Before you travel
Understand seats and luggage, check route fares, find official booking sites and prepare for departure.
Before you travel
18JR Pass Seats and Shinkansen Luggage: Reservations, Bags and Classes
A reserved seat is assigned to a particular train, car and seat; a non-reserved seat is not assigned and may be unavailable. Check your train’s seating arrangement before boarding. For Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen bags over 160 cm and up to 250 cm in combined dimensions, also reserve the designated baggage seat.
Nozomi vs Hikari: JR Pass Coverage, Fares and Route Choices
Nozomi is a faster Tokaido Shinkansen option from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, while Hikari avoids the national-pass Nozomi supplement. Compare the same stations, date, class and ticket product; regional passes do not cover every Shinkansen section.
Official JR Pass Websites: Where to Buy and Reserve Trains
Choose the official service for your exact task and product here. Then use the linked execution guide: nationwide purchase in chapter 05, train reservations in chapter 06, or the named regional product guide. An account on one JR service does not connect every JR booking system.
How to Use a JR Pass: Ticket Gates, Platforms and Seats
Before your first ride, check the issued pass dates, the train’s coverage and any required seat ticket. Use the gate method for your paper pass, boarding QR or eligible IC journey, then match the departure display to your train, platform, car and seat. Buying a pass or reserving online alone does not complete those steps.