How To Purchase Shinkansen Tickets from Ticket Machines in Japan

Here’s what you need to know about purchasing Shinkansen tickets from automated machines using a credit card.

Shinkansen tickets can be purchased from automatic vending machines using an international credit card

Topping out at 200mp/h (320km/h) and carrying over a million passengers a day, the “Shinkansen” bullet train is our favorite mode of transport between major cities like Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Taking the Shinkansen is not only fast and convenient, it’s also one of the quintessential Japanese transportation experiences.

Thankfully purchasing a Shinkansen ticket is equally as convenient. The major JR train stations offer multiple options of ticket vending machines that provide service in English (and other languages) and accept international credit cards for payment.

A bank of Shinkansen ticket vending machines at Shin Osaka station

Types of JR Ticket Vending Machines

Within the JR station, you’re likely to encounter multiple styles of ticket machines. Here’s a breakdown of the three most common ticket vending machines:


Standard Ticket Vending Machine:

The standard ticket vending machine is designed for local travel. You can buy tickets for all the local lines here, as well as charge IC cards like Icoca, Pasmo or Suica. The standard language options are available (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean) and cash is the only accepted form of payment (up to 10,000yen bills). You CANNOT buy Shinkansen tickets from these machines.

Green “Midori” Ticket Vending Machine:

The green “midori no kenbaiki” ticket vending machines offer the same services as the Midori no Madoguchi ticket sales window, namely the ability to purchase Shinkansen tickets and reserved seats. You can also perform services related to commuter passes through these machines, although these are services more useful to local Japanese residents.

The green “Midori” ticket vending machines offer the same language options and support both cash (up to 10,000 yen bills) and credit card payments.

Green “Midori” ticket vending machines at Shin Osaka Station

Blue Shinkansen Ticket Vending Machine:

The blue reserved seat machine ONLY sells tickets for the Shinkansen lines. It offers the same language options as the standard machine, but accepts either cash and credit card, or credit card only depending on the machine.

For tourists purchasing Shinkansen tickets, both the green and blue ticket vending machines will do the job, offering English support and credit card payment options.

Blue shinkansen ticket vending machines at Kyoto Station

Can I use the Midori no Madoguchi?

Yes! The Midori no Madoguchi is the in-person ticket sales window in most JR train stations. You can purchase reserved and non-reserved seats for the Shinkansen from here, but there are a number of drawbacks.

Depending on the station and the staff on duty, there may not be any English speaking assistance available. This may make communication and the purchase process more difficult than it needs to be.

Furthermore, these ticket windows have a tendency to get quite lined up especially during rush hour or other busy times of the day. So if you’re not a big fan of queues and like multilingual support, definitely check out the ticket vending machines.

Purchasing from a Shinkansen Ticket Vending Machine

Here are the steps to purchase a Shinkansen ticket from either the green or blue ticket vending machines.

Green “midori no kenbaiki” ticket vending machines:

1. Locate the green ticket vending machines in the station
    
   Green ticket vending machines at Shin Osaka Station 
2. Approach the machine. Change the language using the buttons in the top right of the screen. Choose a reserved or non-reserved seat. Non-reserved tickets are cheaper and give you the flexibility to ride on any Shinkansen train that day, but seating can sometimes be limited especially during rush hour. Reserved tickets cost more but (by definition) give you a guaranteed seat of your choice.


    
   The first screen in the ticket purchasing process 
3. Choose Shinkansen

.
    
   Select the Shinkansen option 
4. Choose departure station (the screen will default to your current station).
    
   Select the departing station
 
5. Choose your destination station.
    
   Select the destination station
 
6. Choose your day of departure. Tickets can be purchased for same day travel, or up to one month in advance. 


    
   Select the date you wish to travel on 
7. (Optional) If you selected a reserved seat ticket, select your scheduled train and seat reservations.

8. Choose the desired number of tickets.
    
   Select the number of tickets you need 
9. Choose route (NOTE: a base fare is required. Do not select “Purchase limited express ticket only”).
    
   Select the route to travel
 
10. Choose return ticket options (or none, if needed).
     
    Select your return ticket option (or none) 
11. Confirm your selection

.
     
    Confirm the selections you have made are accurate
 
12. Insert cash or card. If paying by credit card, insert credit card into the “Card” slot and enter your pin number when prompted.
     
    Insert cash or your credit card into the appropriate slot 
13. Your Shinkansen tickets will now be printed. Select the button on screen to print the receipt.

Blue Shinkansen ticket vending machine:

As we mentioned previously, both the green and blue ticket vending machines can be used to purchase Shinkansen tickets. The process is very similar, here’s the step-by-step process:

Blue Shinkansen ticket vending machines at Kyoto Station

1. Approach the machine. Some machines will accept cash and credit card, while others will accept credit card only—this will be clearly labeled above each machine.


    
   Note: this machine accepts credit card only, as indicated above the machine itself
 
2. Change the language setting using the buttons on the top right of the screen. This is the default English screen. Choose reserved or non-reserved seat as needed.


    
   The English starting screen in the purchase process 
3. Choose Shinkansen


    
   Select the Shinkansen option
 
4. Choose departure station (the screen will default to your current station)

.
    
   Select the departing station
 
5. Choose your destination station

.
    
   Select the destination station
 
6. Choose your day of departure. Tickets can be purchased for same day travel or up to one month in advance.
    
   Select your desired travel date 
7. (Optional) If you selected a reserved seat ticket, select your scheduled train and seat reservations.
8. Choose the desired number of tickets.
    
   Select the number of tickets you need 
9. Choose route (NOTE: a base fare is required when traveling via Shinkansen. Do not select “Purchase limited express ticket only”).
    
   Select the route to travel
 
10. Choose return ticket options (or none, if needed).
     
    Select your return ticket option (or none)
 
11. Confirm your selection

.
     
    Confirm the selections you have made are accurate
 
12. Insert cash or card. If paying by credit card, insert credit card into the “Card” slot and enter your pin number when prompted.
     
    Insert payment now and enter your pin when prompted
 
13. Your Shinkansen tickets will now be printed. Select the button on screen to print the receipt.
     
    Select the button on screen to print a receipt if you need one 

Once you’ve received your tickets, all that’s left to do is cross through the ticket gates and board your train. Don’t forget snacks for the journey!

If you’re arriving in Kyoto, don’t forget to plan your stay in advance to make the most of your time. We’ve put together 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, or 5-day itineraries to help you maximize your time in Kyoto.

We also have carefully curated itineraries for trips to Osaka from one to five days in length:

Author
Mike Rogers is a content creator who has lived on-and-off in Osaka for over 13 years. When not in Osaka, he’s travelling the world with his worldschooling family of four or building up his small homestead on Canada’s west coast. His adventures and exploits are documented on his website, Slowsteading.

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