Understanding the Cost Difference between Single and Round Trip Shinkansen Tickets in Japan

The fancy Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan offer efficient and reliable travel, but their ticketing system can be a bit confusing. This article aims to demystify the cost difference between single tickets and round trip tickets, helping you save money when traveling in Japan.

Round Trip Discounts on Shinkansen

In Japan, the cost difference between single tickets and round trip tickets on the Shinkansen can vary based on the distance of your journey. If the farthest point on your itinerary is more than 600 km away, a round-trip discount is available. This discount is applied to the boarding ticket price, both for the return and the destination. Specifically, the discount is 10% of the boarding ticket price, but since the limited express ticket fare is roughly the same as the boarding ticket fare, the discount can be considered about 5% for a round-trip discount.

For instance, if you're traveling from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe, and you buy a round-trip ticket at a counter, that ticket might be for Nishi-Akashi, a station beyond 600 km. According to skilled train crews, it's considered a better service to passengers to sell them a discounted ticket that covers the nearest station rather than a non-discounted ticket to a farther station. This method remains perfectly within the rules. You can choose to buy a round-trip ticket from a vending machine as well, which is also valid.

Convenience and Flexibility of Shinkansen Tickets

Train tickets in Japan are typically sold as single one-way fares, and return round trip tickets are double the cost. There's no inherent benefit to buying return tickets; single one-way tickets are generally more cost-effective. However, Shinkansen ticketing has several notable features that can be beneficial for travelers:

Fare Calculations and Reservations:

The base fare covers local and rapid trains. The cost for limited express and super express Shinkansen trains includes an additional surcharge ticket. All Shinkansen trains require the super express surcharge. Onboard announcements often refer to 'super express'.

Ticket Availability:

For the most part, tickets are sold in unlimited numbers, and there's no need to book them in advance. However, for limited express and super express/Shinkansen trains, seat reservations are available, and some trains have mandatory reservations.

Journey Flexibility:

For longer journeys across Japan, the same single one-way base fare ticket can be valid for several days. Additionally, if you need to travel on limited express or Shinkansen, you’ll need to buy the appropriate surcharge ticket, which is valid for one day with no stopover stations along the way.

A Practical Example of Japanese Rail Ticketing

According to a post on Reddit, the base fare ticket from Miyajimaguchi to Tokyo, covering the entire one-way journey, costs 11,800 yen and is valid for six days with unlimited stopovers. Miyajimaguchi is just west of Hiroshima. For the Shinkansen portion of the journey between Hiroshima and Tokyo, a super express surcharge ticket is required. The passenger opted for a cheaper non-reserved surcharge ticket which costs 6,500 yen, with the ticket valid for a single day and no stopovers allowed.

Conclusion

Understanding the cost differences and benefits of single and round trip Shinkansen tickets can greatly help in planning a budget-friendly trip to Japan. Whether you choose to take advantage of the round-trip discount or stick with single tickets, preparing for your journey this way can save you both time and money.