Kanji Cheat Sheets

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Riding the bullet train (新（しん）幹（かん）線（せん）) is something most travelers look forward to when coming to Japan. It’s fast, punctual, and a cultural experience all rolled into one. The sheer convenience of traveling at lightning speed from one prefecture to another, all while eating a cutely decked out bento box, sets it apart from all the other kinds of trains in Japan.

For most first-timers, the bullet train ticketing system might feel a bit complicated. Sometimes require you to use two tickets instead of one and vice versa. The reservation and payment system might also be confusing if you didn’t avail of the JR Pass ahead of time. Not to mention, the tickets you’ll be purchasing don’t come with line by line English translations.

Shinkansen tickets

As previously mentioned, there may be times where you’ll need to keep two types of tickets on you. Losing both will cost you an arm and a leg, so keep them close.

To tell the difference between the basic fare ticket and the actual bullet train ticket, look for the corresponding characters on the uppermost portion: The first ticket is called the basic fare ticket (乗（じょう）車（しゃ）券（けん）) and the second ticket is called the Super (Limited) Express (新（しん）幹（かん）線（せん）特（とっ）急（きゅう）券（けん）).

Basic fare ticket 

The basic fare ticket (乗（じょう）車（しゃ）券（けん）) is what you will use to get to the station which the bullet train leaves from. For example, if you buy a bullet train (新（しん）幹（かん）線（せん）) ticket from Osaka Station, you’ll need the basic fare ticket (乗（じょう）車（しゃ）券（けん）)to get to Shin-Osaka Station to be able to ride the bullet train. 

Written on the second line of the ticket are the general area (都（と）区（く）内（ない）) and city zone (市（し）内（ない）) of departure and the destination. Underneath it is the period of validity (～日（か）間（かん）有（ゆう）効（こう）), while the train line’s name (経由（けいゆう）) is written in smaller text on top of it. Toward the lower part of the ticket, it will mention that you are not allowed to make any stopovers within the given area (券（けん）面（めん）表（ひょう）示（じ）の都（と）区（く）市（し）内（ない）各（かく）駅（駅）下（げ）車（しゃ）前（ぜん）途（とう）無（む）効（こう）各（かく）駅（えき）下（げ）車（しゃ）前（ぜん）途（とう）無（む）効（こう）) and the date of issue (発（はっ）行（こう）).

Lastly, if you happen to be using a student discounted ticket, you will be asked to present a valid student ID (学（がく）割（わり）証（しょう）明（めい）書（しょ）携（けい）帯（たい）して下（く）さい).

English	Japanese	Romaji
Basic Fare Ticket	乗車券	jousha ken
Area	都区内	toku nai
City	市内	shi nai
Availability	～日間有効	~kakan yuukou
Via/through	経由	keiyu
Stopover permitted within a certain area	券面表示の都区市内各（）駅（）下（）車（）前途無効	kenmen hyouji no toku shinai kakueki gesha zento mukou
Issue	発行	hakkou
Please bring a valid ID to avail of a student discount	学割証明書携帯して下さい	gakuwari shoumei-sho keitai shite kudasai

Super (Limited) Express ticket

Similar to the basic fare ticket (乗（じょう）車（しゃ）券（けん）), the Super (Limited) Express (特（とっ）急（きゅう）券（けん）)also has the departure and arrival station. Underneath it, you’ll see the exact date and time of departure (発（はつ）) and the corresponding arrival time (着（ちゃく）). After that, you’ll see the name of the train written in katakana, the number of the train, and the notice that the entire train is non-smoking (全（ぜん）席（せき）禁（きん）煙（えん). Written next to the non-smoking notice is your designated seat and train car number (号ごう車しゃ) and seat number (番ばん).

As for the figures below your seat details, it’s a breakdown of the shinkansen fees. You will also see the same warning about stopovers and the need for a valid student ID, just like the basic fare ticket. 

English	Japanese	Romaji
Bullet train	新幹線	shinkansen
Super (Limited) Express reserved Seat Ticket	新幹線特急券	shinkansen tokkyu ken
Reserved seat	指定席	shitei seki
Non-reserved seat	自由席	jiyuu seki
Departure date/ time	発	hatsu
Arrival time	着	chaku
Seat number	番	ban
Car number	号車	gou sha
Stopovers are not allowed	途中下車前途無効	tochuu gesha zento mukou
All seats are non-smoking	全席禁煙	zenseki kin’en
Train ticket price	乗車料金	jousha ryoukin
Limited express charge	特急料金	tokkyuu ryoukin
Please bring a valid ID for student discount	学割証明書携帯して下さい	gakuwari shoumei-sho keitai shite kudasai

Now that you’ve studied up on all the kanji seen on bullet train tickets get up and go! The options are endless, and if you need some ideas on some great destinations all around the country, make sure to do a thorough sweep here. Safe travels!