Can I buy Shinkansen tickets that allow onward travel on JR regional trains?

score:2

Accepted answer

jpatokal’s answer is absolutely correct when buying from a ticket machine outside the ticket gates, for example the ones that are close to the people-operated counters. However, if I already entered the ticket gates with an IC card and then attempt to buy a same-day Shinkansen ticket at the transfer station, this option is not available. These machines will only sell tickets to Shinkansen stops. (Yes, I tried every single alternative at every single choice, there was no hidden path.)

Tl;dr: It’s possible, but not from every machine.

Upvote:1

When going from your departure station "just outside Kyoto" to Yokohama, the base fare part of your ticket was from that station to the Yokohama city zone, which basically means any station in Yokohama. Hence it was valid to exit at Yokohama station.

When going back, you probably just purchased a ticket to Kyoto, and the base fare part was from the Yokohama city zone (any station in Yokohama) to the Kyoto city zone (any station in Kyoto). Again, it was thus valid to enter at Yokohama station. However, your arrival station was outside the Kyoto city zone, hence it was not valid to exit there, and a fare adjustment was necessary.

You should have bought a base fare ticket to your actual arrival station, not to the Kyoto city zone.

Upvote:6

Yes, it's possible. You can even buy these from vending machines if you're feeling brave enough to navigate that twisty maze, but the easiest thing is to visit a manned ticket office (みどりの窓 midori no madoguchi) and let them sort it out. Writing down your start and end stations plus date, time and class of service will help.

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