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Can you reserve a bullet train outside japan?

Can you reserve a bullet train outside japan?

Old May 29th, 2007, 07:38 AM
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Can you reserve a bullet train outside japan?

Can I make reservations outside of Japan for seats on a future trip?
How about if I will have a JR pass?
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Old May 29th, 2007, 02:37 PM
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Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance from within Japan. If you have an agent buy your tickets, a reservation could be made...but with a JR Pass maybe not, not sure.
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Old May 29th, 2007, 03:10 PM
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I believe you can no longer make shinkansen reservations from outside of Japan anymore. You used to be able to make reservations with the english online version of the eki-net service, but that was discontinued a few years ago.

Unless you are travelling during a peak period (eg Golden Week, Obon or New Years) you should generally not have a problem making a reservation when you are in Japan.

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Old May 29th, 2007, 03:55 PM
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from my experience you have to show your validated jr pass in order to make a reservation.

Since you can only get your jr pass validated in japan.....

Aloha!
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Old May 29th, 2007, 04:31 PM
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No and no.

When JR offered the service you were allowed to buy a reserved seat, paying the 500 yen reservation fee. When you got to Japan and got your JR Pass you would then be able to get the reserved seat fee refunded. You didn't have to buy the train fare ticket, just the reserved seat.

Buying the fare ticket and the reserved seat ticket don't have to be done at the same time. I think that you can go to the midori-no-madoguchi (reserved seat ticket office) and buy, say, a reserved seat on tomorrow's 2PM shinkansen to Shinagawa and just pay the reserved seat fee. (with a JR Pass you would go there and get the res ticket for free)
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Old May 29th, 2007, 04:43 PM
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I think I wasn't clear.

If you want a free reserved seat ticket then you have to present your JR Pass first.

If you want to buy a reserved seat ticket then I don't think that you have to present a fare ticket. I may be wrong about this.
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Old May 29th, 2007, 05:52 PM
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I think I understand now; thanks to all!

One last question: If I get a 7 day Japan Rail Pass but don't want to start using it until 7 days into my 2 week trip, can I reserve a seat for 7 days in the future before the pass is "activated"? Thanks!
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Old May 29th, 2007, 05:58 PM
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yes, only reservations for the time the jr pass is good for can be made for free
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