(How to) Buy Shinkansen Tickets in English | Osaka to Tokyo

Last summer I showed you how to buy Shinkansen tickets but I did it in Japanese. Today, I’ll do it from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station in English. The process is simple and straightforward but seeing it good experience. I hope this video is useful.
Here’s the first video from Tokyo Station to Kyoto:
• (How to) Ride the Shin...

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Which ekiben or sandwich is your favorite? What did you think of the video? Leave me a comment below :) This video builds on the first (How to) buy Shinkansen tickets from last summer - this time with an English menu option :) -john

[@astroboy3507]

ONLY in JAPAN * GO ekiben there all great in there different ways!!!!! Oishiii!!!!!

[@Kyle-zk7oq]

Why not pizza?! How is Japanese pizza?

[@peterdegennaro3854]

Katsu sando and Yebisu beer!

[@naveenbharti1562]

it will be a really nice thing if you will make videos of architectural places,apartments,buildings and many other things

[@richardyu5460]

Both

[@Tipper1941]

Seeing you miss that train makes me so anxious. I was literally yelling at the screen for you to hurry up. 😧😧😧😧😧

[@kmf65]

John is cool and all....but man, I'd probably not like traveling with him! It's not the first time I've seen him running last minute just to make a time, I'm almost always a bit early (gotta enjoy the place and be able to look around and buy stuff!)....he's probably drive me crazy traveling! =) lmao

[@rockslide4802]

I missed my train once too. I was at the Shinkansen platform in Tokyo, and agreed to take a photo of a young couple. As I snapped their picture I realized that it was my train that had just pulled out of the station. A trip downstairs to the JR nation offices and they put me on the next train to Kyoto.

[@richardyu5460]

If you miss your train and you got a Granclass/Green Car / Reserved then you are pretty unlucky because you didn’t get what you pay because you got Non-reserved.... I was also like freaking out when he miss the train

[@alberttehz]

If you re new to boarding a Shinkansen Bullet Train. Is best you get a non-reserved seat ticket. If you ever missed the train you can catch up with the next train without a hole in your pocket. lol

[@martintheiss743]

Have you ever seen someone jump those entry gates?

[@vijgai3]

You will get caught as they check tickets on the train as well.

[@bingdorskool4278]

wow..cool...how much if a Bus?!

[@dulcetraveller9149]

how could you debate on which sandwich to buy when you barely had a few minutes so spare?!

[@WhiteDragon689]

Dude, you time things to the second. How do you do it? I couldn't live like that. Way too stressful.

[@fistoffury9868]

So we need a credit card to pay?so suica is for what?

[@Eli-eh8zt]

Thank you for managing to put it back online! Watching it now. Thank you for showing us how to buy tickets so helpful!

[@anthonylamesa7619]

Why can't you just get on the reserved carriage and walk down to the non-reserved carriage?

[@billymoses9925]

Yh that part bugged me

[@carlabrice3707]

You should say never put the icoca card on the ticket slot lol I did that n closed the line 🤣 3 years ago now n still embarrass we are in a tinny city iwakuni

[@gb9727]

0:14 is that a problem with your mic? That audio issue sounds a bit funny

[@southernvoicesmelbourne9078]

Just back from Japan and used Shinkansen for travel a fair bit. You can use the ticket machine or you can go to the JR ticket office and buy tickets over the counter. I found the if the major cities and stations had them. Best you learn about the different trains (Hikari, or Nozomi, or Kodama) and decide on reserved, non reserved or green car before you get there and tell them what you want. I found they know enough english to let you buy a ticket. He is right, make sure you allow plenty of time for food shopping the stations.

[@neosmith166]

John, next time just jump on whatever compartment and then you can make your way through the train to the non-reserved seats? Or are the reserved/non-reserved compartments isolated and cannot be crossed?

[@coffeedudeguy]

Difference Engine (DE) I’ve done that before, but politely making my way thru the other cars to get to non-reserved

[@neosmith166]

Coffee Dude I travelled on shinkansen before too. And I do remember as well you could do that. He needn't need to miss that train.

[@dk_noobmaster46]

Yeag, this is what i though about

[@neosmith166]

Yeah me too remember doing it on Shinkansen.

[@andy-kai-chan]

Thanks for the video Jon. One question (and apologies if I missed something). If you are putting in your credit card for payment, why did you also put in the Suica card? I see that you are using the printed tickets in the fare gates anyways, so I do not get the point of also putting in the Suica card into the ticket purchase machine.

[@whkgames6676]

Andy Chan yeah,why?

[@cybeam1]

From what I understand it was like this: When he passed the gate at Osaka Station he used his ICOCA (SUICA) card, at Shin-Osaka he didn't have to pass a gate to conclude that trip on his card before he purchased his Shinkansen tickets. The machine concludes the trip from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka on the card, otherwise he'd still have Osaka Station as starting point of his trip written on his card the next time he'd pass a gate with it. At 1:36 the headline is „confirm route used to this station“ (Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka), at 1:42 you can see written „Station where you boarded" (Osaka Station), that's the info the machine read from the card. At 3:40 you can see that the basic fare ticket says „Osaka City Zone to Tokyo Ward“, so the price from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka was not deducted from the ICOCA (SUICA) card (otherwise the basic fare ticket would have said Shin-Osaka to Tokyo Ward), the trip was just closed on the card. The full price was deducted from the Credit Card.

[@houndourtwo]

He used an ICOCA card to pay for his trip from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka Station. The Shinkansen ticket vending machine that he used was inside the fare-paid area of Shin-Osaka Station, which means that he did not pass through an exit ticket gate at that station. Since he did not actually exit the station, the ICOCA card still had an open transaction. As ICOCA stored value cannot be used for inter-regional Shinkansen travel, the active ICOCA transaction needed to be closed out at Shin-Osaka Station. This is why he was required to insert his ICOCA card into the Shinkansen ticket vending machine. As the ticket vending machine closed out the ICOCA transaction, the Shinkansen tickets were coded so that he could pass through the Shinkansen transfer ticket gate without having to scan his IC card again at the gate.

[@shahiskandar8717]

Thank you for explaning, i wasnt clear about it too.

[@shahiskandar8717]

1:01 though "I have a ticket" but click on "I dont have" ...i dont get that

[@briansivley2001]

I know how missing the train when it just closes it's doors feels like lol. Whenever I take the CTA l have to take the elevator being I'm in a electric wheelchair and when I get to the platform I just miss the train. I always get upset about it but laugh at it later on lol.

[@yukie_tn]

watching the video, I was just like he really doesn't care about the 8:40 train, does he

[@soupafi]

Yukie watch the first video he did. I got anxiety because he almost didn’t make it.

[@Graystash]

I loved you in cobra kai! Cant wait for season 2.

[@FJGenso]

So the machine don't tell you what Shinkansen you go (Hikari, or Nozomi, or Kodama)? you choose it by yourself?

[@sunshineandrain5808]

Irjaf I'd like to know too... what's the difference?

[@Plasma21k]

Irjaf if you are taking non-reserved seats, then you can choose it by yourself. if taking reserved one, you have to choose what types of shinkansen you ride (nozomi, hikari, or kodama in tokaido shinkansen) and departure time of it.

[@FJGenso]

Plapla thanks a lot for the information 😃

[@FJGenso]

sunshine and rain Apparently, all shinkansen have the same speed, but Nozomi is the fastest because it only stopped in several main stations in big cities (Tokyo, Shinagawa, Osaka, Kyoto). Hikari is the second fastest, it stopped in some big stations in some of non touristy city (Shizuoka, Hamamatsu), Kodama is the slowest, and it stopped in all stations throughout the train line. in September I'll be going to Shizuoka, I can't take Nozomi because it pass through the city.

[@moprettymo]

Ih no im very worried when i see u playing around in the front cart of Shinkansen. Also im worried about wifey's cake

[@mybox-]

This video is great! Thank you for showing day to day life in Japan :)

[@kmf65]

Compared to regular trains in Japan ("The next stop is....A-ki-ha-ba-ra"), I've always liked the Shinkansen's announcing voice. It's seems kinda classy! lol

[@Antland14]

I'm confused: you said you had a ticket (ICOCA) but then selected the NO option, but then inserted your ICOCA anyways?? What does ICOCA do in this process?

[@fatalshot0093]

Can I use my student discount slip if I want to use these vending machines? What about online?

[@TARS..]

I always get an Onigiri and any katsu ekiben. Can't go wrong with those two.

[@soupafi]

Dude, I could never travel with you. You leave so little time!

[@esitu5655]

I was in Osaka at the same time as you. I went back to Tokyo that afternoon, missed you by a few hours.

[@susanmoniz6537]

Thought you were going to miss the train again !

[@adamburns1077]

First, great video, love watching things like this before I do it myself! I’m visiting Tokyo in November, and one of the days I’ll be going to a music concert in Osaka, using the plane to get there and Shinkansen to get back to Tokyo on the last one (which I think is around 21:20), so I’m not rushing, would I be able to buy my Shinkansen ticket earlier in the day around 2pm to travel on the one after 9pm? And I was wondering on the off chance if you knew the last time for this train in the evening? I’ve tried looking everywhere for a legible timetable, thanks in advance if you could answer either of these! 😄

[@1ukkichan]

I don’t know about other travellers but my foreign American Express is never accepted at the machines. The lines at the ticket counter may be long but if you want to use your foreign credit card you might want to use the counter service, the staff are quite accustomed to dealing with foreigners. Of course, as many have noticed train travel can get expensive very quickly, a JR pass is a good way to travel and JR pass tickets are issued at the counter.

[@grimroller]

Pretty expensive to travel within your own country :/

[@onyxig710]

I. E. C. But this is for bullet train

[@akagamishanks2774]

I mean it's the equivalent of traveling in the plain! but hey have 5 other ways to travel and it's affordable, the shinkansen is for businessmen or urgent cases it's basically a plain in the ground.

[@mprrx]

@@akagamishanks2774 I was wondering too about the prices.

[@richardyu5460]

Also GOOD video....Next time please make Granclass/Green Car thanks

[@subkreature]

Was that a debit card or a credit card? I've never had a PIN on a credit card.

[@ianwyj1]

It's a great life when the biggest problem is figuring out which katsu sandwich to pick.

[@cappygolucky]

But completely duck it up

[@daffygrey]

I've watched a good number of J-vlogger videos, but I'm still not sure of the blue tray payment etiquette. What's the deal there? Also, with the train: couldn't you just get on at any carriage and walk through? I know that's not an issue in Britain.

[@xxwoman]

Growing up, I was always taught to put the money in the tray. And if they don't have one, put the money on the counter. But occasionally, you'll have a cashier take the money out of your hands. If you don't see a tray and the cashier is distracted with something, I think it's best to place the money on the counter and slide it towards them.

[@SS-cp7sl]

How much does it cost Tokyo-Kyoto reserved versus non-reserved?

[@billchen6791]

Why there’s always two tickets when you ride the Shinkansen?

[@oooppiikkk]

dat female voice is Donna Burke, from the codec of MGSV

[@Cliffdog01]

If you wanted the Green Car seat do you have to reserve those or can they be non reserve too?

[@alinaipiotr6723]

great channel! Hope you see my channel sometime, just getting started this is what I ment

[@melasash4304]

Those trains look amazing , I’m going to Tokyo in November

[@retikka]

120$ for a train ride RIP wallet

[@pittlatn]

and it was a non-reserved seat.

[@anthonylamesa7619]

Even more expensive in the USA -- and the trains are old and slow.

[@cappygolucky]

It’s a shinkansen

[@Neo-po2xw]

Damn expensive

[@Neo-po2xw]

cappygolucky Means Bullet train?

[@Jevon1003]

can you make a video for tokyo to osaka?

[@abhishekp9592]

What is advantage of non-reserved ticket?

[@anthonylamesa7619]

Cheaper and can use on any train

[@unknown-im2bh]

Anthony LaMesa ITS NOT CHEAPER ITS TJE SAME PRICE SOME IF US HAVE BEEN ON THE SHINKANSEN

[@Plasma21k]

Harry potter fan in this case john was not using JR pass so non-reserved tickets are about 1000 yen cheaper from shin-osaka to tokyo.

[@keonigt]

Hello, great video! Just one question. What was the purpose of the automated machine asking for your ICOCA to be inserted? Was it to charge you for your segment from Osaka station to Shin-osaka station?

[@brandontownsend6955]

I believe so. I went from Shinjuku to Tokyo station and then on to Osaka, but I never left the train gates in Tokyo station for the Shinjuku to Tokyo part of my journey. So, unless you pay for it right away, as far as your Suica is concerned you never left the gate. Same story with Johny boy here.

[@richardyoung377]

Shinkansen is old hat, no big deal.

[@johnthuosand4969]

Next time answer your wife we can wait john

[@onlyinjapanGO]

john Thuosand she just wanted to make sure I didn’t eat the cake before I got home! 😂

[@johnthuosand4969]

ONLY in JAPAN * GO lol hope you guys enjoy the 🍰

[@hexedmarionette]

hahaha

[@nmplab]

huh, was that ZUN at 4:37?

[@sskot4921]

i would get bento box

[@marianataborda8889]

very helpful ❤

[@CHAOTICREATIONS]

My friend and I need help---We leave for Japan in August and will go directly to our hotel and then Disney for 3.5 days but after that we want to go to Hiroshima. Will the JR pass cover that for us both (there and back) and what train to we get? Also Do we buy this in the states before we leave the USA? Is it cheaper if we buy it there in Tokyo? If not? How to we get the cheapest tickets to Hiroshima from Tokyo and What do we need to do and plan on money wise in advance...PLEASE HELP US

[@cappygolucky]

Are you a Libra

[@sskot4921]

it was not easy

[@moyga]

I'm confused about one part, what is the point of putting the ICOCA into the machine?

[@marieperry7730]

Hokkaido

[@ModestGamer84]

Hey! Hope I can get an answer for this question. I’m going to Osaka on December 24 from Tokyo but me and my wife wanted to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day at Disneyland. We will be purchasing JR passes before visiting the country. My question is how long is that ride and how late can I stay out before the train start running. Will be in Japan for two weeks one week in Tokyo and one week and Osaka.

[@mindfu11dr0n3]

It was a bit confusing buying my ticket, and Osaka is not as English friendly as Tokyo, but man.... WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Maybe I buy Jr pass next time, to save myself a bit of confusion, or maybe My Japanese get better!!

[@Obsidian-Nebula]

+ONLY in JAPAN * GO Was the censorship "live" (which would be astonishing) or did You add it later ?

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Tokyo to Osaka is about the same distance as Boston to Philadelphia. An Acela ticket between those two cities bought on the day? $230. And it takes longer too. SMH

[@takeru51]

I’d just walk in to the green car and make my way through it till I reach the non reserve 😂

[@richardyu5460]

For that price,better not take hirka because it is slow and you paid for a price maybe NOZOMI is better

[@leesway]

I clicked on just to learn how to buy a pass but I ended up liking the whole video and even started talking to you--I mean talking to the screen. Yeah, like a crazy person.

[@soulsearcher9530]

I have a random question John. Can you take small animals in cages on the trains? Like a cat in a crate? We will be moving to Japan next year and I’m trying to decide on the best route for us. Thank you!

[@sebastianmaier1378]

Wait, you can pick any train you want??????

[@na0miChan]

can you buy a return ticket? like for tokyo-osaka & osaka-tokyo..! and can you buy a return ticket with a other date for return?

[@vijgai3]

You can get into the reserved carriage & walk down to the non-reserved.

[@kifoghorn]

Is it bad etiquette to enter any carriage then walk through the train to the unreserved carriage?

[@donaldguntner622]

Great video John but pick up your wife’s calls

[@steven8-stones719]

I was really scared before i came but in the end its way more easy then u think and iT makes the way leds, btw pork cutlet sandwich jeje or bento!

[@RMIDRIVER]

they changed Ichiro's contract. He will be in management this year and play next year..

[@ramsessilent]

Great choice always think of what will make the wife happy! and karma gets you a your sandwich!

[@barrybarton5588]

Maybe others already said this, but can't you get on the green car and then walk through to your section?

[@ColdSid]

These trains are so damn beautiful I wish America would do this type of train

[@nathanbermudes3419]

What is the price for a child (4-5 years old) for the Nozomi?

[@peteza189]

On the ticket should have Eng also for non-Japanese travelers

[@4Timesdafunky]

Man. You really wanted that sandwich, huh?

[@TheQuetza01]

You are are a great man you do what you can with your video and you know what is best take care of yourself as well as your wife have a nice time what ever you do

[@donnamikasa]

Thank you for filming this--very helpful video! I hope your wife enjoyed the cheesecake!

[@ReassuringSmile]

Can you buy it the same day or is it better to reserve ahead of time?

[@sachinthachathuranga6291]

Thank you for putting up this video...

[@kawardt6784]

how much does it cost to travel by train in japan?

[@Amir14Ameero]

how long will the door open for passengers to board?

[@RudiTheMan]

I thought this video got lost in youtube's void world,

[@DineNastyLakers]

John, you seriously rock dude, thanks again buddy.

[@khalidbashir]

This guy is amazing. Very useful and entertaining presentation..Supremely well done:)

[@tmo4052]

Coming from USA. Could anyone buy a JR pass when I arrive or required to do before I arrive?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I’d do it before but I “believe” you can now. Please google the JR website for exact info (it changes).

[@hexedmarionette]

lol john, you're always rushing for the train

[@boredbeingbored894]

Wait- matsuzaka beef sandwich??? Wow so luxurious loll

[@jeffstumpf9129]

John, that train has left without you.

[@xiaodongxu3057]

I think I will like octopus if there is one

[@RoysMania]

Great video as always :) in just about to take the Shinkansen myself today! That was helpful:)

[@KerranKaksi]

I understood Nozomi is not included with the JR pass? Is it so that with the pass you actually have no business with the ticket machines for Shinkansen, you always go to the counter and deal with actual human beings?(!) The same thing applies for getting a reserved seat with the pass?

[@jasperrom]

With the JR Pass you can't use Nozomi trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Take the Hikari train instead which is about 30 minutes 'slower' on the stretch between Osaka and Tokyo. Hikari trains make 1 or 2 more stops. Other fast trains like the Hayabusa and Kagayaki trains are included otherwise. Ticket machines are useless with a JR Pass. If you want to make a seat reservation go to the ticket counter. Worked pretty fast last week when I was in Japan.

[@TheDevilday666]

Question, that cost 13,620 Yen but didnt say about which train you where paying for. I hear there are 3 types of trains to get from Osaka to Tokyo each costing differently, due to the speed each one has. Is this true?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

The price is the same except for any seat reservation fee. I actually don't think this is a lot more. You can pick the train based on destination - so it has nothing to do with price. You ride the three other trains because it stops at your station. Kodama stops at every station, Hikari is semi-express and the Nozomi only stops at major stops. Its price is based on 1) distance (the normal ticket price from A to B) 2) the Express Train surcharge for the Shinkansen JR Rail Pass holders - foreign visitors - cannot ride the Nozomi but if you are buying the ticket without a pass, you will always ride the Nozomi unless you get off at one of the smaller stations in route or switch trains to save time. I hope that helps.

[@na0miChan]

Is the base fare ticket, the ticket to go to the shinkansen station? So if you buy the shinkansen ticket at the shinkansen station you dont have to buy a base fare ticket?

[@vijgai3]

You need both.

[@spogeo45]

Is it possible to buy tickets, order food and gifts entirely in English? Do the store workers speak English?

[@Plasma21k]

Michael George yes, even if store workers don’t speak english, you can point to stuff you want to buy and purchase it.

[@01Yiyi]

Awe always thinking about his wife. So sweet!

[@AmyMoncure]

This will help so many people!

[@apisbohtv7480]

Your japanese were so good

[@arrayamerino311]

Can you pay cash instead of using a credit card at the vending machine to purchase the tickets? Or could it be a debit card?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Arraya Merino yes, Japan is a cash based society so it’s okay :)

[@bunnyI3oy15]

Wait how many tickets did you buy and are they round trip?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

They give you so many pieces of paper. One is the receipt, another is an official business receipt. One is the super express ticket and the last one is the actual ticket. Sometimes you’ll get another ticket for local travel. Crazy right?! - one way,

[@kamalashila3549]

Does the reserved seat ticket more expensive?

[@unknown-im2bh]

Peony Rose nope its optional

[@Plasma21k]

Peony Rose if you are using JR pass, then the price is same, but if you are buying tickets (like to ride nozomi express to move faster) , then the reserved easts will be a little bit more expensive. generally its about 500-1000 yen expensive.