Can I go on an earlier Shinkansen?

Can I Take an Earlier Shinkansen?

When traveling by Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed rail network, you may wonder if it is possible to switch to an earlier departure. The answer is generally yes, but subject to certain conditions:

Reserved Seats:

• If you have reserved a specific seat on a Shinkansen train, you cannot change to an earlier departure. This is because reserved seats are allocated and cannot be transferred.

Non-Reserved Seats:

• For non-reserved seats, you can board an earlier non-reserved train on the same day of your travel (Hayatoku fares excluded). However, you must still have a valid ticket for the new train.
• To change to an earlier non-reserved train, simply go to the ticket gate and insert your ticket. If the earlier train has available non-reserved seats, you will be able to board.

Self-Managed Reservations:

• If you have a Shinkansen ticket with a seat reservation, you can change to an earlier departure through the JR Group’s “Midori no Madoguchi” ticket office or by using the JR Ticket Office App. However, you may incur an additional fee for the change.

Important Notes:

• You must have a valid ticket for the new departure time.
• If the new train is fully booked, you may not be able to board.
• Changing to an earlier departure is not permitted for Hayatoku fares.
• If you are changing from a non-reserved to a reserved seat, you will have to pay the difference in fare.

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