I was addicted to the Japan Shinkansen after taking it during my first trip to Japan. It is such a comfortable way to travel around the country and so convenient for travellers. I am back with another ride on these bullet trains as I travel from Kyoto to Tokyo. JR have a very high-tech and well-established rail network. These high-speed lines connect major cities in the country. The Shinkansen which has a top speed of 320 km/hr offers an efficient and comfortable way to travel. During my trip last year, I travelled in ordinary class with a JR Pass, you can check out my review here. This time around, I just bought individual tickets since I only took it once and I also decided to give Green Class a try. Green Class is like First Class in European train travel.
Direct Booking
There are two ways of booking Shinkansen tickets. Direct Bookings or using a rail pass like JR Pass. Direct Bookings refer to single-trip journeys where you simply get tickets for a specific route and train you want. The advantage of this is getting the specific trains that you want by booking your train and securing the ticket early online. It also allows you to get tickets for the Nozomi, the fastest train. You are not allowed to take the Nozomi when travelling on a JR Pass. This might be a good point to take note of if you are travelling during peak periods. I have constantly heard of trains being fully booked during the peak travelling period like the New Year Holidays. If you would like to book Shinkansen Tickets, I recommend doing so via the Smart Ex app. It allows you to search for journeys and check the fares. This is how I booked my tickets. Do book early if want to snag the promo fares. I paid 14,120 Yen for a ticket. You can book up to 1 month ahead.
Arrival
Japan train stations might get confusing given how huge and crowded it is. This is especially true in huge stations in major cities like Kyoto and Tokyo. Do check out some tours over here if you prefer someone else doing the planning in Kyoto. Do take more time to familiarise yourself. This is especially true with your suitcases. I took a taxi from my hotel to the station which is easy enough. You then head to the screens to check the platforms. For bookings made via Smart Ex, you can get mobile tickets and simply access the platforms by scanning the QR code.
We then transferred to the Shinkansen platforms. There are signs and it is rather easy to find. Be there slightly ahead and wait for the trains. The signs are very clear. Trains in Japan are super punctual. They will not wait. Don’t board the first train you see as it might not be the one you should be taking too if you are early. The boards will also show where the Ordinary Class and Green Class cars are. They will also show where are the reserved and non-reserved seat cabins. If you have oversized baggage, you have to reserve a seat and a spot for your luggage. They classify oversized baggage as being over 160cm. This can be done through Smart Ex too.
Shinkansen Kyoto to Tokyo to Green Class
This is one of the most well-known routes and the classic Kyoto and Tokyo journey. The Shinkansen is the easiest and most comfortable way to travel between the two cities. The sub 3-hour journey starts from Kyoto Station before pulling in at my stop Tokyo Station. This time around I am also on the Nozomi which is the fastest train with the least number of stops. Green Class which is like First Class is in a 2-2 configuration. It offers more space and privacy for guests. Do note that all Green Class seats are reserved seatings only. Even when travelling on a rail pass like JR Pass, you do not have the flexibility to hop on any train of your fancy. That might not be good for travelling.
I booked my tickets via Smart Ex and got the seats with oversized luggage area. These are the last row of seats with a space behind you to place your huge suitcase. I love the arrangement as you can keep your eyes on your baggage. These are limited so do book them early in advance.
The seats are well-padded and comfortable. They come with a generous recline as well. Here are some pictures of the Green Class seats. They also have a huge table that flips out from the seat in front of you as well as a side table for drinks.
The recline is very good too. Shinkansen also comes with complimentary wifi for guests to use. It can get spotty at times so don’t rely on them. Each seat comes with a socket that will come in handy for charging your devices to hit the road running when you arrive at your destination.
Service is much more attentive and a host comes by from time to time to see if you want to get any food and drinks. The host also came by to provide some wet wipes.
Conclusion
I am a huge fan of the Shinkansen as it allows you to zip around Japan easily. It removes the fuss of travelling on planes with the need to arrive much earlier and watch out for luggage weights. Ordinary Class will do fine but Green Class is much more comfortable. By purchasing tickets in advance you can sometimes enjoy savings and the difference between the two might be negligible. Do compare around and do the calculations. JR Pass has recently increased its price and it might not be that worth it anymore.
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