JJapan Trips

Shinkansen

  • November 9, 2025

Hello.

I have been trying to book Shinkansen (Tokyo-Osaka) via SmartEx app. My account is now saying ‘withdrawn’ and so is my husband. It appears to be a known issue. We’re from Australia.

I know that it’s easier to book in person and how I wish this is an option. However, our travel dates is Tokyo-Osaka 25 Dec 2025 and Osaka-Tokyo 28 Dec 2025. Am scared we are going to miss out on tickets. Will tickets be really sold out? We will arrive in Japan 23 Dec.

We are 2 adults, 1 kid (5yr old).

We already used Klook for USJ xpress ticket as they offer better schedule that those left in the USJ website.

I am now leaning again to buy with Klook because of SmartEx issues. However, it said ‘we will try and seat your group’. It worries me as I have a child.

Please help.

Thank you for your time.

by poyibays

10 comments

  1. I’m actually going the opposite direction on Christmas Day, Osaka to Tokyo. I wasn’t going to pre book because I’m not 100% locked in on what time I’d take.
    Anyone know if this is a stupid decision?

  2. Can you provide more information about what happened to your SmartEx account? I’m Australian and have had no issues with it.

    Christmas is not a holiday in Japan, so you shouldn’t have an issue in the 25th. New Years is a busy travel period and it is advised to book ahead then (reservations open 30 days ahead). From Dec. 26th, all Nozomi shinkansen will be reserved seats only.

  3. Bookings are finalized only a month in advance. Regardless of where you make the reservation, seats won’t be guaranteed until then. Klook is just a Chinese reseller, they don’t have any special powers over JR Central either, so they can’t finalize the booking earlier than anyone else.

  4. Aussie here. Don’t use a 3rd party app, you’ll pay too much. Use the JR web site within 30 days of travel and you’ll be fine. Worst case scenario you’ll be on the 10:12 instead of the 10:06 train.

  5. Trains are very often (usually 10-30 mins of each other) for Shinkansen. Never seen anything close to sold out

  6. Use the JR sites…

    Using an intermediary heavily increases the price (sometimes double it).

  8. try JR West reservation website (max 30 days in advance) before klook if smart ex does not work for you.

  9. Hi, I’m an Aussie too. We used Klook to book a bunch of Shinkansen tickets because it was so easy.
    I booked at all different times too, including over a month in advance to get extra luggage space, for a train leaving 20mins later to skip a long queue at the station kiosks, and for the next day.
    Once I even buggered up the dates (booked 19th instead of 9th) and didn’t realize until the platform gates wouldn’t open. Changed the date in the app, left on the next train, only cost us 10 mins of confusion, and $30 in fees for my mistake.
    You can’t book exact seats, but with 3 people, it always seated us together in a row.

  10. Just wait until 30 days before departure and then buy your tickets on smart EX. It’s too early

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