Travel Insight

How to Find Cheap Shinkansen Tickets

There are many ways to get Shinkansen tickets for less. Find the best discount strategy for your trip and travel smartly.

Quick Answer:

• Best for Tourists → Japan Rail Pass
• Best for Advance Booking → Smart EX (EX Early Bird)
• Best for Budget → Puratto Kodama

1. Discount Methods Summary

We've created a quick chart comparing the main discount methods at a glance.

Method Average Savings Features
Japan Rail Pass Varies vastly Unlimited rides for tourists. Exceptional value for multi-city travel.
EX Reservation ~¥1,000+ Requires membership. Fast online booking up to the day before.
Early Bird Several thousand yen Massive discounts if booked 7 or 21 days in advance.

2. Japan Rail Pass (For Tourists)

For international travelers visiting Japan, the Japan Rail Pass remains an incredibly powerful option.

For International Travelers

The JR Pass grants unlimited travel on almost all JR lines over a designated period. If you plan to travel between multiple major cities (e.g. Tokyo to Kyoto to Hiroshima), it is vastly cheaper than buying individual train tickets.

3. EX Reservations (Smart EX)

The most common and convenient method is the online reservation service provided by JR, known as "Smart EX" and "EX Reservation".

Online Booking Basics

You can book, change, and ride the train using only your smartphone. It is consistently several hundred to several thousand yen cheaper than standard fares.
  • Smart EX: No annual fee. Ideal for occasional travelers and beginners.
  • EX Reservation: ¥1,100 annual fee. Recommended only if you travel very frequently, as it offers steeper baseline discounts.

4. Early Bird Deals

If your travel dates are fixed, booking early yields the absolute highest savings.

EX Early Bird 21

By booking at least 21 days in advance, the "Nozomi" reserved seat ticket gets a massive price drop. These tickets are highly popular and sell out quickly.

Puratto Kodama

An exclusive package for the all-station-stop "Kodama" train. While the journey takes longer, it provides immense discounts and even includes a free drink voucher.

5. Student Discounts

Students (junior high, high school, university) can receive a 20% discount on the base fare.

Only the "base fare" portion is discounted by 20%; the express ticket fee is excluded. However, the longer your distance, the greater the total savings. A "Student Discount Certificate" issued by your school is required.

6. Route-Specific Fare Guides

For specific fares on major routes, please reference our detailed destination guides below.

Fare Guide Tokyo to Osaka Shinkansen Fares | Nozomi & Hikari Pricing