Bullet Train

[Bullet Train Pointers]

1) The Bullet Train leaves on the Dot, so do arrive at the platform about 15 mins before departure!

2) Seat Reservations can be made for the Shinkansen (non-smoking/smoking cabins) at the JR counter at the various stations. If you happen to miss your train or you want to board an earlier train, but have no time to reserve the seat. You can hop onto an earlier/later train, but you are only allowed to seat in the un-reserve carriages. If the train is too packed(which happens often during rush hour), getting a seat maybe difficult and you have to stand all the way. So do try and reserve your train seats in advance.

3) Do not ever lose your JR Pass!

4) Food & Drinks can be consumed on board. Similar to a flight, the train stewardess will come round with her push cart filled with light snacks and drinks for sale! Bento Boxes and Drinks can be purchased from the station itself.

5) Maximising your JR Pass: 1) Use it on the stretch between the Airport to the city (Eg: Narita to Tokyo station and if possible from Tokyo Station to Narita) 2) It can be used for the Loop Line in Osaka and Tokyo, however it is only limited to JR trains and JR stops. I feel that the JR Pass is more useful for the loop line in Tokyo than in Osaka.

6) The difference between the travelling time of a Nozomi and a Hikari is just 20-30mins. The JR Pass does not allow you to travel on a Nozomi.