leaving to Osaka

Every 5 minutes or more in the morning. Even in the day time, it doesn’t open 10 minuets before the next Nozomi.  

It connects Tokyo to Osaka in exactly 2hours and 30 minutes, and 2 hours and 16 minutes to KYOTO.  

The next one is Hikari. Probably most of international travelers are familiar with this one, because if you have JR Pass, this is the fastest service you can ride without any additional cost. It makes 2 or 3 more stops more than Nozomi. The station Hikari stops is random depends on the timetable, but 2 hours 54 minutes to Osaka, and 2 hours and 40 minutes to Kyoto. So it takes 24 more minutes than Nozomi, but still fast enough.  

Kodama is a local shinkansen train that stops every station. It wait for Nozomi or HIkari pass by at almost every station, but the speed is actually as fast as other types of train because it has to open up rail for Nozomi that runs every frequently.  

Kodama takes about 3:40 min. To Kyoto, and 15min. More to Osaka.  

So there aren’t much reason to be on Kodama to go to Kyoto or Osaka speed wiese, but JR Central offers special discount ticket called Platt Kodama,  

And you can get on Kodama for much cheaper price, and it’s popular because you can get Green Car for cheaper than Nozomi’s regular car.  

Now that you decided which train to take, you have 3 choice of cars Green Car which is   a 1st class car, a nd regular reserved seat called SHITEISEKI（指定席）, and non-reserved seat which is called JIYUSEKI（自由席）.

The most common reserved seat on regular car is 14170 Yen to Kyoto, and 14720 Yen to Osaka. There are some more discount if you purchase online. If you missed the train you got your seat reserved, you can get on the non-reserved seat of the same day.

Non reserved seat is a little more cheaper, and your seat is not decided.  You have to line up at the platform to get seat, but you can GET seat for sure from Tokyo Station,  e specially if you are taking Nozomi as it runs frequently.  

All Tokaido Shinkansen train has 16 cars, and Car No.8 to 10  are green car which is a 1st class.  

For Nozomi, Car No.1 to 3 is non reserved car, and For HIkari, Car No. 1 to 5 is non reserved seat.  

For Kodama, 10 out of 16 are non-reserved seat.  

There is a new rule for luggage size on Tokaido Shinkansen.   There are no luggage checkin in system on Shinkansen, so somehow you need to keep it with you. But  

From mid 2020, Tokaido Shinkansen started to limit baggage size that you can bring on the train.  

The total dimension of the suitcase has to be smaller than 160 cm , which means you can put up on the shelf above your head.  

In case you have a larger suitcases, you can book the seat with luggage space. You can book these seat without any extra cost.   So I checked with the ticket machine, and there is a way to specifically purchase that seat.  

In case you couldn’t get that seats with luggage space, and get on the Tokaido Shinkansen with large suitcases that can not be put above your head,  t here are two things to expect what happens.   One thing is, you cannot put your luggage on the back of the seat even if there is space.   The space is only for passenger booked the seat right in front of that space.   Train conduct wmight charge you 1000 yen and they will take your suitcase to the storage space.   (Since it’s a new rule and even Japanese users hardly know this rule, so it might take some time before they start charging)

Not many Japanese passenger travel with big suitcases, but as the international tourists increase, it might get difficult to get that seat especially on Hikari which JR pass users use. So you might want to make reservation when you know schedule.   You can book online too. (You might want to watch the Youtube video at 5:55 for better explanation)

This new rule is probably for safety of the passenger around, and understandable since I was on the window side by myself before, and the suitcase of the person next to me was occupying my front space. Also, they want you to keep your luggage near you, for security reason.  

Getting on Tokaido Shinkansen

In this trip, I’m using Nozomi to Kyoto in regular reserved seat , and coming back by Kodama Green car   so I can show you different types of trains and cars.  

This time, I got my ticket on JR Central’s website called EX which I showed you earlier that you can book the seat for over sized luggage too.   Based on the reservation information, I could get the paper ticket. Since Tokaido Shinkansen is operated by JR Central which we call JR Tokai, you cannot receive this paper ticket of online booking service at JR East counters which you see everywhere in Tokyo. In Tokyo, Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station is the only place you can get your paper ticket.

If you are purchasing at the machine, you can buy at any counter or machine in Tokyo even in Shinjuku.

The ticket says your Origin and Destination (The blue line above), Date and Departure Time / Arrival Time (Red line above) and Train No. (Green line above) and your car and seat.

Since Shinkansen doesn’t have dining car on train, make sure you purchase before you get on the train. Nozomi and Hikari has wagon service that goes around seats with foods and drinks.

 Now fun part. Let’s get some foods and get on the train.  

At Tokyo Station, you see people are rushing to stores that sells “ekbien”. Which means station meal box.   It’s common to get this bento box and eat it on the train.   There are tons of selection from all over Japan.  So I get this salmon rice from Hokkaido. The ekiben cost around 1000 yen to 2000 yen, it’s a little pricy but it’s always fun to eat on train.  

The plat of Shinkansen is decided when they decide the time table, so you don’t have to wait until it comes up.  It seems my train use track No.19. 

Once you find your seat, probably you have your ticket in your hand until you arrive the seat, but make sure you keep that in your wallet or pocket. Unlike airplane, you need a ticket to get out the gate at the destination station. And some people forget the ticket on the train near the seat and get off.

Now let’s open the lunch box and enjoy the meal as you see the scenery.  

Shinkansen doesn’t have dining car or kitchen anymore, so you need to get things before you get on Shinkansen, but  Nozomi and Hikari,   they also sell drinks and lunch box and snacks at wagon.   So I got ice cream and coffee.  

The ice cream and coffee is 600 Yen total.

Now we arrived Kyoto.   Now let’s go back to Tokyo with Kodama.  

This time, I used Kodama’s Green Car. As said before Kodama takes time, but if you are not in a rush, you can buy this ticket called   Platt Kodama . This ticket has restriction that you can get only until the day before the train ride, but you can get on green car of Kodama  

For 12100 yen between Tokyo and Kyoto, and 12300 Yen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

Now let’s see the major difference from regular seat. Green car’s seat is 2 and 2 low, so the seat is wider than regular seats.  

There is a foot rest, and you have reading light.  

Thank yo for reading! I hope you get some idea on what it’s like to be on shinkansen, and help you make decision.  

Official Information about over sized luggage

Smart EX (Online Reservation of Tokaido Shinkansen): https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php

Platt Kodama: JR Tours

You might be interested in 10 ways to Travel between Tokyo and Osaka / Kyoto

The Complete Travel Guide to Tokyo

• Tokyo Travel Guide
• Japan Destinations
• Travel Essentials for Japan

• Tours & Experiences
• Tailor-made Trips
• Bahasa Indonesia

We are happy to see you again!

Continue with

Or use email.

No Account? Create one

Create account

Already have an account? Sign in

Quickly Sign up with

I agree to Japan Travel's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Terms of--> and acknowledge that Japan Travel's Privacy--> applies to me.-->

Email reset password link

Please check your inbox and click the link we will send to you.

• Transportation

Japan Rail Tokai Flex Pass

Combining value and tailored options

Many visitors to Japan tell me that they want to try the Shinkansen bullet train, but aren't sure if the Japan Rail Pass is worth it, just for a return trip from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka. Well now Japan Railways, through the JR Tokai business unit, has the answer: the JR Tokai Flex Rail Ticket (Flex Ticket).

What is the JR Tokai Flex Rail ticket?

The Flex Ticket is a new travel package for international visitors, incorporating a return ticket between the major cities in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as an experience coupon, which can be exchanged for a meal or Japanese activity. You can choose a home and destination station, as long as you return within a 7-day period. The reason it is called a flex ticket is that the return ticket is open-dated within 7 days of the forward ticket, making it work a bit like a fully flexible airplane ticket, but without an allocated seat.

Prices and validity

The prices vary depending on the distance traveled, but generally speaking, expect to save at least 10% compared with regular return tickets sold to Japanese nationals and permanent residents. For example, a return flex ticket from Tokyo to Shin Osaka is 22,500, with a non-reserved seat on the fastest Nozomi shinkansen. The exact same trip on the same train is priced at 27,740 for Japanese nationals and permanent residents for this 553-km trip. In many countries, it is normal for tourists to pay more, but in Japan, this is an example of the opposite. They really go out of their way to welcome visitors.

The flex ticket is valid for any two points between East Japan (Tokyo/ Yokohama/ Nagoya) and West Japan (Kyoto/ Osaka), as well as any point between East/ West Japan and Hakone, Mt Fuji (i.e. Odawara and Mishima). It is not valid for “open jaw” tickets, e.g. Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo. A passenger in this example will save more money by purchasing a Tokyo to Kyoto return, and purchasing a separate train ticket from Osaka to Kyoto, which starts from around 400 yen (depending on the railway company and class of ticket).

A passenger does not have to specify the date or time of the return or forward journey. Essentially this is like a “show-and-go” ticket, allowing flexibility and last-minute changes in plans. For example, if you had planned a 5-day trip, but wanted to shorten it to 3 days or lengthening it to 7 days, you can do so without notifying Japan Rail. As this is a non-reserved seat, Japan Rail has the discretion to limit the number of tickets sold to minimize overcrowding. Based on previous years, the peak travel period for the Tokaido Line between Osaka and Tokyo is from 25 December (Christmas Day) to 3 January. A non-reserved seat means that you are unlikely to get a seat (or be in a long queue) during that period, so you cannot purchase the flex ticket in this blackout period.

The JR Flex Ticket can be bought at any major station on the Tokaido Line (e.g. Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin Osaka) as well as Shinjuku in Tokyo. Staff must first see your passport showing your validity as an international visitor to Japan. Each passenger needs to present a passport issued by a country other than Japan. However, up to two Japanese passengers may accompany one international visitor.

Once you have purchased the ticket at the JR Tokai Tours ticket office , conveniently located at the shinkansen station, you can board any train without having to reserve a seat or a particular train in advance.

Comparison with JR Pass

1. ease of purchase.

The flex ticket consists of 2 tickets (forward and return trip) only, unlike the JR Pass which is an unlimited ride/ unlimited stop ticket. It is much easier to buy than the JR Pass, as you don’t have to purchase it ahead of your arrival in Japan, and what’s more, your Japanese-resident companion can travel with you for the same price.

2. Designed for off-peak (non-reserved only)

As it is a non-reserved seat, you just need to turn up and go. However, as there is a risk of not having a seat for part or all of the journey, it is best to use this ticket outside the peak commuting times (e.g. early morning and evening–effectively an “off-peak” ticket). Of course, you can still travel during peak, but there is a risk of not getting a seat. On the other hand, with the JR Pass, you can reserve a seat for free.

3. Use on Nozomi – the fastest bullet train

One of the benefits of this ticket is that it is flexible in ways that the JR Pass isn’t. You can even use it on the Nozomi Super Express. It is valid on any train, while the JR Pass is not valid on the Nozomi. This is a big plus for the flex ticket, as the Nozomi is faster and runs every 5 to 10 mins, while JR Pass is only valid for the Hikari and Kodama, which runs slower and departs every 30 mins. For example, the Nozomi from Tokyo to Osaka takes only 153 minutes, beating the Hikari by 24 minutes and the Kodama by 84 minutes. The Nozomi would be faster than a flight from Tokyo to Osaka, once airport transfer and waiting times are considered.

Example routes

The most popular use of the flex ticket is Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka:

Kyoto is home to many world heritage monuments, including Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple . It is also home to traditional Japanese culture and is a great place for tea ceremony or cooking classes .

On the other hand, Osaka is the modern face of Western Japan, with fantastic experiences like Universal Studios, the Aquarium, and Mario Carts go-kart rides.

Another popular destination that can be reached is Hakone , a center of relaxation, with hot springs and famous ryokan accommodation, or Mount Fuji , the highest mountain in Japan.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Copy link to share

Sponsored content

Information

Kyoto Station, Kyoto Prefecture ( Directions )

jrtours.co.jp

Book your trip

Find a nearby hotel, explore nearby.

Putting Train Lovers on the Right Track 1/3

By Laurier Tiernan

Kyoto: Access & Transport Guide

By Serena Ogawa

Best of Kyoto in Three Days

By Bonson Lam

KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival

By Ignatius Koh

Top Articles

• Recommended

Valley of Witches: a New Ghibli Park Attraction

Sapporo Beer Opens New Brewery in Tokyo’s Ebisu

Haneda Airport Ranked World's Cleanest

Kurobe Unazuki Canyon Route to Link with Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Tokyo One of the World's Most Walkable Cities

2024 Grand Sumo Tournaments

Tokyo Takes 2nd Place on Top Coffee Cities List

Guide to Golden Week

Mount Omuro

Guide to Bringing Medicines Into Japan

Your Name: Real-Life Locations in Tokyo

Hachiko Statue in Shibuya

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Shibuya Crossing

Daikoku Car Meet

Guide to Suica Cards

Kanamara Penis Festival

Japanese Urban Legends

More from this category.

By Sarah Endarastya

Major Airports in Hokkaido

Cycling Rules in Japan

By Japan Travel

Haneda Airport Ranked World's..

Join the discussion.

Let us know how we can help.

Help us improve JapanTravel.com

We welcome any suggestions regarding this content. Your feedback is confidential and will be used to help improve this page.

Suggest an edit

https://en.japantravel.com/kyoto/japan-rail-tokai-flex-pass/61255

Thank you for your support!

Your feedback has been sent.

Before you go, check this out!

Read all about how I saved a whopping $600 during a two-week stay in Japan!

Tokyo to Kyoto: The Fastest, Cheapest and Best Ways

Updated : July 2019

You’re here because you want to know how to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, right? You want to find the best way for you. In this mini-guide I’ll run you through the following ways:

• The fastest way
• The cheapest way
• The way of the explorer
• And the best way

Before we get into the nitty-gritty let me just start off with saying (spoiler alert!): If you’re getting a JR Pass , it’s already settled. You’d be stupid not to use it. Not sure if a Japan Rail Pass is worth it? Check out my Japan Rail Pass guide .

If you’re not planning to get a JR Pass, read on but know that although I cover various ways of getting from Tokyo to Kyoto, I’ll mainly focus on Shinkansen. It’s the most popular way, and in my opinion, the best way.

Bullet train: Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto

With an operating speed of 185 mph (300 km/h), it’s one of the world’s fastest trains . The Tokaido Shinkansen Line (Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka) alone has transported more than 5 billion passengers since it saw the light of day back in 1964. Japan’s excellent high-speed railway network is world famous for its speed, punctuality and safety record.

Key Facts for the Shinkansen Network

• 10 billion passengers (since 1964)
• 424,000 daily passengers
• 342 daily departures
• 0 fatalities due to derailments or collision (since 1964)
• An average of 0.9 minutes delay per train (including delays due to uncontrollable causes, such as natural disasters)

The Perfect Way to Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto?

Not so fast! It is no doubt fast, safe and efficient but (there’s always a but!) it’s also quite expensive. In fact, it’s easy to find flights that are cheaper. So how costly is it?

Time and Money

The price ranges from ¥10,300 with the cheapest train in the off-season to ¥18,690 with the fastest train with 1st class reservation in the peak season. The time it takes from Tokyo to Kyoto ranges from 218 minutes with the slowest train to 135 minutes with the fastest train.

This might be a bit confusing, but on Japan Railway you pay for the fare + seating fee (except for a special deal with the Kodama train). The fare is a fixed price, but the seating fee is based on the type of seat you chose. In all, there are three criteria for pricing .

• Nozomi, Hikari or Kodama
• Unreserved seat, reserved seat, green seat
• December 25 – January 10
• March 21 – April 5
• April 28 – May 5
• July 21 – August 31
• Januar 15 – February 28 *
• June 1 – June 30 *
• September 1 – September 30 *
• November 1 – December 20 *
• You do the math!

* Except for weekends and national holidays.

Ticket prices

Take a look at this table to plan your trip with Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo. Remember, you have to pay for both the fare and a seating fee (even if the train is full and you don’t get to sit.) Just keep in mind that you’ll save money with a  JR Pass  if you’re planning to use Shinkansen more than once in a span of 7 days. The pass also comes with free seat reservation.

UPDATED : September 2018 If you’re on mobile you might have to scroll to see all the columns (there are three trains listed).

[table id=5 responsive=scroll /]

Infants and babies (0 to 5 years) travel for free. Children from 6 to 11 years get 50% off. 12 years and older counts as adults.

The Different Seats

Unreserved seats are pretty much self-explanatory. This means you don’t have a reserved seat and thus you run the risk of having to stand. You just need to get on a car for unreserved seats (indicated by signs by the doors and on the platforms) and just hope you get lucky.

How likely is it that you have to stand for your trip? During peak season and national holidays, it’s usually pretty crowded. During the off-season, you’ll probably be fine, but there’s a risk you won’t be able to find a free seat. You can always get a seat later on your journey when people leave the train. Also, if you’re traveling in a group, it can be difficult to get unreserved seats in a group. So do you want to gamble or pay the extra yen?

Reserved seats are… You’ve guessed it! Reserved! For a fee of ¥400-¥1,000, you can reserve your seat. No scrambling for the unreserved seats and you and your group can sit together. When you reserve your seats at a Midori no Madoguchi (ticket office), you’ll be able to choose which seats you want. If you’re a group of more than four, you can reserve two 3-seaters and rotate one of them. (You can rotate all the seats!) That way your group of up to six people can sit together.

Green seats are larger and come with a footrest. There is more room between the seats, and you can recline your seat 40°. But in my opinion, it’s not worth it. I’ve tried green seats a couple of times, but the difference in comfort wasn’t big enough for it to be worth it. At least not for me. All the seats on Shinkansen trains are good and more spacious than for example the standard seats on airplanes.

But if you do decide to splurge, how do you find your car? No worries, the leaf clover got you. This is just an example of how a cart with green seats can be marked.

Different Trains, Different Speeds

There are three types of trains running on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. They all have the same kind of seating arrangement (unreserved, reserved and green seats) but they have different speeds. You can see the time it takes from Tokyo to Kyoto in parentheses.

• Nozomi (135 – 138 minutes. About 2 hours and 20 minutes)
• Hikari (158 – 162 minutes. About 2 hours and 40 minutes)
• Kodama (218 minutes. About 3 hours and 40 minutes)

Nozomi is the newest and fastest train. It’s a super-express train and stops at fewer stations than both Hikari and Kodama. The Nozomi leaves from Tokyo to Kyoto an impressive four to seven times per hour.

IMPORTANT: Unlike Hikari and Kodama, rides on Nozomi is not covered by Japan Rail Pass .

Hikari stops at a few more stations than Nozomi and thus takes about 20 minutes longer to make its way from Tokyo to Kyoto. Some of the Hikari trains are the same model as the Nozomi trains (N700), but they also use an older type of train. You’ll especially notice this in the cars with green seats. There you’ll see the seats are more rugged and a bit less comfortable.

Hikari leaves from Tokyo to Kyoto two times per hour.

Kodama stops at every station and is the slowest train out of the three. But it’s an interesting option as it’s the cheapest one. But to get the cheaper tickets you have to jump through some hoops. Skip down to How to Make it Cheaper? To learn all about it. LINK

General Info

Here are a few things you should know about Shinkansen. Get your notepad out!

When Does Shinkansen Run? Is it a 24/7 Service?

Shinkansen runs from about 6 a.m. to midnight. From 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. the tracks are closed down due to maintenance. The last departure from Tokyo to Kyoto is around 9 p.m .

Baggage On Shinkansen

• Maximum two pieces of baggage per person
• Maximum 66 lbs (30 kg) per bag
• Height+depth+width must be under 98” (250 cm)

There are storage racks above the seats where you can store hand luggage (it’s bigger than the overhead compartment in airplanes). For bigger pieces of luggage, it can be somewhat difficult to store it properly. Shinkansen hasn’t got much space assigned for storing bags.

• You can store it in the space behind the last row of seats in each cart.
• If you’re in a cart with reserved seats, you can often find empty seats where you can place your bag
• If you have a small to a medium bag, you can store it in between the seat in front of you and your legs.

On weekdays there’s usually more room for baggage as most people use Shinkansen to travel to work and don’t have bags with them. But is it safe to leave your bags unattended? You should never be naive, and I will certainly not give you any guarantees, but I don’t even think twice about doing it. There’s very little crime in Japan, and I bet theft on Shinkansen is even lower, as you need a ticket to ride.

If you don’t want to worry about your baggage, you can check out baggage delivery services . It’s very reliable and reasonably priced.

If you’re traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto and want an unobstructed view of Mount Fuji , be sure to reserve a seat on the right side of the train.

I bet you’ve already figured this out, but if you’re going from Kyoto to Tokyo and want to see Mount Fuji , you need to get a seat on the left side of the train

Food on Shinkansen

The staff will bring food carts to your seats, but the selection is limited. Although they do serve beer!

You’re allowed to bring your own food and drink. Many decide to buy a bento box at the station and just buy cold beverages on the train. By the way, a bento box sold at a train station is called an ekiben . “Eki” is the Japanese word for train station and “ben” is short for bento. And so you have  ekiben .

At a convenience store, a bento box costs ¥300-¥600. At a train station, it’s twice and even sometimes three times that price.

Shinkansen is clean and well-oiled machinery. When the train reaches the end station, the cleaning crew pours into the carts and swipes the floor, checks the luggage racks and wipes every tray. Only one crew member per cart with 100 seats . They must complete the task in under 7 minutes . Check out this video to see how it’s done.

How to Travel Cheaper With Shinkansen?

The cheapest Shinkansen option from Tokyo to Kyoto is to purchase a Platt Kodama Economy Plan from JR Tokai Tours. Kodama is slower than Nozomi and Hikari because it stops at every station, but I would say it’s still an excellent way to travel. After all, it’s the iconic Shinkansen!

Depending on whether you travel in peak or off-season the tickets are ¥10,300 to ¥11,600 . It includes:

• Fare and seating fee from Tokyo to Kyoto
• You can reserve a seat on any Kodama train
• A 12 oz (350 ml) soft drink or beer

Ticket Information:

• There are only a limited number of special price seats available
• You need to purchase the tickets by the day before use
• Your ticket is only valid for a specific train (if you book a 1 p.m. train, you can’t take a later train if you miss
• You can not change your reservation after you reserved
• You have to buy your ticket at a JR Tokai Tours office

Check out JR Tokai Tours’ website for more information. And use HyperDia.Com to plan your trips.

Tokyo to Kyoto with Shinkansen Time: 3 hours and 40 minutes Money: ¥10,300 to ¥11,600

Domestic Flights

I said you could get flights that were cheaper than the Shinkansen tickets. I stand by that! But what I didn’t mention was you can’t actually fly to Kyoto . Why, you ask? Because of landing difficulties. There is no airport in Kyoto! The closest airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport in Osaka. The distance between the two cities is 35 miles (56 km).

From there you’ll need to find transport to Kyoto by bus, train or taxi. You can grab an Itami-Airport Limousine Bus from Kansai to Kyoto for ¥1,310 yen. It takes about 30 minutes.

Airplane vs. Shinkansen. What is Faster?

The fastest Shinkansen (Nozomi) takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. The fastest flight takes 1 hour and 5 minutes. So that’s that? The airplane wins? No, it’s not that easy. First of all, before you get on the one hour flight, you need to make your way to Haneda (or Narita) and then go through the security checks. And do not forget, when you land, you’re not even in Kyoto. You are in Osaka. So first you need to collect your bag and then jump on the train/bus to Kyoto.

When you take this into account, you’re looking at 3.5-4 hours of travel time . That’s about the same time as the slowest Shinkansen (Kodama).

Cheap Domestic Airlines

The low-cost airlines can be surprisingly affordable. Here are some of the usual suspects.

• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar Japan

What they have to offer in terms of baggage limitations vary, so be sure to read the fine print before you book your flight.

How Much Does it Cost?

As you all know, the prices are determined by several different factors. Which day of the week, what time of the year, what time of the day and how far in advance you book. Just to give you an idea I looked up all the prices in October 2018, which is one month from now.

Here are the results:

• Most expensive: ¥9,007 . Saturday, October 20 (All Nippon Airways)
• Cheapest: ¥4,821 . Tuesday, October 30 (Jetstar)
• Avg. lowest price October: ¥6,900

We see a range from ¥4,800 to ¥9,000, with an average of ¥6,900. That’s pretty cheap and indeed cheaper than Shinkansen. But just like with the travel time, you do have to include transport to Haneda Airport and transport from Osaka to Kyoto.

If you book a cheap flight and use inexpensive transport to and from the airports, the flight option is cheaper than Shinkansen. You can get to Kyoto for as little as ¥7,000 whereas the cheapest Shinkansen ticket is ¥10,300.

Tokyo to Kyoto with a budget airline Time: 3.5 to 4 hours Money: ¥4,800 to ¥9,000

Bus from Tokyo to Kyoto

You have a few well-renowned bus companies to choose from. Kosokubus  are good for night buses. It will take you about 7 hours and cost you from ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 . Book 1-2 weeks in advance and you’ll get the cheap tickets. You can bring carry-on luggage and you can store one piece of bigger luggage in the trunk of the bus

Some people have problems sleeping on buses. If you’re one of them, keep in mind that you’ll arrive in Kyoto 5 a.m. – 8 a.m . If you can’t check into your hotel until 3 p.m., you’ll probably be a walking zombie.

Don’t want to ride the night bus? Then Willer Express  is a sound choice. They’re a reputable bus company with many popular routes. You can also use them from Tokyo to Mount Fuji .

Prices start at ¥4,000, and the ride will take about 9 hours. A bit longer than the night bus because of the traffic.

Tokyo to Kyoto by bus Time: 7 to 9 hours Money: ¥3,000 to ¥6,000

Seishun 18 Ticket

Are you a real explorer on a tight budget? Well, then this is the choice for you! Seishun 18 is a special discount ticket that allows five days (not necessarily continuous) of unlimited travel in the Japan Railways system (not including Shinkansen and limited express trains) but only during specific times of the year.

When Tickets Must Be Purchased and Used

• Use March 1 April 10
• Use : July 20 to September 10
• Use : December 10 to January 10

The same ticket can be used for several people. If you’re traveling with a partner and you both, for example, want to go back and forth to Kyoto from Tokyo (with a stayover), you’ll use four of the five days. If you’re traveling alone, this ticket will last for five full days. Just be sure to use all of the five days within the specified period. More details on the official site .

Japans Cheapest Travel Option

The price of the Seishun 18 ticket is ¥11,850. For five days of unlimited travel by local and rapid JR trains that’s an incredible deal. You can’t beat ¥2,370 per day.

Complex and Time-Consuming

Here you’ll really need HyperDia.com  to help you figure out the best route. And even with that help, you’ll still need to navigate all the different train stations.

Just to give you an example of how time-consuming this can be. If you’re only traveling by local and JR trains from Tokyo to Kyoto, it will take you 8 to 9 hours, and you’ll need transfer at least 5 times. It will take time, but it’s the perfect budget pick for the explorer type.

Tokyo to Kyoto by local and JR trains Time: 8 to 9 hours Money: ¥2,370 (¥11,850)

Four different means of transport from Tokyo to Kyoto if you don’t have  Japan Rail Pass.

• Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Cost: ¥13,080 (unreserved seat)
• Time: 8 to 9 hours
• Cost: ¥2,370
• Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
• Cost: ¥10,300 to ¥11,600
• Time: 3.5 to 4 hours
• Cost: ¥4,800 to ¥9,000

Did I miss something? Please let me know in the comments down below!

Recent Posts

The 15 Best Animal Cafés in Tokyo

When you think of an animal café, Tokyo is probably one of the first places to come to mind for such an establishment, right? Originally getting their start in Taiwan, Japan took the idea of...

When Is the Best Time to Visit Tokyo? The Definitive Guide

You have no doubt in your mind that you want to visit Tokyo. The question becomes, when? Surely there are better times of the year than others, right? You wouldn’t mind traveling in the...

Tokaido Shinkansen

The Tokaido Shinkansen (���C���V����, Tōkaidō Shinkansen) is a shinkansen line that connects Japan's three largest metropolitan areas ( Tokyo / Yokohama , Nagoya and Osaka / Kyoto ) with each other. It is Japan's best used shinkansen line with departures every few minutes.

When opened in 1964, the Tokaido Shinkansen was the world's first high speed railway line. Then trains ran at 210 km/h. Nowadays they reach speeds of 285 km/h. The line is operated by the Central Japan Railway Company, also known as JR Central or JR Tokai. Tokaido is the name of the main road, which connected the former capital of Kyoto with today's capital of Tokyo during the feudal age .

Three train categories operate on the Tokaido Shinkansen:

The Nozomi is the fastest train category along the Tokaido Shinkansen, serving only major stations and requiring about 2.5 hours to reach Shin- Osaka from Tokyo . There are usually four departures per hour in each direction, and even more during peak hours. Many Nozomi trains continue beyond Shin-Osaka along the Sanyo Shinkansen to Hiroshima or Hakata . The Nozomi is one of the few JR trains that require a supplement fee for Japan Rail Pass holders.

Nozomi trains usually carry three cars with unreserved seats, except during the New Year , Golden Week and Obon holidays, when they temporarily become fully reserved.

The Hikari is the second fastest train category along the Tokaido Shinkansen, serving a few more stations than the Nozomi and requiring about three hours to reach Shin-Osaka from Tokyo. There are two departures per hour in each direction, one operating between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka and the other between Tokyo and Okayama on the Sanyo Shinkansen .

The Kodama is the slowest train category along the Tokaido Shinkansen, stopping at all stations along the way and requiring about four hours to reach Shin-Osaka from Tokyo. There are usually two departures per hour in each direction, one operating between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka and one between Tokyo and Nagoya . Some trains during AM and PM rush hours are fully non-reserved.

Note: For simplification, some rare train compositions and stopping patterns are omitted.

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Links and Resources

Central japan railway company, links to timetable websites.

IDOLiSH7 を広告タレントに起用した人気企画 「OFF/旅」 キャンペーンが5年ぶりに復活！第三弾は静岡へ！！！ 詳しくはこちら

【重要なお知らせ】EX旅パック一部乗車日の予約停止等について 臨時列車情報の更新に伴い、5月10日～11日は一時的に7月1日～9月30日乗車分の新規ご予約と列車変更ができません。更新が完了次第、順次操作が可能となります。また、取消の場合はご返金手続きとEXポイント・グリーンプログラムを利用した予約についてはポイントの返却が遅れることがありますのでご了承ください。※EX旅先予約（宿泊・観光・交通）は影響ございません。

EXずらし旅やテーマパーク旅行など、 EXこだわりツアー が 最大3,000円割引 ！さらに スペシャルタイムセール も同時開催！今すぐチェック♪ 詳しくはこちら

「ぷらっとこだま」は、GW期間（2024年4月27日（土）～5月6日（月･祝））の設定がありません。

GWの家族旅行にはEX旅パックがおすすめ！ 4/26～5/6の間、東海道新幹線の一部「のぞみ」号には、小さなお子様連れでも気兼ねなくご旅行いただける「お子様連れ車両」が設定されます。 EX旅パックで「お子様連れ車両」をご利用の場合、お申込後、EXサイト等で列車または座席を変更してください。 （設定列車を利用できない商品もあります）

システムメンテナンスのため、以下の時間帯はご利用いただくことができません。 ■メンテナンス日 5月8日（水）、13日（月）、16日（木）、17日（金）、20日（月）、23日（木）、27日（月）、30日（木） ■メンテナンス時間 23:30頃～翌5:30頃 ※状況により作業時間が前後したり中止となる場合があります。

旅行代金は以下の事由などにより、増額または減額となる場合があります。 　・新幹線の乗車区間、出発時間、列車種別(のぞみ、こだま等)、設備（普通車、グリーン車等）、商品タイプを基本条件から変更した場合 　・有料のオプション（現地観光やレンタカーなど）を追加した場合 ※この商品は価格変動型商品です。予約状況等により、この画面に表示する旅行代金ではご利用になれない場合があります。また、申込完了までに旅行代金が変わる場合もありますので、お申込み直前に再度旅行代金をご確認ください。

• Kyoto Tourism
• Kyoto Hotels
• Kyoto Bed and Breakfast
• Kyoto Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Kyoto
• Kyoto Restaurants
• Things to Do in Kyoto
• Kyoto Travel Forum
• Kyoto Photos
• All Kyoto Hotels
• Kyoto Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Kyoto
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Buying Puratto Kodama Economy Plan Tickets to Tokyo - Kyoto Forum

• Asia    
• Japan    
• Kinki    
• Kyoto Prefecture    
• Kyoto    

Buying Puratto Kodama Economy Plan Tickets to Tokyo

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Kyoto Prefecture forums
• Kyoto forum

From what I understood, you have to buy these tickets at a JR travel agency and not a JR station. Does anyone know an agency were I can buy this ticket in Kyoto?

Many thanks!

http://www.jrtours.co.jp/shop/page/JRTBranch.aspx?bc=D901

In addition to JR Tokai Tours, JTB offices should be able to sell them as well. Print out the page:

http://www.jrtours.co.jp/kodama/

Thank you for the info!

There are several travel agencies near Kawaramachi Station, but probably the easiest to find is a JTB in Takashimaya Department Store. Kawaramachi Station is directly connected to Takashimaya at the basement level. The JTB is on the 7th floor.

If you don't speak Japanese or have someone who speaks Japanese with you, I highly suggest you print out or have an eletronic copy of this page:

Along with the dates, times and stations you want to travel to/from.

Kyoto in Kanji is 京都 and is the third box from the left in the bigger orange box timetable.

Thank you to you both for your help!

Very much appreciated!

You cannot buy it at regulat ticket counters. But you can buy it through travel agents such as JTB or JR Tokai Tours.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

• Narita -> Nikko -> Kanazawa -> Kyoto 8:19 pm
• Most Overrated/Underrated today
• Refined Kyoto itinerary to avoid temple fatigue yesterday
• What else can we add for half day in Kyoto? yesterday
• TD bank customer getting Yen in Japan Apr 28, 2024
• Ranking of Kyoto's gardens - Katsura vs. Shugakuin Apr 28, 2024
• One day in Kyoto. Please suggest on my itinerary Apr 27, 2024
• Fushimi Inari worth without hiking? Apr 27, 2024
• 2 females traveling to Kyoto in May ~ Help please (3 days) Apr 26, 2024
• 3 days in kyoto ? Apr 26, 2024
• Where to go on a 1 day trip ? Apr 25, 2024
• Walking from KIX bus terminal to Hotel Vishio via Avanti Mal Apr 25, 2024
• Kyoto arrival day activites - jet lag Apr 24, 2024
• Kyoto live trip report Apr 24, 2024
• best & strategic places to stay in Kyoto 8 replies
• Cheap-ish ryokans in Kyoto 13 replies
• Hot Springs Ryokan near Kyoto 8 replies
• Temperature in Kyoto and Tokyo from 1 December to 20 Decembe 3 replies
• Getting from Mt. Fuji to Kyoto... 3 replies
• One day in Kyoto 13 replies
• Shukubo (zen buddhist temple lodging) recommendations 4 replies
• Luxurious Onsen Ryokan in close proximity to Tokyo or Kyoto? 10 replies
• Kyoto City Bus schedule 14 replies
• Luxury Ryokan 8 replies

Kyoto Hotels and Places to Stay

• How do I get from Kansai Airport to Kyoto?
• How do I get around in Kyoto?

How to choose a special discount rail ticket for Japanese residents

The spread of Covid-19 has dramatically reduced the number of travelers. As a result, railroad companies sell special discount tickets to stimulate demand.

If you understand of Covid-19 precautions and want to travel, it is your chance. There are many discount tickets that you have never seen before. You can ride on trains at much lower rate than usual.

Some of the tickets explained here are only available online on Japanese websites. If you don’t understand Japanese, it will be difficult to buy, but I will put a link to the sales site for your convenience.

In this article, I will list and explain the tickets that Japanese residents can buy, not for travelers.

Fullmoon Green Pass

Seishun 18 kippu, peach kita hokkaido free pass, peach higashi hokkaido free pass, hokkaido free pass, hokkaido & higashi nihon pass, jr east welcome rail pass 2020, tokyo wide pass, platt kodama, platt nozomi, dokodemo door kippu, kintetsu zensen 3-day free kippu, shikoku mankitsu kippu special plus, min’na no kyushu kippu, for travel all over japan.

There are few passes that cover all of Japan. But unfortunately you cannot find the pass like the JR Pass that can be used by foreign travelers.

Although it is the only ticket comparable to the JR Pass, this ticket can only be bought by married couples and the total age of couple must be 88 years or older. Since it is the total age, it can be purchased with like a combination of a 68-year-old husband and a 20-year-old wife. It can also be bought by a common-law couple. However, combinations such as father and daughter are not applicable.

This pass has 5 days, 7 days and 12 days, and the 5-day pass starts from JPY 84,330 (for two people). You can ride a green car on JR routes all over Japan, so the conditions are the same as for a JR pass green car. In addition, if either of the users is 70 years old or older, the senior fee will be applied and the 5-day pass will be JPY 79,330.

The information on this pass is not available in English, so I will put a link to the Japanese site:

https://railway.jr-central.co.jp/tickets/fullmoon-greenpass/index.html (JR Central official site)

If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments section at the bottom.

Tickets sold during the spring, summer, and winter vacations of Japanese schools. It covers all over Japan, but you cannot board the Shinkansen or limited express trains with this ticket. To put it simply, you will travel to Japan on the train you normally use for commuting.

For example, if you are traveling from Tokyo to Osaka, it will take about three times as long as the Shinkansen to change trains.

It’s a very cheap ticket, but it’s not a ticket for everyone.

Please refer to the following article for details:

For travel to Hokkaido

Most tickets are available after arriving in Hokkaido, and the number of tickets you can get to Hokkaido by train is limited. The only pass you can access by train from Tokyo is Hokkaido & Higashi Nihon Pass other than Fullmoon Green Pass and Seishun 18 Kippu . But since Hokkaido & Higashi Nihon Pass is the same type of pass as the Seishun 18 Kippu mentioned above, so it’s not for everyone.

This is a 4-day unlimited ride pass that can be bought by those who arrive at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido on the LCC Peach flight. You can go to Sapporo , Otaru, Asahikawa, Furano, Biei and Wakkanai. You can also use this ticket to get on a non- reserved seat on a regular car on a limited express train.

If you’re traveling after October 30th, the price will drop and it’s sold at 9,800 yen.

See the following articles for more information on this ticket.

According to the official website of JR Hokkaido, similar tickets are sold for those who travel to and from Hokkaido by Japan Airlines. However, this is sold at travel agencies along with Japan Airlines tickets and cannot be purchased at stations.

This is a 5-day unlimited ride pass that can be bought by those who arrive at New Chitose Airport or Kushiro Airport in Hokkaido on an LCC peach flight. You can go to Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa, Furano, Biei, Abashiri, Kushiro and Nemuro. You can also use this ticket to get on a non-reserved seat on a regular car on a limited express train.

If you’re traveling after October 30th, the price will drop and it’s priced at 9,800 yen.

This is the same type of pass as the Hokkaido Free Pass for foreign travelers. This pass is valid for 7 days and allows unlimited rides on JR lines in Hokkaido. You can take a non-reserved seat on an ordnary seat car on a limited express train, and you can use an ordinary seat on a regular car up to 6 times. The price is 27,430 yen and there is no child price.

https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/CM/Otoku/006381/ (JR Hokkaido official site)

This pass is similar to the Seishun 18 Kippu and you cannot board any Shinkansen or limited express trains.

The differences from the Seishun 18 Kippu are as follows:

Both passes have their pros and cons.

Kanto, Tohoku, Shinetsu (Nagano, Niigata) area

If you live in or near Tokyo, these are the passes you can use from there.

This is available is sold to the foreign nationals who lives in Japan only. It is same type of the pass as JR East Pass which is sold to foreign tourists. But this pass covers more than that pass.

The price of this pass is 12,000 yen. It covers Tohoku, Kanto, Niigata and Nagano , and it is cheaper to use this pass just to make a round trip to Sendai by the Shinkansen. This pass offers unlimited ride of all trains in JR East area.

I have explained this pass in detail in another article. Please refer from the link below:

This pass covers Tokyo and its surrounding areas, but this coverage area is quite extensive, including Nikko , Kusatsu Onsen, and Karuizawa.

However, the JR East Welcome Rail Pass is sold for 12,000 yen, and the price of this pass is only about 2,000 yen cheaper, so the value is not so great.

Tokai area (The Tokaido Shinkansen deals)

Here, I will explain the great deals on Shinkansen tickets that connect Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka.

This ticket uses the slowest Kodama train on the Tokaido Shinkansen. It takes longer than the fastest Nozomi , but the price is cheaper. You can buy a one-way ticket, so you have a lot of freedom.

Due to the impact of Covid-19, the occupancy rate of the Tokaido Shinkansen has decreased significantly, so this ticket is now on sale.

It’s a similar type of ticket to Platt Kodama, but you can get on the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi which is the fastest train.

However, this ticket can only be purchased online in Japanese. You cannot buy it at stations or JR Tokai Tours stores. In addition, it must be purchased at least 3 days before boarding.

You can buy it at the JR Tokai Tours official site in the link below:

https://www.jrtours.co.jp/kodama (JR Tokai Tours official site, Japanese only)

Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu area

I will explain the passes that can be used in western Japan such as Shikoku and Kyushu from the Kansai area such as Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

This pass is on sale by JR West and is a limited-edition ticket until the end of December.

There is a 2-day pass that can be used in the JR West area that covers the Hokuriku, Kansai, and Chugoku regions, and a 3-day pass that also covers Shikoku and Kyushu.

2-day pass is sold at 12,000 JPY and 3-day pass is sold at 18,000 JPY.

This is a 3-day unlimited ride on all Kintetsu trains. It is very similar to Kintetsu Rail Pass to oversea tourists.

Kintetsu has routes to Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara , Ise , Yoshino, and Mie. This is a very convenient ticket for round trips from Osaka to Nagoya and trips to Ise. However, if you want to take a limited express train, you need to buy a limited express ticket separately.

This pass will sold until February 27, 2021 and the price is 3,000 JPY (child price 1,500 JPY).

You can buy it at major Kintetsu railway stations ticket offices and ticket vending machines. You must buy a ticket one day before traveling or earlier. You cannot buy it on travel day.

If you want to travel to Shikoku, this is the best deal. This pass offers 3-day unlimited ride on non reserved seat on all JR Shikoku trains and Tosa Kuroshio Tetsudo trains. It covers JR Shikoku Bus and Asa Seaside Railway trains.

It is sold at 10,500 JPY for 3-day. But you must include at least one day of weekend or holiday in 3 days duration. It will be on sale until the end of January, 2021.

This pass is sold online only and unfortunately only Japanese site is available. Please find the link below and you can buy it there:

http://www.jr-eki.com/ticket/brand/1-4SX (JR Shikoku official site)

There are two types of tickets, All Kyushu area and Northern Kyushu area. All Kyushu covers all part of Kyushu and Northern Kyushu covers the area north of the line connecting Oita and Kumamoto.

Both passes are valid for 2 days including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and you can ride on an ordinary cars in JR Kyushu trains including the Kyushu Shinkansen during the valid period.

The price is exceptional at 10,000 yen for All Kyushu area and 5,000 yen for Northern Kyushu.

However, this pass is for online sale only, and you must register as a web member of JR Kyushu before purchasing. (Member registration is free)

http://www.jrkyushu-kippu.jp/fare/ticket/253 (JR Kyushu official site)

There are many more deals. I did not mention any local deals, such as subway pass in each metropolitans. If you can combine some deals, you may be able to travel at much lower rate.

We have to be very careful about spreading the infection, but I think it’s okay to travel according to the rules. It also contributes to the local economy.

Many Rail Passes are cheaper than ever before. Enjoy your trip at this opportunity.

Hi Takeshi,

I apologise if something personal is going on but I really enjoy your content. When will you be making new posts and uploading new videos?

When Japan opens the border fully, I will start to make a video and a post. Unfortunately the number of visitors is quite low now. I cannot spend my time on this website now.

Takeshi / JPRail.com

Wow Takeshi…that is such great information and so useful. Foreign residents who cannot read Japanese are so lucky to have this information. From what I saw you posted, many areas are covered. I was hoping to go to Chugoku area like Yamaguchi Prefecture but if I am correct, the only discounted fare available would be “dokodemo door kippu” but as you explained, this is not available to solo travelers. Are you aware of any discounted tickets that include Yamaguchi for solo travellers? Alternatively, are you aware of any discount tickets that go from Kyoto to Kyushu for solo travelers? Sorry to ask you many questions? Thank you for any assistance. Mark

Unfortunately there is no deals available for solo.

If there is a person who can speak Japanese around you, ask that person if there is a “ticket shop（金券ショップ）” nearby. If you go there, you can buy Shinkansen tickets that are about 10 to 15% cheaper. This shop sells coupon tickets one by one, so it is cheaper than the regular price.

You can also get a “Go to travel regional coupon (Go to travel 地域共通クーポン)” if you buy and book a Shinkansen ticket and hotel at a regular price at a major travel agent. If you use this, you can buy a ticket for 2 days unlimited rides on JR lines in the Yamaguchi area for 3500 yen. You can’t buy this unless you have a coupon. Tickets that can be used in this Yamaguchi area do not include the round-trip fee to Yamaguchi.

Again, unfortunately there in no deals which you can buy it in the station easily for solo traveler. There are lots of deals available but most of tickets and packages are sold in major travel agents. I think there are some staffs who can speak English in these days. Just drop by there and ask them about deals. You may find better one.