Shinkansen

Shinkansen is a kind of Express train run by JR companies.
1964, First line calld Tokaido Shinkansen (between Tokyo to Osaka) opened.
Shinkansen means “New Mein Line”. So, There is also Tokaido Line (for local train)
Shinkansen is separated from local line. You have to use Shinkansen ticket gate

1. Shinkansen Line

There are ten Shinkansen lines.
JR East, Central(Toukai), West, and Kyushu companies have Shinkansen Lines

Hokkaido Shinkansen
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
to
Shin-Aomori

Tohoku
Shin-Aomori
to
Morioka, Sendai, Fukushima, and Tokyo

Akita
Morioka
to
Akita

Yamagata
Fukushima
to
Shinjo

Joetsu
Tokyo
to
Niigata

Hokuriku
Tokyo
to
Tsuruga

Tokaido
Tokyo
to
Shin-Osaka

san’yo
Shin-Osaka
to
Hakata

Kyushu
Hakata
to
Kagoshima Chuo

Nishi Kyushu
Takeo-Onsen
to
Nagasaki

2.Train Services

Local train has services like local, express, rapid services.
Shinkansen is also similar.
Some trains stop at every stations. Some trains only stop at major stations.

Let’s take the Tokaido Shinkansen as an example.
There are three types of services.

KODAMA
stops at all 17 stations (Tokyo – Shin Osaka)
HIKARI
passes some stations.
NOZOMI
only stops at Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka station.

Also, Shinkansen has some types of car.
Non-reserved car
Some fastest services don’t have this car.
Reserved car
Don’t get on this without Reserved Express ticket
Green Car
Business class. You need to make a reservation.
Work seat
High speed Wi-Fi. Keyboard noise is tolerated.
The fee depends on the types of seats
Grand Class
The pronunciation is not “Grand class” but “Gran class“
JR E (Tohoku, Hokuriku and Joetsu Shinkansen) operates.
Grand class A : with drink and food services
Grand class B : no train staff
B is cheaper.

3. How to take

You need Passenger ticket and Shinkansen Express ticket.
Be care full. you cannot use Suica as Passenger ticket for Shinkansen.
If you want to use Suica, you have to link your Suica to your ticket on online.

Where to buy tickets
1.Ticket office in stations. Ask staff there.
2.Ticket machine for Shinkansen and Express. Select your language. Then, select the train and buy the Ticket. You would select to buy only Passenger ticket or Passenger ticket and Express ticket.
3.Online. Unfortunately, the English version of the sites are hard to read.
There’re some ways to issue ticket.
A: QR ride. Display the QR code on your smartphone screen. Hold it up to the ticket gate’s scanner.
B: Issue paper tickets. Check your Issue Number or QR Code for Issuance. Enter the number on the ticket machine.
C: Suica/IC card. Enter your Suica number which is on Suica card or Mobile Suica on a Online reservation site. Tap Suica on the ticket gate.

Which of these methods can be used varies depending on the train, site, and company.
↓online reservation sites.
https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php

https://www.eki-net.com/jreast-train-reservation/Top/Index

https://e5489.jr-odekake.net/e5489/ibpc/CBTopMenuPC?LANG=en

–Insert your Passenger ticket and Express ticket into the gate at the same time if the tickets are paper

The way to get on.
First, Don’t go to the wrong gate.
In Tokyo station, gate for Tokaido Shinkansen and Tohoku shinkansen is different.
Follow signs.

In Tokyo statin, Tokaido and San’yo Shinkansen use JR Platform14-19.
Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Hokkaido, Yamagata and Akita shinkansen use 20-23

After passed the gate, check your train and car number and wait for your train on the platform.
I recommend arriving at the ticket gate 20 to 30 minutes in advance.

You can eat food inside Shinkansen train.
Few vehicles offer onboard sales.
I recommend purchasing drinks and other items in advance.

Large luggage
In some train, you need to make a reservation to bring large luggages.
Check the official site below.
Tokaido, San’yo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu.
https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/oversized-baggage/

Hokkaido, Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku
https://www.jreast.co.jp/en/multi/faq/

4. Manners

Do not eat strongly scented foods.
Do not leave trash lying around.
Do not make loud noises.
Do not stop in the aisles.
No smoking at stations or on trains
When disembarking, return your seat to the upright position.