What is SmartEx

SmartEX is the official booking platform for the Tokaidō, Sanyō, and Kyūshū Shinkansen lines. If you are traveling between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka (Hakata), Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, SmartEX offers a far more convenient alternative than lining up at a ticket counter or vending machine.

Tickets purchased via SmartEX are at least 200 yen cheaper than those bought at stations, and changing or canceling your ticket is much easier since you don’t have to visit a counter or machine.

SmartEX is accessible via both app and website. To register, you only need a credit card and an email address. Once registered, you can begin booking immediately. Note: while ticket changes are possible, cancellations incur a 320 yen fee.

When to Use (and Not Use) SmartEX

When to Use:
SmartEX is excellent for booking tickets on the Tokaidō, Sanyō, and Kyūshū Shinkansen lines.

When Not to Use:

• SmartEX cannot book tickets for the Hokuriku, Tōhoku, or Jōetsu Shinkansen.
  • If you’re traveling to destinations like Kanazawa, Karuizawa, Gala Yuzawa, Sendai, Morioka, or Aomori, you’ll need to purchase tickets another way.
• SmartEX is also not ideal if your trip involves both Shinkansen and conventional limited express trains.
  • Example: Traveling from Narita Airport to Kyoto/Osaka requires a Narita Express ticket + a Shinkansen ticket, which SmartEX cannot book together.
  • If you need to combine Shinkansen and conventional rail tickets, it’s better to use a ticket vending machine or visit a manned ticket counter.

Registering Your Credit Card / IC Card

1. Register your credit or debit card first under Change/Cancel Membership Info.
2. You have two ways to go through the turnstile at the station
   • Display QR code on your phone and scan it at the turnstile. The detailed instructions are here.
   • Link your IC card (e.g., Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), and tap your IC card at the Shinkansen turnstiles. The detailed instructions are here.
   • Boarding with physical tickets. This requires you to pick up physical ticket(s) from ticket vending machine at the station. The detailed instructions are here.

You cannot use a credit/debit card directly at Shinkansen turnstiles, so linking an IC card, scanning QR code or using physical ticket is necessary unless you retrive.

Register Your Credit/Debit Card

• Go to Change/Cancel Membership Info in the SmartEX app or website.
• Add your credit or debit card for ticket purchases.

Ways to Pass Through the Shinkansen Gate:

• QR Code: Display the QR code on your phone and scan it at the turnstile. (QR code instructions)
• Linked IC Card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, etc.): Tap your registered IC card at the Shinkansen gate. ( Instructions for linking IC card)
• Physical Ticket: Pick up your ticket from a vending machine at the station and insert it into the turnstile. This is a good option if you’d like to keep the ticket as a souvenir. Just remember to exit through a manned gate booth instead of the automatic gate — otherwise, the machine will collect your ticket. (See instructions on how to receive a physical ticket)

Booking Tickets

Once registered and logged in, you can book up to one year in advance. For most cases, simply click Search Train for selecting a specific date, origin, destination, time, and the number of passengers.
If you just need a non-reserved seat ticket, click Purchase Non-Reserved Seat. You simply buy a non-reserved ticket, which allows you to sit in any available seat in the non-reserved cars. This option is usually cheaper and works well if you’re flexible or traveling light.

Seat Types You Can Choose

Under “Seat Type,” a drop-down menu will appear where you can choose from various seat options. If your suitcase is larger than 160 cm in total dimensions (Checked bag size), select a seat with an “Oversized Luggage Area.” If you’re traveling light with just a carry-on or backpack, you don’t need this option—any regular seat will be fine.

• Oversized Baggage Area (last row): space behind seats for large luggage. Also great for storing strollers.
• Oversized Baggage Compartment: lockers equipped with IC card locks for security.

There are other seat types you can choose from

• S Work Seat (Car 7): Standard seat in a business-focused car.
• S WorkP Seat (Car 7): With partitions for added privacy.
• Family Car: Available during certain holidays only.
• Wheelchair Seats (Car 11): Designed for wheelchair users and companions.

On the next screen, you’ll see a list of available trains. For example, when I selected Nozomi No. 273, the system showed that a discount was available. You can also view each train’s origin and destination, which helps you estimate how crowded the train is likely to be.

The next step is choosing your fare class. This is where you’ll see which discount options are available for your train. For example, when I selected Nozomi No. 273, both Hayatoku 3 and Hayatoku 21 discounts were offered.

After picking your fare class, you can choose your seat by clicking the “View Seat Map” button.

The seat map lets you pick both your car and seat. Note that Row 16 is reserved for passengers with oversized baggage, so those seats can only be booked by selecting the “Oversized Baggage Area” option on the booking page.

After selecting your seat and moving to payment, you can choose how to receive your ticket:

• QR Code: Show the code at the gate
• Station Vending Machine: Pick up a printed ticket before boarding.
• IC Card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, etc.): The easiest option — simply tap your IC card at the Shinkansen gate and board, with no need to collect a physical ticket.

Latest Update (2025)

In 2025, there are fewer discount options for Nozomi trains (the fastest and most frequent service) between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka. Because Nozomi trains have such high occupancy, operators don’t need to offer many discounts.

Instead, more discount options have been added to the slower Hikari and Kodama services. In short: if you want to save time, you’ll pay more — but if you want to save money, consider the slower trains.

Types of Trains

The Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo–Nagoya–Kyoto–Shin-Osaka) has a huge seat capacity since all trains run with 16 cars (1,319 seats).

On the Sanyō Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka–Okayama–Hiroshima–Hakata), only the Nozomi and selected Hikari trains operate with 16 cars — other services use fewer. This means Nozomi generally has better seat availability than Mizuho or Sakura.

On the Kyūshū Shinkansen, trains are smaller, with 6 or 8 cars only.

When it comes to discounts, the less popular trains like Kodama and Hikari usually offer more options, while high-demand trains such as Nozomi and Mizuho provide fewer (or no) discounts.

Shinkansen Line	Type of Train	Number of Cars	Notes
Tokaidō Shinkansen	Fastest: Nozomi (skips most stops) Faster: Hikari (skips some) Slowest: Kodama (stops at all)	16 cars (1,319 seats)	All trains are 16 cars. During peak times, trains run every 4 minutes.
Sanyō Shinkansen	Fastest: Nozomi & Mizuho Faster: Sakura & Hikari Slowest: Kodama	16 cars (Nozomi + some Hikari) 8 cars (others)	Nozomi has better seat availability than Sakura/Mizuho.
Kyūshū Shinkansen	Fastest: Mizuho Faster: Sakura Slowest: Tsubame	6–8 cars	Fewer seats, so booking early is recommended.

Types of Seats

Reserved Seat

• Standard seat with a seat assignment.
• Best for:
  • Nozomi, Hikari, Mizuho and Sakura.
  • When you need to book a seat with an oversized luggage area.
  • Passengers traveling with a wheelchair.

Non-Reserved Seat

• Standard seat with no assignment — sit in any available seat in the non-reserved cars but it does not guarantee a seat.
• Usually a little cheaper than reserved seats.
• Best for:
  • Kodama and Tsubame (many non-reserved cars).
  • Off peak time Hikari.
  • Travelers who prefer flexibility.
  • Families (children under 12 can ride free).
  • When reserved seats are sold out (standing is allowed in non-reserved cars).
• Limitations: Nozomi and Mizuho do not offer non-reserved seats during peak travel seasons.

Green Car (First Class)

• Premium seating with wider seats and more recline than standard cars.
• Always requires a reservation.

Adult and child fare rules:

Like all Japanese trains, Shinkansen fares are divided into adult and child categories, with an exception for children under 6 years old.

• Adult Fare: Applies to passengers 12 years and older.
• Child Fare: Applies to children 6–11 years old. It is half the price of an adult fare.
• Children under 6:
  • Travel free when accompanied by an adult!
  • This applies even if they occupy a seat in non-reserved cars.
  • For reserved seats or Green Car seats, a child fare is required — unless the child sits on an adult’s lap.

Available Discounts

SmartEX offers several Hayatoku (Early Bird) discounts, available from 21 days to 1 day before departure. Discounts range from 6% to 44%, depending on the train type and route.

General Rule is that the earlier you book, the bigger the discount, just like airfare. You should keep in mind that discounts are not available during peak holiday periods such as New Year’s (Jan 1–3), Golden Week (late April–early May), and Obon (mid-August).

Hayatoku 21

• Booking Window: Up to 21 days in advance.
• Eligibility: Up to 6 adults or children.
• Applicable Trains: Nozomi only
• Discount: 10–19% off standard reserved seats.
• Restrictions: Reservation changes not allowed → must cancel (fee applies) and rebook
• Best for: Long-distance travel such as Tokyo ⇄ Hiroshima. This ticket is the most restrictive but offers 10 – 19% discounts on Nozomi.

Hayatoku 7

• Booking Window: Up to 7 days in advance.
• Eligibility: Up to 6 adults or children.
• Applicable Trains: Nozomi (except Tokyo ⇄ Shin-Osaka), Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, Sakura, Tsubame.
• Discount: 14% off Nozomi (Tokyo ⇄ Hiroshima), 17% off Hikari/Kodama (Tokyo ⇄ Kyoto).
• Restrictions: Reservation can be changed up to 7 days before departure.
• Best for: If you plan your trip more than 7 days before, and don’t mind taking a slower train when traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto/ Osaka.

Hayatoku 3

• Booking Window: Up to 3 days in advance.
• Eligibility: Up to 6 adults or children.
• Applicable Trains: Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, Sakura, Tsubame.
• Discount: Green Car (1st class) seats only → up to 16% off (Tokyo ⇄ Kyoto / Tokyo ⇄ Hiroshima).
• Restrictions: Reservation can be changed up to 3 days before departure.
• Best for: Travelers who want extra comfort and legroom at a discount.

Hayatoku 1 (New in 2025)

• Booking Window: Up to 1 day in advance.
• Eligibility: Up to 6 adults or children.
• Applicable Trains: Hikari and Kodama only.
• Discount: Non-reserved seats only → up to 44% off (best deal: Maibara → Shin-Osaka)
• Restrictions: Date changes allowed up to 1 day before departure
• Best for: Last-minute savings on shorter trips such as Tokyo ⇄ Odawara (15% discount) for Hakone, Tokyo ⇄ Atami (9%) for Onsen, Kyoto ⇄ Shin-Osaka (6%).

Hayatoku 7 Family

• Booking Window: Up to 7 days in advance.
• Eligibility: 2–6 adults or children.
• Applicable Trains: Hikari and Kodama (Tokyo ⇄ Shin-Osaka)
• Discount: 21–36% off → best rates on Nagoya ⇄ Shin-Osaka and Tokyo ⇄ Kyoto (20%)
• Restrictions: Date changes allowed up to 7 days before departure
• Best for: Families or small groups traveling together

Platt Kodama Discount (Extra Savings on Kodama)

For the best deals on Kodama using SmartEX, the Platt Kodama is a great option. It is a package tour ticket sold by JR Tokai Tours (JR Central’s travel agency). The Platt Kodama ticket includes a Reserved or Green Car seat on any Kodama train, plus a ¥320 drink voucher that can be redeemed at station platform stores.

The discounts are excellent: about 25% off Reserved Seats and 36% off Green Car Seats when traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto/Shin-Osaka. Tickets can be booked up to 24 hours before departure, and you can change trains as often as you like up until departure, making this option more flexible than other SmartEX discount tickets.

To book a Platt Kodama ticket, go to the SmartEX main page and click “Shinkansen Travel Packages.” This will take you to the tour ticket website. Passing through the fare gate works the same as with other SmartEX tickets: you can either link your IC card or display a QR code. However, unlike other SmartEX tickets, there is no physical ticket option.

Shinkansen Peak Travel Times:

Weekdays:

• 7am – 9 am: Packed with business travelers and commuters (yes, many people commute by Shinkansen). Monday mornings are the busiest in general.
• 11 am – 3 pm: Busy with tourists, but it is less crowded than the morning rush hour. Less typing noise but more conversations on the train.
• 5 pm – 8 pm: Busy again with commuters and business travelers.
• After 8 pm: Generally not busy, except on Fridays, Sundays, and the last day of holidays.

Weekends & Holidays:

Typically busy from 9 am – 8 pm due to tourist travel, but not as crowded as weekday morning trains. Unlike weekdays, mornings are generally less crowded, so if you want to secure a seat, it’s best to start early. On three-day weekends, the late afternoon of the first day, the second day, and the early morning of the last day are usually less crowded.

Shinkansen Booking Strategy:

If you’re not carrying large luggage (I recommend shipping big suitcases separately), you can often book at the station on the day of travel. Nozomi and Hikari trains depart every ~10 minutes from Tokyo, so if you’re flexible, you’ll likely find a seat.

Tokyo → Kyoto/Osaka

• Start by looking for Shin-Osaka bound Nozomi trains (train numbers in the 200s–400s, e.g., Nozomi 229 or Nozomi 327).
  • These trains are less crowded because passengers traveling beyond Osaka don’t board them.
• If Nozomi reserve seats are not available, look for Hikari trains.
• If reserve seats are not available.
  • Change time or date
  • Take a non-reserved seat on a Nozomi and Hikari. Arrive at the platform 20 minutes early to line up for the best chance of a seat. Just note that it only works from Tokyo Station, so if you are staying near Shinagawa, it is not a bad idea to backtrack to Tokyo Station.
• Last solution is taking Kodama non-reserve seat.
  • Kodama is the slowest train (adds about 1.5 hours to Tokyo–Kyoto), but it’s often nearly empty.
  • Most Kodama cars are non-reserved, and Cars 13–16 are usually the empty — sometimes you can have a whole row to yourself.

Tokyo → Kyoto / Osaka

• Best Option: Look for Shin-Osaka–bound Nozomi trains (train numbers in the 200s–400s, e.g., Nozomi 229 or Nozomi 327).
  • These trains are less crowded since passengers heading farther west don’t board them.
• If Nozomi reserved seats are sold out:
  • Try Hikari trains.
  • If reserved seats are still unavailable:
    • Adjust your time or date, or
    • Take a non-reserved seat on a Nozomi or Hikari. Arrive at the platform at least 20 minutes before departure to line up.
      • This strategy only works from Tokyo Station (not Shinagawa), so if you’re staying near Shinagawa, it may be worth backtracking to Tokyo Station.
• Last Resort: Take a Kodama non-reserved seat.
  • Kodama is the slowest (adds ~1.5 hrs Tokyo–Kyoto), but it’s often nearly empty.
  • Most cars are non-reserved, and Cars 13–16 are usually the emptiest — sometimes you can have a whole row to yourself.

Kyoto/ Osaka → Tokyo

• Same basic strategy as Tokyo → Kyoto/Osaka.
• Look for Shin-Osaka originating Hikari trains (train numbers 630–679) for better seat availability.

Kyoto – Shin Osaka – Hiroshima – Hakata

• Nozomi trains generally have more seat availability than Sakura/Mizuho → good if you need luggage space.
• If traveling light, Sakura and Mizuho offer a more comfortable 2×2 seating in reserved cars, compared to Nozomi’s 2×3 reserved seating.

Conclusion:

SmartEX has been around for a while, and more tourists are realizing that it’s actually a better option for booking Shinkansen tickets. The best part is that it’s the official website — meaning no third-party surcharges, and in many cases, the cheapest way to book. That makes SmartEX a no-brainer choice for Shinkansen travel.

Unlike other rail booking systems in Japan, SmartEX is flexible. It offers multiple ticketing options — QR code, IC card, or physical ticket. On top of that, you get access to early-bird discounts and flexible booking features not available when purchasing at the station. Without ever needing to visit a ticket counter, you can book a ticket while shopping, relaxing at a café, or even on the go — then head straight to the platform when it’s time to board.

SmartEX makes traveling on the Tokaidō, Sanyō, and Kyūshū Shinkansen lines more convenient, affordable, and stress-free. Hopefully, you’ll take advantage of SmartEX when planning your next Shinkansen trip.