Japan's Limited Express Trains Explained, How to Buy Tickets & Ride

Ok this is getting really confusing 😞 need to take a week long class to know how to take Japan transportation 😞 God help me!

could help on how to get from Tokyo to Shibuya on a train?🙏🏾

So, you are telling me that buying a train ticket in Japan can be a task of Byzantine complexity?

How about, outside of the silly seasons, I just buy a Green Car ticket a few days before my intended journey and hope for the best?

Dr M

I have booked a one-way bus ticket to Kawaguchiko from Shinjuku and I want to take the train back to Shinjuku. The Japan Travel app says to take the Fujikyuko train to Otsuki Station then transfer to the Kaiji Limited Express to Shinjuku. I will be using an IC Card. Do I need to get out through the ticket gates at Otsuki Station and get in again? The Kaiji has reserved seating, so how and where do I buy the reserved tickets?

😂 omg so confusing.

In short, just by only using IC card is already enough?

Thank you for another great Japan rail travel video. This particular one explained what has always been the most confusing part about the different types of trains in Japan. Although we just got back from our dream vacation in Japan, I’m already dreaming of my next trip, and have put this video in my new “Japan Second Trip” playlist and will refer back to it.

Now im even more confused. So if for example i buy a Kansai-Hiroshima area pass, you're saying that the pass will cover the base fare and then i have to pay additional on top of that? Lets say this is for osake to Hiroshima.

Thanks for an informative video. LE trains have a nice combination of pace and scenery. Also, time to enjoy ekiben and tea.

Love Ltd. Expresses. Their main advantage over the Shinkansen is that you really get to see the scenery. They also have different designs and colors which give them individuality. One train was particularly enjoyable; JR Central's Wide View Shinano from Nagano to Nagoya. I was able to get a front row unreserved seat behind the cab (clear partition) and the scenery was spectacular. There are trains like this all over Japan. For anyone who wants the full Japanese rail experience, these trains are essential. It's not that complicated if you have a JR pass; most of them have unreserved cars and I understand that you can get a reservation at the ticket machine at no charge. However, it's a good idea to determine if a pass is worth it because there was recently a major price increase.

can you help how can i go from tokyo to shimoda prince hotel and from this hotel to kyoto?

This is crazy

I’ve been trying to figure out how to buy advance tickets from Akita to Yokote with no luck. Klook doesn’t even list Yokote station

Thanks for explaining the limited express (and super express) trains. I've visited Japan 12 times and zipped around all over the country using the train system but I always had a JR Pass with me. Just flash it to the gate agent and go. I was usually confused when traveling outside of the pass. I have two questions:

Easy: For the a limited express train, do I need to insert the limited express surcharge ticket into the gate with the base fare ticket? From the video, it sounds like I don't have to because you only mentioned it for the Shinkansen.

Difficult: Twice, I traveled from Shin-Osaka to Ochanomizu stations. I went through the transfer gate in Tokyo Station to take the Chuo Line to Ochanomizu. One time, using the same tickets from Shin-Osaka, the gate at Ochanomizu allowed me to exit. The ticket said, "Tokyo hen". Another time, I didn't the same, but the Ochanomizu gate wouldn't allow me to exit. The second ticket only said, "Tokyo", as the destination. What happened? Both times I purchased the tickets at a JR ticket counter. I don't think I paid more for the first ticket. I've brought this scenario up to several other travelers and, apparently, it's so esoteric, no one can provide an explanation.

Lastly, I've learned going through a transfer gate can make things tricky.

How about a video about traveling over 100 km on a one-way ticket and getting off and on the train over a few days? Thanks!

Hello.. we stay at shinjuku washington hotel, and plan to go to fujikyuhighland using limited express train. We already bought the ticket online. And now we worry about how to get the direction to the train when we arrive at shinjuku station. Can you give us advice / navigation? Since our train is about 8.30 in the morning and we come with kids and eldery, we just worry we will be running of the time to find the platform.

Also, if we buy the ticket online, they said we need to collect the ticket at the shinjuku station, do you know where to collect the limited express train ticket for fujikyuhighland?

Thank you

Let me see if I understand this right... I will be travelling from Kawaguchiko to Kanda Sation and google maps says that I need to take a local train to Otsuki and then a limited express to Kanda. In that case I just use my Icoca to go from Kawaguchiko to Otsuki, leave the station and then enter again to ride the limited express from Otsuki to Kanda right? And can I buy the limited express ticket in Kawaguchiko or even in Kyoto before leaving? Or I need to buy it in Otsuki? Thank you in advance

Is it true that if I have the JR pass, I only have to pay a little bit extra to ride the Nozomi? For Example, if I want to go from Tokyo to Hiroshima, I have to pay an additional 6,500 yen per person.
Also, I have seen videos that I cannot reserve seats in the Nozomi until we arrive in Japan, is that correct? I have not seen any videos about purchasing Nozomi tickets with the JR Pass. Please help.
Love your videos, they are so informative. Thank you so much!! ❤

Hi, do you know about Hashidate limited express? Is it covered by JR Pass Kansai Wide Area Pass?

hi, just wanna ask regarding the last example of travelling from tokyo station stop by shinjuku then proceeded to fuji, if i only buy the limited express fare ticket then it is okay not to tap out the ic card right?

I booked the narita express from tokyo station to narita airport on the aug 14 via klook. Klook’s instructions says that one basic ticket can be picked up by scanning the qr code on the machine. And it also sent a eticket voucher for the express with car/seat no in the email. But jt is not used for picking up the ticket according to instructions . Does that mean that we only need the basic ticket to get onto the express, without using the express ticket? When would the express ticket voucher be checked then?. Also is it possible to pick up the ticket earlier on aug 3 , when i arrive at narita airport? Thank you always for answering my question. I have learned a lot from your video.

Thank you for always responding to my questions.

Very informative. Thank you.

Perfect for my family trip to Fuji in Feb 2025 ❤👏

Thanks for the helpful video. Can you please let me know if there is a way to book advance seats online (similar to Shinkansen) using JR pass on the JR Thunderbird Express that runs between Osaka and Kanazawa?

During our first trip to Japan, my husband and I definitely forgot to tap out somewhere and got our IC card "locked." Your video is one of the only ones I've seen that addresses having to tap out and finish a trip before starting a new one. I appreciated your informative video so much, keep up the phenomenal work!

Hi, thanks for this informative video. I am planning to purchase a reserved seat on the Romancecar limited express train one month in advance. There’s an option to buy the digital ticket for the limited express, but do you know if I can buy 2 limited express tickets online for 2 people?

Which Number of Platform Fuji excursion at shinjuku station ? What direction ? East side or west side or south side of shinjuku station ?

Could you provide videos of how to purchase on the ticket machines please?

We’re in Japan right now for my dog to get open heart surgery here. I have to say, your videos have saved me so much time and confusion. Your videos heavily helped us and helped unnecessary anxiety. THANK YOU!!!

We will have a Kinetsu 5 day plus and are considering using some limited express trains not covered by this pass....can you clarify how to pay the upgraded amount or surcharge to ride the limited express...i am a bit unclear...we are thinking of going from Osaka to Kuwana (Mie Prefecture) Nabana no Sato...in october....we have a large group going and we all use and appreciate your videos....will be buying passes on klook via your site...thank you

Thank you for a lot of helpful info. I'll be riding the Thunderbird and Shinkansen next April or May but I'm not sure if the Thunderbrid goes all the way from Kyoto to Kanazawa or if I have to change to shinkansen at Tsuruga?

Can you please explain, which trains are covered with the JR pass please.🙏🏻

Tbh idk what are the difference between bullet train/high speed trains with express trains since sometimes express trains have the aerodynamic nose design is it on the speed?

this helped a lot for my upcoming ride on the hokuto line

I’m planning to book a Fuji excursion through Klook for 2 adults and 1 child. Are the seats usually assigned together, or could they be in different locations?