Hacking the Shinkansen

How to Cheaply Use the Bullet Train

The Shinkansen or bullet train is by far the most comfortable and convenient way to travel between Japan’s major cities. Unfortunately with great convenience comes great costs; the Shinkansen is far from being the most budget-friendly option. Furthermore, many travelers who are intent on staying longer than a just week or two may also be hesitant to fork out a lot of money for a Japan Rail Pass (which are now much more expensive as of Oct 2023).

Luckily though, JR East offers some great deals on shinkansen tickets, a fact that is still relatively unknown among international travelers. If you’re willing to forgo the lightning fast speeds of the Nozomi trains for the slower Kodama, there’s a great deal called the “Platt Kodama.” For those on a budget, this hack can sometimes mean the difference between seeing another city or not!

You’ll end up adding some travel time to the trip but the fare is about 3,600 yen cheaper than normal prices. Furthermore, you can also upgrade to the Green Car for only an additional 1,500 yen! This means you can travel in comfort all the way to Osaka on the Green Car for a lot less than the normal price. You’ll even get a drink voucher to enjoy a beer or soft drink en route.