Supplement Fares on Shinkansen

[jukebox333]

A question for our resident Japan experts:

I'm off to Japan in March next year, and will be using a Kansai - Hiroshima Area Pass as it's the best fit for where I will be exploring, and still represents good value in that context.

However... there's a slight quirk in that pass, in that it is not valid for Shinkansen services between Kyoto and shin-Osaka.

Now at one point, we are planning to head down to Hiroshima, and I'm aware that some shinkansen services so run Kyoto - Hiroshima.

Obviously, I can book and reserve seats on the Osaka - Hiroshima leg, but is there a mechanism where I can board that same train in Kyoto, either paying a supplement before I board, or onboard? Has anyone explored/experienced that?

It's about convenience more than time - I can always grab an earlier fast express on that leg, then change at shin-Osaka - but it just seems ridiculous not to board the thru train at Kyoto where my journey starts.

Having said that, the table I downloaded from the JR Central website seems to suggest the supplement between those two stops is ¥2500 pp for a Nozomi, which is really a deal breaker cost-wise.

The Hikari and Komoda trains appear to have a supplement of just ¥870 which is more palatable... but I would not want to be on those stopping trains all the way down to Hiroshima.

The thing I am very mindful of is the Japanese culture of strict adherence to rules - and attempting something that seems logical to me, but against the rules of the rail pass that has been issued, is probably likely to create more dramas than any savings that might be had...

 

[Flyerwin]

I’m going to Japan next year and have a similar query…

 

[brett-au]

I admit I've been caught out with the Kansai passes before. One gotcha is you can't just go to any old JR station and collect your pass. I tried to start my pass in the middle of the map. Also be aware that kyoto will have a JR West office and a JR Central office.

Put simply you can't catch a train operated by the other company. So even though you might want to just catch the train one stop, you will have to change trains or pay for the entire distance on JR central. Kyoto is a good example with 3? different train companies in the area.

 

[elanshin]

I don't think you can without having to do a bunch of strange things and Japan really doesn't like it when you go off script.

Perhaps just catch the rapid express from Kyoto to Shin Osaka, hop out then get your Shinkansen ticket and get onboard your Shinkansen?

The rapid express should be free for the pass too. It'll be about an extra 15mins to shin osaka on the rapid vs the shinkansen.

As for why you can't take the Shinkansen on the pass from Kyoto, its because its two separate companies operating it. Kyoto to Shin osaka is still on the Tokaido Shinkansen managed and owned by JR central. But Shin-osaka onwards its Sanyo Shinkansen managed and owned by JR West.

The trains through run for the convenience of the passengers, but if i were to guess there would be a driver and staff change at Shin-osaka like all the other multi company through running trains.

Edit: I should also mention for those unaware all the JR companies are separate entities and companies from each other when the government privatised JR Group.

 

[rbjhan]

Take one of the limited express trains like Haruka from Kyoto, stop at Shin Osaka and change. It will not be busy like the rapid trains and still covered by your pass.

With your JR West Pass you cannot board JR Tokai trains (which Tokaido Shinkansen is one of them), simple as that, two completely different companies.
You would need to pay for the whole thing (because they do check, 100% of the time), not just the supplement, base fare+ express fare too.

I've explained the different JR companies and trains here.

Thread 'Trains of Japan - A Review Thread'

Jan 1, 2024

Inspired by a conversation with @VPS in my previous TR, I decided to try write about all the different trains...
Hopefully can convince a non fish eating train lover to visit the land of the rising sun!

This is going to be long and probably entirely depending on how my memory is nowadays (and where the heck are the old pictures?! )...so be patient!

• rbjhan
• Replies: 99
• Forum: Trip Reports

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