Taking the Shinkansen “bullet train” is usually the fastest and most comfortable way to travel through Japan. If you have a Japan Rail Pass it can also be economical on some long-distance itineraries, but it is worth comparing the pass price with regular tickets before you buy. The pass alone does not cover Nozomi or Mizuho trains. However, pass holders can ride them by purchasing a supplemental Nozomi Mizuho Ticket before boarding.
A Shinkansen train at Shin-Osaka Station
If you travel to or from Osaka on the Shinkansen then you will pass through Shin-Osaka Station. This is the only station in Osaka that is connected to the Shinkansen network and it is the common terminus of two Shinkansen lines: the Tokaido Line and the Sanyo Line. The Tokaido connects Osaka with Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo in the east, and the Sanyo connects Osaka with Hakata in Fukuoka.
Shin-Osaka Station
You can find out more about these lines in our two articles on the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Sanyo Shinkansen. And for more information about Shin-Osaka Station please see our article: Shin-Osaka Station Facilities & Transfers. In this article we are going to look at the details of purchasing Shinkansen tickets.
Popular Hotels near Shin-Osaka Station
How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets
At Shin-Osaka Station you can find Shinkansen ticket machines and ticket offices around the Shinkansen ticket gates and transfer areas.
Shinkansen ticket machines
JR ticket vending machines have English menus, and some machines can sell limited express tickets and reserve seats. If your route is complicated, you are using a rail pass, or you need help choosing the right train, buying at a ticket office is often easier.
You can also book Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen tickets through the official Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation service, also known as Smart EX. The service requires membership registration and a compatible credit card. Depending on the ticket, you may be able to board with a QR-Ticket on your phone or pick up physical tickets at a station. Many reservations can be changed free of charge up to 4 minutes before departure, though some products, seat types and advance-reservation options have restrictions.
When buying your tickets you will need to decide on your seat preferences. There are two standard classes of carriage on Shinkansen trains: Ordinary and Green Cars. The seats on Ordinary Cars are comfortable enough, but the seats on Green Cars are larger and offer a little more comfort, quiet and leg-room. Tickets for Green Cars are more expensive and require a Green Car ticket. Also, when purchasing a Japan Rail Pass, you must choose between an Ordinary Pass or a Green Pass.
For ordinary tickets both non-reserved seats, or jiyu seki, and reserved seats, or shitei seki, are available on many trains in different carriages. Reserved seats usually cost a little extra. However, during busy periods, particularly national holidays, the non-reserved carriages can fill up, so it may be worth making a reservation to avoid the risk of standing throughout the journey. Nozomi trains also operate with all seats reserved during published peak periods, so reserve ahead if you plan to use Nozomi at those times.
If you are carrying oversized baggage on the Tokaido, Sanyo or Kyushu Shinkansen, reserve the correct seat when buying your ticket. Baggage with total dimensions over 160 cm and up to 250 cm requires a seat with an oversized baggage area. Baggage over 250 cm cannot be brought onboard, and bringing oversized baggage without the required reservation can result in a 1,000 yen fee.
To summarize, when buying your tickets you will need to offer the following information:
- The number of travelers.
- The departure station and destination.
- The date and time of travel.
- One-way or return, or separate outbound and return trips if booking online.
- The train type, such as Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Sakura or Mizuho, if you have a preference.
- Preferences: Ordinary or Green Car, Reserved or Non-reserved.
- Whether you need a seat with an oversized baggage area.
For more details on buying tickets please check the JR Central How to buy Tickets page and its guide to Types of Tickets.
A physical Shinkansen ticket usually consists of a basic fare ticket, or joshaken, and a limited express ticket, or tokkyuken. You may receive these as separate tickets, as a combined ticket, or as part of a QR/IC ticketless product, depending on how and where you buy. For physical tickets, insert all required tickets together at the Shinkansen gates and keep them safely until you exit at your destination. If you are using QR or IC boarding, follow the instructions for that ticket and keep any seat information until the end of the trip.
In general it is easier to buy Shinkansen tickets at an office than at a machine
Discounts
The Japan Rail Pass can be used on many JR trains and Shinkansen services, including Hikari, Kodama and Sakura trains, but not on Nozomi or Mizuho trains unless you buy the separate NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket before boarding. The pass is available to eligible foreign visitors with Temporary Visitor status. You can buy it through the official Japan Rail Pass website or through an authorized overseas distributor, and then pick it up or exchange your voucher after arrival in Japan. The pass can be good value for some long-distance itineraries, but check your planned route against regular fares before buying.
Platt-KODAMA is a JR Tokai Tours one-way travel package using Kodama Shinkansen trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Kodama is the slowest Shinkansen train type on this route because it stops at all stations. Train time between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is about 4 hours.
Current ordinary-car fares for Monday to Thursday departures outside peak seasons include Tokyo to Osaka/Shin-Osaka from 11,360 yen and Nagoya to Osaka/Shin-Osaka from 5,340 yen, as of 1-Apr-2026.
Green Car fares are also available, with Tokyo to Osaka/Shin-Osaka from 12,550 yen under the same conditions. Platt-KODAMA can be purchased online from 10:00 JST one month before travel until 23:30 JST the day before boarding. It is valid only for the reserved train and reserved seat, excludes some peak seasons, and changes are limited. Check the official Platt-KODAMA website for details.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 29-Jul-2026.
