Eki-net / JR-EAST Train Reservation (2026): How to Book Tokyo–Kanazawa, Sendai and Hokkaido Trains
Going from Tokyo to Kanazawa, Sendai, Nagano, Niigata or Hokkaido? Book on JR East's site. In Japanese it's called Eki-net; the English version is JR-EAST Train Reservation. It does not sell Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka: that's smartEX.
On Hayabusa and Kagayaki every seat is reserved, so you need a booking before you board. We checked JR East's official English pages on 7 November 2026. Confirm the details on screen when you book.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. JR East's own site is the official way to book, and we show it first.
Eki-net or smartEX: which one do I need?
North and to Kanazawa
Tokyo – Sendai – Aomori – Hakodate, Tokyo – Nagano – Kanazawa, Tokyo – Niigata, Akita, Yamagata.
West and south
Tokyo – Nagoya – Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima – Fukuoka.
Tokyo – Kanazawa
JR West's online booking also sells Hokuriku Shinkansen e-tickets between Kanazawa and Tokyo.
How do I sign up?
Go to JR East's English site and open JR-EAST Train Reservation. JR East says it is free to join and use, with no ticketing fees.
- Open JR-EAST Train Reservation and register as a member. Anyone who agrees to the terms of service can join. You'll need your name, phone number and email address.
- Enter your name in Roman letters. The name field takes only Roman alphabet characters.
- Check your email. JR East sends the registration result by email, so allow mail from @eki-net.com.
How do I book a seat?
- Search your stations and date. Seats go on sale at 10:00 Japan time one month before.
- Pick a train and class. Standard, Green Car or, on some trains, GranClass.GranClass has only 18 seats per train:Green Car vs GranClass →
- Choose a seat and pay. Pay by credit card: VIEW CARD, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Diners Club.
- Choose how you'll board. Link the booking to your IC card (Shinkansen e-ticket), or collect a paper ticket at a station machine.You'll need data to show your booking and change trains on the go.Japan eSIM on Klook ↗
JR East FAQ: free to join, no ticketing fees; Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen can't be booked; sales from 10:00 JST one month before; JAPAN RAIL PASS seats can't be reserved on this site.
JR East Shinkansen e-ticket page: book online, link the seat to a transport IC card such as Suica or PASMO, tap at the gate.
JR East press release, 17 Sep 2025: Welcome Suica Mobile links Shinkansen e-tickets to the Suica ID automatically.
JR-EAST Train Reservation user guide: name, phone number and email needed to join; names in Roman letters only; VIEW CARD, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club accepted.
JR East March 2026 fare change leaflet: Tokyo–Sendai Yamabiko Shinkansen e-ticket ¥11,110.
How does the e-ticket with Suica work?
With a Shinkansen e-ticket, your reserved seat is stored on your IC card. You tap the card at the Shinkansen gate and that's your ticket. No paper, no queue.
Can I change or cancel?
JR East says tickets booked on JR-EAST Train Reservation can be refunded free until 21:00 Japan time the day before travel, if you haven't collected a paper ticket. Want a Green Car or GranClass instead? Buy the new seat first, then cancel the old one before that deadline.
After that, the standard JR refund rules apply:
What if…?
…my card is declined?
Turn on overseas online payments in your bank's app and try again. If it still fails, buy at a station machine in Japan, or through an agency that charges your currency.
Shinkansen tickets on Klook ↗…the site is only in Japanese?
You're on Eki-net's Japanese site. Switch to the English JR-EAST Train Reservation from JR East's English homepage.
…I'm holding a JR Pass or a JR EAST PASS?
JAPAN RAIL PASS seats can't be reserved on JR-EAST Train Reservation: use the JR Pass site, a ticket office or a machine. JR EAST PASS holders can make up to 15 online bookings, including the pass. Picking up a pass needs your passport, not a copy.
JR EAST PASS guide →…all seats are full?
Hayabusa and Kagayaki have no non-reserved cars. Try a slower train with non-reserved cars, a Green Car seat, or a different time.
Is the JR EAST PASS cheaper than booking each trip?
Since 14 March 2026 the JR EAST PASS covers all JR East lines: ¥35,000 for 5 days, ¥50,000 for 10 days. A Tokyo–Sendai return on Yamabiko e-tickets alone is ¥22,220, so add one or two more long trips and the 5-day pass can win. Going to Kanazawa? JR West runs the Hokuriku Shinkansen beyond Joetsumyoko, and JR West isn't among the companies the JR EAST PASS lists, so you pay separately for that part.
JR EAST PASS
Shinkansen to Sendai, Aomori, Niigata and Nagano, plus N'EX.
Affiliate links. Compare with JR East's own price before you buy.Heading to Kanazawa or the north?
Book on JR-EAST Train Reservation the day you know your dates, especially on all-reserved Hayabusa and Kagayaki. At New Year, Golden Week and Obon, book at 10:00 on the day sales open.