How to Buy Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Tickets on "Smart EX Japan"

Learning how to navigate Japan’s state-of-the-art bullet train system, known as the Shinkansen, is a must if you want to travel around and explore the country.

In some of our other posts, we’ve talked about the shinkansen system in relation to topics such as luggage delivery services and retiring in Japan. This guide focuses on Smart Ex, which is widely considered the fastest way to buy Shinkansen tickets in Japan.

We’ll explain how to buy SmartEx Shinkansen tickets step-by-step, how to use the app, and how to register for the service.

Hop on aboard.

What Is SmartEX Japan?

Japan’s high-speed bullet trains travel all throughout Japan in a heartbeat. As a foreigner, you’ll likely use them when traveling between major cities or exploring various regions, like the country’s snowy mountaintops or the cute little onsen towns.

SmartEX Japan is one of the primary systems you'll encounter when purchasing Shinkansen tickets. 

Although third-party platforms like Klook or JR West’s official website also offer online ticket purchasing, the Smart EX app provides a much more complete and user-friendly experience, like reserving a seat in advance. All you need to do is download it and register for free, which I’ll guide you through step-by-step.

What Area Does Smart EX Cover?

While third-party ticket sales agencies like Klook offer a nationwide service, the JR West website and Smart EX only cover central and western Japan, including Tokyo.

So, please note that Smart EX is only available for trains running on the Tokaido-Sanyo-Kyushu Shinkansen line. This is the line that goes from Tokyo and through Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Hiroshima, into Kyushu.

On the other hand, Smart EX doesn’t cover the Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Tohoku, Hokuriku, and Joetsu shinkansen lines. These are separate lines and are excluded from the Smart EX platform. Nevertheless, the Tokaido-Kyushu line will likely be your most used one, as it goes through many of Japan's major cities and tourist destinations.

Before Registering for Smart EX Shinkansen Tickets Service

To be able to purchase tickets via the Smart EX website or the app, you first need to register and create a user account. You can follow the instructions on the Smart Ex site just by looking at the images shown, but we’ll explain the process in detail below. 

While the registration process is completely free, you still need to put down your credit card information to confirm your identity.

The accepted credit cards are as follows: American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Diner’s Club, JCB, J-WEST Card, and DISCOVER card.  

The registration process is very similar whether you do it on the app or the website, so here’s the step-by-step.

Registering on The Smart EX English Website, Step-By-Step

First, go to the official registration page to register for Smart EX. Click on the orange “register” button to start.

Getting The Application Link in Your Inbox

On the next page, enter your e-mail address, entering it once more to confirm it. Then, click “Send” to continue. 

Ensure that emails from the @expy.jp domain don’t automatically go to the spam folder, and list the domain as “safe” in your e-mail settings if necessary.

You will receive an e-mail from Smart EX, so check your inbox and click on the confirmation link to begin your registration. You’ll be asked to click “Agree” for the terms and conditions of the agreement, which should direct you to a form.

Filling Out Your Information

After entering your name on the next page, you’ll see three sections you can fill out. 

The first is your credit card information, which is as simple as entering the card number and the expiry date. Simply click complete and move on to the IC card information if you have one. 

This part is optional, but if you have a Suica or IC card (see my post on Point Cards), you can enter your card ID number at this point. 

The next section below, which is the e-mail information part, is also optional, but it’s strongly recommended as it makes the whole process a lot simpler. This is how you’ll receive confirmation emails. You can even enter multiple e-mail addresses to ensure your account is reachable if one of your other addresses is down.

Receiving The “Registration Complete” E-Mail

Once you complete the e-mail information, you’ll be directed to a page indicating that your registration isn’t yet complete. Simply click “Register” below to complete the application. 

You’ll receive an e-mail to the address you’ve provided with your membership ID, and with that, you’re ready to start buying Shinkansen tickets on Smart EX!

How To Use The Smart Ex App To Book Tickets

While you have many options both online and at the station, we recommend reserving your tickets on the Smart EX app.

Not only does the app offer the best user experience, but it also offers reserved seat tickets at the best prices, so you can end up with a cheaper ticket.

Logging In To Your Account

To start, open the Smart EX app on your smartphone or head over to the Smart EX website and log in by entering your 10-digit membership ID and password.

On the next screen, select “Search Train” to start booking tickets immediately. On this screen, you also have other options like checking out your registered trips, managing your reservations and app settings, and setting your reservation preferences.

Searching Trains

If you click on “Search Train”, you can specify your travel date and other important details regarding your trip. Choose either “One-way” or “Return”.

Under “seat types”, you’ll find options such as:

• Seats with oversized baggage area

• Wheelchair seats

• The “families with children only” car

So, if you have oversized baggage or are traveling as a large family, you can specify in advance here. Right below this, you also have the option to search for direct trains only or include non-reserved seats on transfer trains to explore more affordable options.

After entering your departure and destination points, click “Continue.”

Entering The Travel Route

The next page prompts you to confirm your departure and arrival points. 

At this point, you can enter any transit points, which is, of course, optional. To help you make an informed decision, here's an explanation of the different trains and routes:

For the Tokaido Sanyo route:

• Nozomi is the fastest train, with fewer stops

• Hikari is the second fastest train, with more stops than Nozomi

• Kodama is the most frequent train that stops at all stations, making it the slowest option

For the Kyushu line:

• Mizuho is the fastest train

• Sakura is the second fastest option

• Tsubame stops at all stations so it’s the slowest option

After entering the number of adults and children you’d like to book tickets for, click the red “Continue” button.

Selecting Your Train

On the next screen, you can select your train and facilities. 

You can check the available train’s departure and arrival times. The trains are listed in order from the earliest departing one to the latest.

Before you pick your train, check the seat availability. Right next to the “Discount” label, which shows whether the ticket is on a discount fare, you can see the seat availability indicated with signs: 

• "o": Seats available

• Triangle: Limited availability

• "x": Fully booked

• "-": No information available

Once you have made your selection based on seat availability and time, click the yellow “Select” button below to continue.

Selecting Your Fare and Seat

Now that you’ve picked your train, it’s time to select your fare and preferred facilities. Here, you have the option to go with a reserved seat or book a ticket in a non-reserved seat area. 

If you go with the non-reserved seat option, you can sit in any one of the empty seats in the non-reserved seat section of the car when your travel time comes. 

You can also reserve a seat in the non-smoking area or in the “work seat” section (Marked “S-Work Seats”).

You can now view the available seats by clicking the “View Seat Map” option below. Simply select your exact seat location among the available spots. If you selected “round trip”, you can also select the fare for your return train. Once you’re done, please click “Continue.”

If you selected a “non-reserved” seat, you will be asked to confirm this choice, so be sure to click “Continue” once more.

Confirm and Complete

In the last step, confirm your booking and click “OK Purchase.” At this point, if you’re making your payment with a credit card that’s not registered with an authentication service, you’ll need to enter the security code as well.

The next screen will tell you that your booking is complete. You’ll get to have an overview of your travel itinerary and the amount paid once more. 

You have the option to make changes to your reservation within three months of the date of your initial boarding date. During this period, you can change the boarding date, area, and even your seat reservation if you have reserved seat tickets.

Right below, you have the option to select one of the following boarding methods:

• Scanning the QR code on the Smart EX app

• Physical tickets (need picking up in advance)

• Contactless boarding via IC Card (if an IC Card is registered with the account)

Here’s how to use the Smart EX app option.

Using Smart Ex Upon Boarding The Train: The Boarding Methods

Once you purchase your train ticket, you can continue to use your Smart EX app during the boarding process. Alternatively, getting a printed ticket is also possible.

Boarding With The Smart EX App: Accessing Your QR Ticket

To board your train using the app, simply hold up the QR code in the app to the gate where you see the yellow QR sign. You’ll find the QR code under “My Trips.” Click on “Details” and then “Display QR-Ticket” on the pages following. 

Now, select the seat for which you’d like to view the QR ticket and select “Display QR Ticket” once more. If this is your first time getting the QR ticket issued, you may receive a one-time password to access the QR ticket.

If this is the case, select “Send” and then enter the one-time password below, hitting “Next” when you’re done.

Now, you’ll see the QR code on the screen of your Smart EX app. You can add this to your Apple Wallet for quick access or choose to print or send the ticket to your e-mail by selecting the appropriate action on the screen.

If you’re boarding using the app, all you have to do is show your QR code at the gate. If you’d like to explore other options, read on.

Boarding With a Print-Out Ticket: Paper Ticket From Smart EX Machine

Another way you can board the train is by using a paper ticket. You can get a printout at the station by simply locating a Smart EX machine or a regular Shinkansen ticket machine. 

At the machine, scan your QR code from your phone or enter the pickup code from the app after selecting the “Get a Print Ticket” option.

Whether you display it on your phone’s screen or present it on paper, the boarding process is the same. All you need to do is put the paper printout into the machine at the gate instead of scanning the code.

The good thing about the printouts is that they’re reliable. Even the Smart EX website warns that the QR code scanner may not work properly from time to time, and they recommend all passengers to get a printout ticket from the machines once they arrive at the station.

Important: About The Seat Information Card

As you pass through the gate and scan your tickets, you’ll also receive a “seat information” card. This is sort of like a boarding pass you need to have on you when you board the train, so make sure to take it and place it safely in your pocket or wallet.

This little paper has all of the details of your trip, including:

1. Boarding date and fare

2. Boarding point, seat information, departure and arrival times

3. Transit information 

Unlike a plane boarding pass, however, you should keep the seat information card until someone comes and checks it. If you happen to misplace the card and aren’t able to present it when you’re asked, you’ll be subject to basic fare and minimum facilities.

Lastly, please keep in mind that the “seat information” card is not a ticket, and entering or exiting through the gates with it isn’t possible. 

Optional But Useful: Linking Your IC Card to Your Smart EX Account

This is totally optional, but if you’ve read my post on Point Cards, you know how common Suica and other IC cards are in Japan. So, if you carry one anyway, why not link it to your Smart EX account? 

This way, you can simply tap your IC Card at the gate and use it as your ticket, which proves to be a handy feature. 

To register your card, you can head over to the “Change/Cancel Membership Info” section in the Smart EX app. Then, simply select “Enter IC Card Information” and enter the 17-digit number found on the lower right corner of the back of your IC card. 

When you're done, select " Complete,” and your IC card will be ready for use at the Shinkansen gates.

Boarding With Your IC Card

If you have an IC Card registered with your Smart EX account, you can use it to board your Shinkansen and other public transport trains. 

If you’re boarding directly from the Shinkansen station using your IC card, simply touch the card at the gate. 

Let the machine print you your “Seat information card.” Take it with you as you walk through and keep it somewhere safe.

If you’re boarding through a conventional train station, you can use the IC Card to enter through the station and the Shinkansen gate twice. 

Closing Notes on the Smart EX Shinkansen App

While you can book Shinkansen tickets through various third-party websites and national train company platforms, the Smart EX app offers the most cost-effective option for reserved seats.

Reserving seats is generally recommended for a smoother travel experience. For those planning to work during their journey, work seats are available, providing uninterrupted computer use throughout the trip. However, these specialized seats may be limited during peak times or weekends.

Don't worry if you can't reserve a seat or ticket in advance. Outside of peak travel times, you'll likely find space in the unreserved section. Even if you arrive at the station without a ticket, you can just get an unreserved seat ticket there. 

While this is all we have on Shinkansen tickets, if you want to read more about traveling in Japan, my posts on when to visit Japan and Haneda vs Narita airports might pique your interest.