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When do JR East tickets go on sale?

Bookings open every day at 10:00 JST, for the same date one month later. Dates that don't exist in the earlier month (such as the 31st) open on the 1st of the next month.

JR East's booking site covers the Shinkansen lines heading north and northwest from Tokyo (Tohoku, Hokkaido, Hokuriku and Joetsu), the Narita Express and limited express trains. Reserved seats open one month ahead and can sell out at holiday peaks.

Where: Tokyo to Tohoku, Hokkaido, Hokuriku and Niigata
Book ahead: One month: seats open at 10:00 on the same date a month before

Confirmed on the official site Last checked Oct 17, 2026, 12:00 JST

How hard to get: Usually still available. Why we say this

Bookings open every day

10:00 JST, for the same date 1 month later

Official booking page ↗

How to book, step by step

Go to JR-EAST Train Reservation, JR East's English booking site.
Using a JR East rail pass? Buy it on the same site first. Seats for the nationwide Japan Rail Pass are not reserved here.
From 10:00 Japan time, one month before your travel date, choose your train and seat. You can book until 6 minutes before departure.
Pay by credit card. If your card is declined, try another card or buy at a station.
Before boarding, collect your tickets from a reserved-seat ticket machine at a JR East station, using the card you paid with. Allow extra time, as stations can be crowded.

Good to know for overseas visitors

You also need a basic fare ticket. In IC card areas, an IC card can cover the fare.
If the same date doesn't exist in the previous month (for example March 31), sales start on the 1st of the travel month.
Busy times sell out fast: New Year, Golden Week (late April to early May) and Obon (mid-August).

Sold out? Other ways in

FAQ

When can I book JR East trains like the Tohoku Shinkansen?

From 10:00 Japan time one month before your travel date, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation site.

Does this cover the Tokyo to Osaka Shinkansen?

No. Tokyo to Osaka (the Tokaido Shinkansen) is run by JR Central and booked on SmartEX or JR-WEST Online. The release time is the same.

Sources

www.jrhokkaido.co.jp: “Reservation available from 10 am (JST) one month before the boarding date until 6 minutes before departure time” (checked 2026-10-17)

Read from JR Hokkaido's official English page, which uses the same JR-EAST Train Reservation system. The eki-net.com page itself could not be read automatically.

How hard to get (“Usually still available”): Reasoning: seats are usually available, except on popular trains at holiday peaks (New Year, Golden Week, Obon).

Rule changes

2026-10-17: Added. 10:00 JST one month before travel (official JR page for the same system).