Best way to frequently use Shinkansen?
I frequently travel between Osaka and Tokyo and I have a "JR West" credit card which allows me to reserve tickets online via e5489 (no discount whatsoever). This works fine when going "to Tokyo" but I can't reserve tickets to go "to Osaka". The website clearly warns me that I can't pickup tickets in Tokyo. There's another site (expy.jp) but it only allows to book major hubs, but you can't combine/switch from "shinkansen" to "limited express".
I'm sure there's a better way? Should I get a "JR East" credit card as well? Seems really inefficient. I'm not really concerned about the cost, so buying 6-packs isn't really appealing to me. I just want to reserve a seat.
Any suggestions?
Posted May 1, 2017, 11:06 AM UTC
417
Since you're using the Tokaido Shinkansen, JR East's services (Mobile Suica, Eki-Net, etc) are of little use to you.
What you need is エクスプレス予約 or プラスEX.
https://expy.jp/faq/pdf/1455791550_4d06df6de6912c5ebdbe760d1be7358e_1.pdf compares the two schemes.
エクスプレス予約 - 1080 yen annual fee covers Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, significant discounts, can also get discounted paper tickets (e特急券) and link with Mobile Suica: https://expy.jp/
プラスEX - 540 yen annual fee covers Tokaido Shinkansen only, discounts less attractive, can't get paper tickets, can use your existing credit card in most cases: https://plus-ex.jp/
Since you already have a JR West card I would recommend the JR West version of エクスプレス予約 - start at http://www.jr-odekake.net/j-west/online/enquete.html for the details. If you make more than one trip per year you should make your money back, and unlike multiple journey tickets (回数券) there are no blackout dates.
This is awesome information! Thanks a lot!
I find it really strange that you have a JR West Credit Card but no EX-IC card... They're a set unless you went out of your way to refuse it. Get one. For a real-life example, wife and I are traveling to Tokyo tomorrow with the family EX discount on the green car for 26,000 yen. Baller life on a budget.
JR East cards would only cover you for the Tohoku Shinkansen and north, so don't bother. The Tokaido Shinkansen is run by JR Tokai (JR Central), not JR East.
I believe that I have this card. A suica card came with the credit card, but how can this help me reserve tickets for the other way? I suppose that I need to go to the ticket machine?
You reserve everything on the phone and just tap the IC card and your Suica/Icoca at the same time at the gate when it's time to get on the train. It works for both directions.
You need a new credit card.
Your current J-West card won't have the EX予約 logo on it. You need the EX予約 logo to the immediate left of the J-West logo.
There is no way to convert your current card so you have to make a new application, after which you can cancel your old card. Your new card will come with an 'EX-IC' card which is what you need to board the Shinkansen unless you opt for paper express tickets, which can often be cheaper if you will ride the classic lines (在来線) as well during your journey, or if you want to stop over (途中下車).
If your current card is a J-West card it may have (SMART) ICOCA functionality but there won't be any Suica.
If you just want to make reservations online, you can use Eki-Net to book tickets from Tokyo to Osaka and collect them in the JR East region.
Not everybody wants to pay the annual fee. If you live in Kansai but don't ride the Shinkansen, the basic cards are better for you: each of JR West's affiliated cards (https://www.jr-odekake.net/j-west/card/) come in 'express' and 'basic' versions.
The basic card is too basic I feel... only benefit is being able to use the same reservation site as anyone else. The EX-IC card, if you use the shinkansen in either direction from Kansai can save you up to 9000 yen in one trip. It's worth the 1000 yen fee, if you ask me.
If you're working for a company they may have a scheme that subsidizes プラスEX, that's something to ask about too (mine does, since I have moderate travel between Tokyo and Osaka)