JR EAST Promo: 50% Discount for Shinkansen Tickets until March 2021

Amidst the drop of foreign visitors in Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism agencies are finding ways to encourage people to travel domestically by offering special promos. Even the government has launched Go To Travel campaign to further entice residents to travel.

As for East Japan Railway Company or JR East, they have announced a new promotion called Ekinetto Tokudane (えきねっとトクだ値) in which Shinkansen tickets and some limited express train tickets can be purchased for half their original price. Yes, 50% off!

IMPORTANT! There is an English website but you can only use it as a reference (train information, schedule, type of seats, etc). The discounted tickets can only be purchased via the Japanese website, but don’t worry because I have written a general guide below to help you go through the process of booking. 

What destinations are covered in this campaign?

These are the areas covered. Click the links to see the destinations per area.

• Tohoku Shinkansen
• Akita Shinkansen
  
• Yamagata Shinkansen
• Joetsu Shinkansen
• Hokuriku Shinkansen

Some Limited Express Trains are also included: 

• Hitachi (between Tokyo and Haranomachi/Soma/Watari/Iwanuma/Sendai)
• Azusa (between Tokyo and Haranomachi/Chino/Kami-Suwa/Matsumoto)
• Kaiji (between Tokyo and Kofu/Ryo)
• Wakashio, Shinjuku-Wakashio (between Tokyo and Oamishirasato/Ohara/Katsuura/Awa-Kamogawa)
• Sazanami, Shinjuku-Sazanami (between Tokyo and Goi/Anegasaki/Kisarazu/Kimitsu/Tateyama)
• Shiosai (between Tokyo and Sakura/Yachimata/Naruto/Yokaichiba/Asahi/Choshi)
• Inaho (between Tokyo and Tsuruoka/Amarume/Sakata)
• Nikko, Kinugawa, Spacia Kinugawa (between Tokyo and Tobu-Nikko/Kinugawa Onsen)

When is the travel period?

It’s from August 20, 2020 until March 31, 2021 except for Kagayaki and Hakutaka of Hokuriku Shinkansen which are only until 30th of September this year.

Tickets should be booked between 20 days to 1 month before the date of travel.

How much are the tickets?

Here are some of the prices to give you an idea:

How do I book the tickets?

1. Register in the えきねっと (Ekinetto) website.
2. Click “きっぷ予約・変更”
3. Click “きっぷ予約”
4. Click “指定席”
5. Choose your train (ex. Tohoku Shinkansen) and click it.
6. Input the date, time and stations (start and end)
7. Check the available trains. Choose the seat section and input the number of people.
8. Choose your seat(s) and apply.

For how many people can I book?

Each individual can book for up to 6 people.

Need help booking?

It may be tricky to purchase the tickets if you cannot read Japanese. So if you are considering to get help, make sure it’s a trusted Japanese speaker. You may contact me anytime for assistance! I can help not only for booking those tickets but also for planning the best trip of your life in Japan. Transportation tickets, hotel reservations, restaurant reservations, tours, special travel requests— Leave it all up to me, so you can enjoy without worrying about these things!

Always just a message away,

AKIKO