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How To: Shinkansen Reservations to Nagano
  • How To: Shinkansen Reservations to Nagano

    Now that we’ve covered the basics of getting to Nagano on the shinkansen including the different JR Pass options available to you, let’s tackle how to actually buy tickets and use the train. This page will cover:

    • Purchasing a Ticket Online
    • Purchasing a Ticket In-person
    • Booking a Reserved Seated Using a Japan Rail (JR) Pass
    • Boarding & Riding the Shinkansen to Nagano

    It follows on from ‘How To: Getting to Nagano from Tokyo by Shinkansen’ which covers:

    • Overview of Getting to Nagano by Shinkansen
    • Fare & Timetables
    • The Option of a Japan Rail (JR) Pass
    • JR Pass vs Buying Individual Tickets

    Both pages can be used in conjunction with our ‘Hokuriku Shinkansen’ page for a complete overview of how to use the shinkansen to travel to and from Nagano.

    Purchasing a Ticket Online


    You can purchase a shinkansen ticket online up to 30 days in advance of your date of travel through the JR East Train Reservation website. To do so, you will need to register your details with JR East and enter credit card details in order to purchase your ticket.

    JR website

    You have several options to start the process. One of these three is likely to apply to you:

    The steps for booking online are simple to follow:

    1 / Once you have chosen the option applicable to you, select the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo-Joetsumyoko), departure station, arrival station, and departure date/time.

    2 / You are then shown the services available on your nominated date and time. Select the train that best suits your needs.

    3 / The next step requires you to select where and when you will pick-up your ticket, including the option of doing so at the airports or Tokyo Station. Select the office and date that best suits your needs and note that it must be done before the day you will use the train.

    4 / You can select the number of tickets (including adults and children), class, location (window/aisle), and whether you are willing to sit separately (if the train is busy).

    5 / Finally, you will need to agree to a series of terms and conditions and register an account or log into an existing one.

    6 / Once that is done you can complete the transaction with your credit card details.

    This generates a receipt which is used to collect the tickets at your nominated ticket office.

    Purchasing a ticket in-person


    Many if not most people choose to purchase their ticket once at the station using either the:

    • ticket machines
    • JR Ticket Office (or ‘midori-no-madoguchi’).

    You can purchase tickets at any station with shinkansen ticket machines and office and do not have to wait until the station you are departing from. Ticket machines can be switched to English and allow you to buy same day tickets or in advance including single or return fares, different classes, and reserved or non-reserved seating. The machines are easy to use – accepting both cash and credit cards – and typically have station staff in attendance to assist you.

    Alternatively you can also buy tickets at the JR Ticket Office, usually located immediately next to the ticket machines. The queues for these offices can be long, so if you are confident to use the machine they are usually faster. However, if you prefer to do so through the ticket office simply line-up and JR staff will assist issue tickets for you.

    JR ticket office

    While English ability will vary greatly between staff, language ability is always adequate to book tickets with minimal fuss. For further information to assist with purchasing tickets at a station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, please refer to our specific station pages: Tokyo Station / Nagano Station / Kanazawa Station.

    Booking a Reserved Seated Using a Japan Rail (JR) Pass


    Holders of the full Japan Rail (JR) Pass, JR East Pass and JR Hokuriku Arch Pass can reserve seats on specific shinkansen (at no additional cost) through the JR Ticket Office. This step cannot be completed using the ticket machines and must be done in the office.

    Simply line-up and then explain to staff which train you want to reserve. They will issue you with the additional reserved ticket which can then be used in conjunction with your pass to ride the Kagayakai (reservation only) service or reserved carriages on the Asama or Hakutaka services.

    Boarding & Riding the Shinkansen to Nagano


    Most guests headed to Nagano on the shinkansen do so from Tokyo Station. With your tickets or pass in hand, the final step is actually getting on the train, which at Tokyo Station, can be confusing as hundreds of other commuters rush past and between you. It really can be frenetic!

    Our previous blog article ACTIVATING A JR PAIL PASS AND TRAVELING TO NAGANO FROM TOKYO STATION breaks down the process of boarding the train at Tokyo Station. Most importantly, the shinkansen access gates are divided by region into those servicing the lines running to the north/east and those running to the south/west. The Hokuriku Line and services headed to Nagano Station are accessed via the gates marked Shinkansen North Transfer.

    5296

    Once you have located the correct ticket gates:

    • Passengers with purchased tickets: simply pop your tickets in the gates and walk through, remembering to take your tickets as they pop-out the other side.
    • JR Pass holders: can’t go through the gates and should pass through the windowed area to the side with station attendants. Show your pass and they will waive you through. It’s important that you go into the correct area – Shinkansen North Transfer – as the attendants won’t check where you are headed, and will simply waive you through.

    Once through the gates, simply check the overhead boards for your train’s departure platform. On the platform itself, there are stickers on the ground instructing you where each carriage will stop.

    Non-reserved carriages (1 to 4) are at the rear of the train headed to Tokyo and at the front for services headed to Tokyo from Nagano. It’s a good idea to line-up for these around 10 minutes in advance to make sure you get a seat. For travellers with reserved tickets, there’s no line-up. Just make sure you are onboard the train on time as they don’t wait.

    Now that you’re onboard sit back and relax, you’ll be in Nagano soon! For information including an overview of getting to Nagano by shinkansen, obtaining a JR Pass, your JR Pass options, and the benefits of purchasing a JR Pass vs buying individuals tickets, please refer to our ‘How To: Getting to Nagano from Tokyo by Shinkansen‘ page or our ‘Hokuriku Shinkansen‘ page for a complete overview of the line running from Tokyo to Kanazawa via Nagano.

    Recommendations in Nagano City


    Zenko-ji temple in Nagano city

    As Nagano’s No.1 tour and charter operator, Snow Monkey Resorts operates all year round and offers guests a range of options including both group and private tours to the region’s most popular destinations. All tours are led by locally-based guides and are designed to introduce the region in a fun and engaging way.

    Our group tours start and finish at Nagano Station, our tours easy to access and can be joined as day-trips from Tokyo.

    When visiting Nagano, we recommend Hotel Kokusai 21 – one of city’s most established international, full-service hotels.

    Hotel-Kokusai-21-nagano-city

    Blending Western-style rooms and facilities with Japanese service and attention to detail, Hotel Kokusai 21 is conveniently located within easy walking distance of JR Nagano Station, the city’s main attraction including Zenko-ji Temple, and entertainment district. For the convenience of guests, the hotel also provides a free shuttle service to and from the station.

    The hotel has a range in-house services including both Western and Japanese restaurants including teppanyaki and traditional kaiseki service, along with dedicated Chinese, Italian, and French cuisine restaurants.

    Kokusai 21’s English-speaking staff and dedication to professional service make it our recommendation when staying in Nagano.

    monzen-terrace-enya

    Located under 2-minutes walk from the city’s famous Zenko-ji Temple, Monzen Terrace Enya serves and enticing menu of Japanese and Western favourites, in a modern and friendly atmosphere. English-speaking staff and English menus make any visit easy and convenient, while the restaurant’s mixed indoor and outdoor seating allows guests to relax, unwind and take in the atmosphere of the city.

    monzen-terrace-enya

    But it’s food that matters most! Enya serves a delicious menu based on fresh local produce from the farms of Nagano and seafood from the nearby coastal markets of Niigata. All-in-all, Monzen Terrace Enya is a Snow Monkey Resorts favourite!