How can I make seat reservations?

All seats should be booked before boarding the train. The JR Group does not allow you to change to a reserved seat once you have boarded the train. Before booking a seat, it is necessary to first have traded the Exchange Order for the JR Pass and selected an activation date.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It’s mandatory to book a seat to ride the Nozomi service during the busiest time of the Japanese calander year, Golden Week (April 26 to May 6). Non-reserved seating is not available on these trains during this time.

How to reserve a seat at a JR Ticket Office

Here’s how to to book a seat at a JR Ticket Office:

• Take your Japan Rail Pass to any JR Ticket Office (at any train station) or go to a Travel Service Center or a Travel Agency ticket sales office. You can also make reservations at the ticketing machines in any train station (available from July 1st, 2020).
• Once at the ticket office, you will be asked about your destination and preferred departure time. You can also look up the train times in advance, or get help from one of the friendly staff members to find the best option for your trip.
• You are given your reserved seat ticket, stating departure time, arrival time, train name, car, and seat. For example: Nagoya - Kyoto / 14:19 - 15:11 / Hikari 513, Car 11, Seat 5-B.

Those who wish to take any of the Limited Express or Shinkansen trains and book a private compartment will be required to pay an extra fee. Traveling in a sleeping car also requires additional payment.

How to reserve a seat using ticketing machines

You can now easily reserve seats on ticketing machines in JR stations using the QR code on your JR Pass.

Simply follow these steps:

1. Find a ticket machine equipped with a QR code reader
   

2. On the screen, choose the “Select” option near “Select train to use now.”
3. Select the number of JR Passes needing reservations and confirm
4. Scan your JR Pass - Position the JR Pass QR code in front of the reader
5. Enter your passport number and confirm
6. For additional JR Passes, repeat the QR scan and passport steps
7. Input your journey details and proceed to search for available trains
   

8. Select your preferred train and time from the displayed options
   

9. Choose the class of car you wish to travel in
   

10. Select your preference of seat position
    

11. Choose the specific car you wish to travel in
    

12. Select the specific seat(s) you want
    

13. Confirmation page - review your journey/seat details
14. Retrieve your seat reservation ticket from the machine’s printer slot

When should I reserve a seat?

Available seats are not guaranteed on the busy commuter trains going to and from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. There are no crowds on the intercity Shinkansen trains so free seats tend to be available. However, it is recommended to book a seat before boarding any train during the following peak seasons:

• April 27 to May 6
• August 11-20
• December 28 to January 6

All the dates mentioned above are holiday periods during popular travel seasons. Should you decide to go to Japan during this time of year, make sure you always book your seats in advance.

Green Pass holders are also advised to book a seat in advance to guarantee traveling on a green car, otherwise, they may be relocated to a standard car.

Can I reserve seats with the JR Pass online or by phone?

Booking a seat over the phone is not possible. Also, if you currently hold an Exchange Order purchased through our site, you won’t be able to make online seat reservations before traveling to Japan.

 Please be careful with external booking platforms or local Japanese websites. Since these systems can’t link to your pending pass, they will charge you the standard, full-price ticket fare.

Reserving your seats in person is actually very simple and completely free with your Japan Rail Pass. Here is how to do it once you land:

1. Activate your physical pass: As soon as you arrive in Japan, head to any official JR Exchange Office (located at airports and major stations) to swap your Exchange Order for the actual JR Pass.

2. Book your seats on the spot: With your active pass in hand, you can reserve seats on the Shinkansen, limited express lines, and airport trains without paying a single extra yen. You can do this at your own pace using the station’s automated ticket machines, or simply walk into any JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) and ask the staff to do it for you.

Can I book a seat in advance?

Yes, you can book a seat on a JR train up to a month in advance. This means that if you already have your itinerary mapped out, you can make seat reservations for your entire stay in Japan.

Note: Seats can only be booked in person at any Travel Service or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi). You will be asked to show your passport and your original Japan Rail Pass.