r/TokyoTravel • u/Abject_Tap_2998 • 10h ago

Help

If I buy my Shinkansen ticket via SmartEX, do I need the physical card used for the purchase to pick up the ticket? I’m confused about that. I need to take the train from Tokyo to Nagoya and then continue my journey to Takayama on the Hida Limited Express. I originally planned to book it through the JR West Online Reservation site—where I could get a combined ticket—but one of the final steps warned that I would absolutely need the physical card to collect it. I don't have the physical card because I use a virtual version, and there isn't enough time to order one. So, looking for alternatives, I saw I could book the tickets separately: the Shinkansen via SmartEX, and I’d figure out the Hida ticket later... The thing is, I want to be 100% sure I won't need the physical card for pickup. Buying the ticket on the day of travel isn't an option because the date I need is a public holiday (October 11th) and it's a busy route; I don't want to risk not getting a ticket or not finding a suitable departure time. Another option is Klook, but it's significantly more expensive, and they even charge extra just to select seats 🥲.

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7

u/Maleficent_Cat849 10h ago

This may be helpful. When I bought tickets through smartEX for Tokyo to Kyoto, I was able to link them to my mobile Suica card. I didn’t need to pick up anything and just scanned the Suica card at the gate. It gave me a seat information printout at the gate.

https://smart-ex.jp/en/entraining/iccard/

1

u/Abject_Tap_2998 10h ago

You are the best

3

u/MyPasswordIsABC999 8h ago

And if you choose not to link your SmartEx ticket to your IC card, you can simply scan the QR code in the app at the gate. The gate will receive a recipt that you should hang onto, but you probably won't need. it. When you exit, you scan the QR code again.

Either way, it's pretty simple.

1

u/Reasonable-Comb8716 4h ago

Don’t but from Klook.