How to make a seat reservation?

After turning in your Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, you can make seat reservations at a "Midori-no-madoguchi" reservation office.

There is no additional charge for additional charge for making seat reservation. To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before the boarding. ( “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains and the trains marked with ★ in this table require the payment of an additional charge.)
* Seat reservations cannot be made at unmanned stations or stations without reservation capability.
Shinkansen, most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats.

reserveseatnow

* (The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Please use “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” and “TSUBAME” trains.)

A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
* There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka—Hakata), or on Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.* The JR buses “Mizuumi-go” between Aomori and Towadako and “Oirase-go” between Hachinohe and Towadako require reservations. Please obtain your
reserved-seat ticket before boarding these buses. (Service is not available during the winter period.)* Use of Homeliner or other Liner trains is subject to additional fees.* Some trains have no non-reserved seating (all seats are reserved).* It may take time to make a seat reservation if the service counter is busy. Please ensure you leave enough time to make your reservation.Note: Do not use an automatic ticket gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a Staff Attended Gate.

Caution:

Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows:

April 27 to May 6
Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
August 11 to 20
Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.
December 28 to January 6
The year end/New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.

【How to read reserved seat tickets】