Types of Tickets
- A basic fare ticket is necessary for all train travel.
- In addition to a basic fare ticket, one or more of the following supplemental charge tickets may be needed.
- For traveling on a Shinkansen (bullet train) or a limited express train, you need to purchase a super express or limited express reserved/non-reserved seat ticket in addition to a basic fare ticket.
- For traveling on a Shinkansen (bullet train) or a limited express train in a first-class car ("Green Car"), you need to purchase a super express or limited express first-class car ("Green Car") ticket (reserved seat) in addition to a basic fare ticket.
- For traveling on a rapid train or a local train in a first-class car ("Green Car"), you need to purchase a ticket for a first-class seat in addition to a basic fare ticket.
Shinkansen (bullet train)
| Car and seat type | Ticket Type | |
| Ordinary Car | Reserved Seat | Super Express Reserved Seat Ticket |
| Non-Reserved Seat | Super Express Non-Reserved Seat Ticket | |
| First-class Car ("Green Car") |
Reserved Seat | Super Express Reserved Seat Ticket First-class Car ("Green Car") Ticket |
Limited express
| Car and seat type | Ticket Type | |
| Ordinary Car | Reserved Seat | Limited Express Reserved Seat Ticket |
| Non-Reserved Seat | Limited Express Non-Reserved Seat Ticket | |
| First-class Car ("Green Car") |
Reserved Seat | Limited Express Reserved Seat Ticket First-class Car ("Green Car") Ticket |
Rapid-service Train & Local Train
| Car and seat type | Ticket Type | |
| First-class Car ("Green Car") |
Reserved Seat Non-Reserved Seat |
Ticket for First-class Seat on Local Train |
A non-smoking or smoking-permitted seat can be requested when reserving seats on some trains.
Passengers are classified as follows
| Adult | 12 or older |
| Child | 6 through 11 |
| Infant | 1 through 5 |
| Baby | Less than 1 |
Fares and Charges for Children
- The discount for children is 50% of the adult fare for basic fare tickets and for most supplemental charges. Any amount less than 10 yen is rounded off.
- There is no children's discount for Green Car tickets and some supplemental charges.
Fares and Charges for Infants and Babies
Infants and babies travel free except that they need child's tickets in the following cases.
| 1. | When three or more infants accompany one adult or a child; in this case, tickets are needed for the third and any additional infants. |
| 2. | When an infant or a baby occupies its own reserved seat or berth. |
| 3. | When an infant travels alone. |