Do you use Smart EX for Shinkansen?
Maybe you’ve heard the name, but do you know how to use it?
The Smart EX Shinkansen system makes booking and managing tickets much easier—no need to wait at ticket counters or deal with complicated steps.
This article covers the basic steps to help you use Smart EX smoothly and confidently.
Table of Contents
Profile of Writer
Masashi Yasumori
Representative of Yasumori Social Insurance Labor Consultant Office;
After 25 years at Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tokai), opened Yasumori Social Insurance Labor Consultant Office in 2023. At JR Tokai, worked on human resources strategy, Shinkansen reservation system development, and the creation of railway usage rules. Now, as a certified Labor and Social Security Attorney, provide consulting on HR matters and write as a specialist in labor and employment issues.
For more useful tips on living in Japan, check out the articles below.
Chapter 1: What is Smart EX for the Shinkansen?
Smart EX is a convenient service that lets you book Shinkansen tickets anytime, anywhere using your smartphone or computer. You can also easily change or cancel your booking online.
After making a reservation, just tap your IC card—like Suica—at the ticket gate to board. If you prefer, you can pick up a paper ticket at the station from a ticket machine or counter.
To get started, simply register your credit card and an IC card such as Suica. There’s no annual fee.
Where You Can Use Smart EX
You can use Smart EX to book tickets for these Shinkansen lines:
| Shinkansen Line | Route | Available Train Types |
|---|---|---|
|
Tokaido Shinkansen |
Nozomi (fastest), Hikari, Kodama (stops at all stations) |
Tokyo – Shin-Osaka |
|
Sanyo Shinkansen |
Shin-Osaka – Hakata |
Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho (fastest), Sakura |
|
Kyushu Shinkansen |
Hakata – Kagoshima-Chuo |
Mizuho, Sakura, Tsubame (stops at all stations) |
Note:
Smart EX can’t be used for other Shinkansen lines or regular trains.
To book tickets for the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, Hokuriku, or Hokkaido Shinkansen, use the JR-EAST Train Reservation website instead.
Smart EX Shinkansen – Benefits
Book online anytime
No need to go to a ticket counter (Midori no Madoguchi). You can book and change your seat anytime before your train departs.
(This helps avoid busy ticket counters, which are also decreasing in number.)Save money
Smart EX offers cheaper tickets for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen compared to buying at the station.Change your reservation for free
At the station, you can only change your ticket once for free. With Smart EX, you can change it as many times as needed (before departure).Lower cancellation fees
Smart EX often has cheaper cancellation fees than station tickets.
Smart EX Shinkansen – Limitations
- Only for certain Shinkansen lines
You can only book Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen.
If you need to transfer to a regular express train (like on local rail lines), you must book that separately using another website or at the station.
Chapter 2: How to Make a Reservation
You can book tickets 24 hours a day—from 5:30 a.m. one year before your travel date until 4 minutes before your train’s departure time.
Note: Only a limited number of seats are available for booking one year in advance.
How to book your ticket
Go to the website: https://smart-ex.jp/en/ and log in with your ID and password.
Click “Search Train” and enter your travel date, time, departure station, arrival station, and number of passengers.
Choose a train from the list based on availability.
On the next screen, select your fare type and seat options.
If you want to pick your exact seat, click “View Seat Map” to choose from the map.
Check the booking details. If everything looks good, click “OK / Purchase” to complete your payment by credit card.
Your reservation is now complete!
Types of Seats
You can choose from the following seat types:
Ordinary Car (Reserved Seat)
普通車（指定席）・Futsūsha (Shiteiseki)Ordinary Car (Non-reserved Seat)
普通車（自由席）・Futsūsha (Jiyūseki)Ordinary Car (S Work Seat)
普通車（Sワークシート）・Futsūsha (Esu Wāku Shīto)Green Car (Reserved Seat)
グリーン車（指定席）・Gurīnsha (Shiteiseki)
*The S Work Seat (Sワークシート) is located in Car No. 7. It’s for business travelers who want to work during their ride. Unlike other seats, web meetings and phone calls are allowed here.
Some seats are upgraded to S Work P Seat (SワークPシート), with added privacy like partitions between seats—ideal for working comfortably.
If you choose an S Work P Seat, you’ll need to pay an extra fee on top of the regular reserved seat fare:
+¥1,200 (for rides until May 14)
+¥2,000 (for rides from May 15 onward)
Chapter 3: How to Cancel a Reservation
Availability:
You can cancel a reservation 24 hours a day, except during system maintenance.
Deadline:
Cancellations must be made before the departure time of your reserved train, and before:
Entering the gate with your IC card (e.g., Suica), or
Picking up your paper ticket at the station.
If you booked a non-reserved seat (自由席・Jiyūseki), you can cancel until 11:30 p.m. on the day of travel.
Refund Fee:
If you cancel for personal reasons, a refund fee will be charged.
The amount depends on the type of ticket. For details, check the Smart EX refund policy.
Steps to Cancel a Reservation
Tap “My Trips” from the menu.
Find the reservation you want to cancel, then tap “Change” or “Refund.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the cancellation.
Chapter 4: How to Change a Reservation
Availability:
Changes can be made 24 hours a day, except during system maintenance.
Deadline:
You can change your reservation any number of times for free, as long as it’s:
Before you enter the gate with your IC card (e.g., Suica), or
Before you pick up your ticket at the station, and
Before the departure time of your reserved train.
Note: Depending on the change, you may need to pay a fare difference.
Changeable Train:
You can switch to any train up to 4 minutes before departure.
Changeable Period:
You can change your reservation to another date within 3 months of the original travel date.
If you used an “Early Bird” Discount (早特・はやとく):
Changes are allowed only if the new train also meets the Early Bird conditions and has available seats.
Steps to Change a Reservation
Tap “My Trips” from the menu.
Find the reservation you want to change, then tap “Change.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the change.
Chapter 5: Bringing Oversized Luggage
General Rules
If your luggage is over 160 cm but within 250 cm in total dimensions (length + width + height), it is considered as oversized baggage. To bring this type of luggage on board, you must reserve a seat with one of the following:
- Seat with oversized baggage area
- Seat with the oversized baggage compartment
If you bring oversized luggage without a reservation, you will need to pay a ¥1,000 fee (tax included).
Types of Oversized Luggage Seats
1. Seat with Oversized Baggage Area
These are the rear seats in each car. There is a space behind the seat to store your oversized luggage.
2. Seat with Oversized Baggage Compartment
These seats are located near a luggage storage area in the deck, usually next to the restroom.
This space is for slightly smaller bags than those in the “space tsuki” seats.
Since it’s away from your seat, the area can be locked using your IC card (e.g., Suica).
How to Reserve
When booking your seat (see Chapter 2), choose your seat type under “Seat Type” to reserve one of these options.
For further details, please check the official site.
