To Travel on the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen, Book Tickets Easily with smartEX! (Osaka Departure Edition)
Osaka is a good place to enjoy delicious food and a unique atmosphere. If you're coming all the way to Japan, why not stretch your legs and explore beyond Osaka? Take the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen (bullet trains) to travel safely and quickly to all these popular tourist destinations: Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo and Mount Fuji. With the free smartEX app, it's easy to book Shinkansen tickets. In this article, I'll show you how!
*For more information on discounts you can receive with economical advance-reservation tickets, be sure to read on to the end!
First, Download the Free smartEX App!
This app can handle inquiries in English, so it can be downloaded it from app stores in the USA, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
*We plan to expand this to other countries and regions in the future.
With smartEX, You Can Purchase Tickets Right Away, Even Overseas!
Once you download the app and register, you can book and purchase tickets immediately from anywhere! This is convenient because it lets you check the seating chart while booking seats on the train departing at your desired time. You can book seats for up to 6 people at once.
Make Unlimited Changes to your Reservation at No Extra Charge!
"Uh, oh! We have a sudden change of plans..."
Even in such a situation, you can relax with smartEX because it lets you change your train reservation any number of times! What's more, changes can be made up to 4 minutes prior to the train's departure!
*Depending on the credit card company, money exchange handling charges may apply.
This service cannot be used in conjunction with Japan Rail Pass and some other products.
After Arriving at Shin-Osaka Station, Look for the "EX" Logo
Once you have reserved your tickets and settled payment with your credit card, it's easy to get your tickets from a ticket vending machine for the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen. Avoid the crowds at station ticket counters! Just look for the "EX" logo!
Take the “NOZOMI” trains from Osaka to Hiroshima in just 1 hour, 20 minutes!
After getting your ticket and boarding the train, you will arrive at popular tourist attractions in the blink of an eye! With smartEX, you can use all the trains on the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen line, including the fastest and most frequently running NOZOMI.
For example, say you want to go to Hiroshima to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Itsukushima Shrine. It's about 340 kilometers from Osaka to Hiroshima, but if you take the NOZOMI, you can arrive in as little as an hour and 20 minutes!
What's more, you only need 15 minutes to get to Kyoto from Osaka!
Mishima Station, the closest station to Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japan, is 430 kilometers from Osaka. However, you can get there in just about 2.5 hours, and it's also possible to reach Tokyo in the same amount of time.
The time you save in getting there can be spent on enjoying the sights of your destination!
With a safety track record of over 50 years, the spacious Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen trains have transported passengers in security and comfort. For free and easy travel from Osaka to popular tourist destinations, there's no reason not to use Shinkansen.
By booking your tickets with smartEX, you can enjoy traveling in Japan to the full!
Get Tickets More Cheaply by Booking Advance Reservations with smartEX!
A service called "EX Hayatoku 21" offers discounts on regular reserved Nozomi seats booked up to 21 days in advance. Between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo Stations, you can save about ¥3,500! Regular reserved Nozomi seats can be booked on direct trains departing during the 6am hour or between 11am and 3pm.
Other economical services are offered, such as a discount on tickets booked up to 3 days in advance, called "EX Hayatoku". For groups of 2 or more, the "Hayatoku Family" discount is recommended.
There are restrictions on changes made to these reservations, so be sure to check the Web site below for more details.