Ticket Changes Ticket Refunds If a Ticket Has Been Lost What to Do in the Event of an Accident, etc. [If the Ticket Is Unused] Tickets that are unused and still valid can be exchanged for the same type of ticket one time at no charge. When the ticket is exchanged, the passenger must pay the difference if the new ticket fare is higher, or receives a refund if the new ticket fare is lower. If the ticket is being exchanged for the second time, the amount of the ticket is refunded by the fare adjustment counter of a station or travel agent, and the passenger then purchases the new ticket. Reserved-seat tickets can only be changed prior to the departure time of the corresponding train at the station where the train is to be boarded. After the departure time, the ticket is no longer valid and no refund or exchange can be made. Reserved-seat tickets must be exchanged at a ticket window where reserved-seat tickets are sold ("Green" window, etc.) during the times when the window is open. Non-reserved seat limited express tickets, special limited express tickets, express tickets, and non-reserved-seat Green tickets can be exchanged for the same type of ticket or for a reserved-seat ticket. When exchanging tickets purchased at a travel agency using a credit card, please go to the travel agency where the ticket was purchased or a station ticket window. [If the Passenger Has Already Boarded a Train Using the Ticket] If the passenger boards a train using a ticket but departs from a different station than the station designated on the ticket, the passenger must pay any additional applicable fares and fees, but no refund is made if the ticket fare is more than the fare for the actual distance traveled. However, a refund is made if the ticket is a standard railway ticket and the unused portion of the ticket exceeds 100 km. Also, when a passenger is using a ticket with a destination that is a specific area of a city rather than a specific station, if the passenger exits the station from an exit that is outside the designated area (even if the station itself is within the designated area), the passenger must pay the additional fare for traveling outside the area designated on the ticket. If the passenger travels beyond the area designated by the ticket, the passenger must pay the fare for the additional distance traveled. If the passenger has changed the direction of travel or the route used to reach the destination, the fare for the actual route traveled is compared against the unused portion of the original ticket, and the passenger pays the difference. In the following cases, the fares before and after the change for the entire route are compared and the passenger pays the difference. 1. If the destination is changed for a standard railway ticket for travel of 100 operating kilometers or less one-way. 2. If the ticket is a standard railway ticket that can be used only for travel between major cities and their surrounding areas and the destination is changed to a station within the same city or surrounding area. For reserved-seat tickets, non-reserved-seat limited express tickets, special limited express tickets, expressed tickets, and non-reserved "Green" tickets, a ticket change can be made only one time. When the change is made, the fares before and after the change are compared and the passenger pays any additional fare. [If the Passenger Is Late for a Train Reservation] Reserved-seat limited express tickets, "Green" tickets, etc., become invalid after the departure time of the designated train, and refunds cannot be made. For reserved-seat limited express tickets, if the passenger misses the designated train, the ticket can still be used for a non-reserved seat on standard trains at any time during the day of the reservation. If the passenger wishes to use a reserved seat on a different train, the passenger must pay the entire reserved-seat limited express fee. If the Ticket Is Unused and Still Valid Ticket refunds are subject to a refund fee as shown in the following chart. Ticket Type Conditions for Refund Refund Fee Railway Ticket Express Ticket Non-Reserved Seat Limited Express Ticket Special Limited Express Ticket Non-Reserved Seat "Green" Ticket The ticket must be unused and still valid. ¥210 Reserved-Seat Tickets Standing Limited Express Ticket The ticket can be refunded up to the train departure time. ¥210 Reserved-Seat Limited Express Ticket Reserved-Seat "Green" Ticket Reserved-Seat Ticket The ticket can be refunded up to two days prior to the date of departure. ¥320 The ticket can be refunded anytime from the day prior to departure until the train departure time. 30%, with a minimum of ¥320 Discount Tickets Refund conditions depend on the type of ticket. Please consult a station agent. If a reserved-seat ticket that has already been changed once is submitted for refund on the day of train departure or the preceding day, a refund fee of 30% will be charged. For combination tickets issued together as one ticket, for example, a limited express ticket and "Green" ticket, a limited express ticket and sleeper car ticket, or an express ticket and reserved-seat ticket, the fee for refunding the reserved-seat ticket applies only to the "Green", sleeper car or reserved-seat portion of the ticket. If the Passenger Has Already Boarded a Train Using the Ticket After the passenger has boarded the train, a refund can only be made if the ticket is still valid and the unused portion of the ticket exceeds 100 operating kilometers, one way. The amount refunded is the price of the ticket minus the standard fare for the distance already traveled and a refund fee of ¥210. For discount tickets, refunds are handled differently depending on the specific ticket. Please consult a station attendant about discount ticket refunds (refunds cannot be made for some types of discount tickets after the passenger has used the ticket to board a train). If you lose your ticket, please notify the attendant at the station ticket window or a member of the train crew, and then purchase another ticket as a replacement for the one that was lost (such tickets are marked with (reissue for lost ticket). For reserved-seat tickets, this applies only to reserved-seat tickets for the same train. At the destination station, receive a "receipt for ticket reissue" for the replacement ticket and keep this as your proof of ticket reissue. If the lost ticket is found within one year, please take the ticket together with the "receipt for ticket reissue" to the fare adjustment counter of a station. The amount of the fares and fees shown on the "receipt for ticket reissue" corresponding to the found ticket will be refunded, minus a refund fee of ¥210 (¥320 four reserved-seat tickets). These conditions also apply to stolen tickets. [When Trains Are Not Operating] If You Have Not yet Bought Your Ticket: Sales will be suspended for tickets departing from, arriving at, or passing through the area where trains are not operating. If it becomes possible to make connections with other means of transportation, such as buses, or if a detour can be made around the affected area, the affected area will be considered open for operation and the corresponding tickets will be sold. If You Have Already Bought Your Ticket: If you decide to cancel your trip, the entire amount of the fares and fees will be refunded. If you decide to cancel your trip along the way, the fare for the unused portion of the ticket will be refunded. In such cases, the full amount of the limited express/express fee for the train not operating will be refunded. If you are traveling on a limited express train and train operation is suspended before you reach your destination, you will be able to board another limited express/express train after operation resumes (if the train taken out of operation is an express train, you can use subsequent express trains). In this case, the entire amount of the limited express/express fee for the train taken out of operation will be refunded. If limited express/express operation is suspended only for the area between Osaka and Shin-Osaka, only the amount corresponding to the difference in the limited express/express fee will be refunded. If train operation is suspended, you will also be able to return to your departure station at no cost. In this case, the entire amount of the ticket fares and fees will be refunded. For discount tickets, the refund system varies depending on the type of ticket. Please consult a station or train attendant. [If a Train Runs Late] If a limited express or express train is late by at least two hours from the scheduled arrival time, the full amount of the limited express/express fee will be refunded. If you arrive at least two hours late from the designated arrival time due to missing a train connection because a train was running late, and as a result, you decide to cancel your trip along the way or return to the original departure station, fare refunds, etc., will be handled in the same way as when train operation is suspended. For discount tickets that can be used on limited express and express trains, the handling of refunds varies with the type of ticket. Please consult a station attendant for more information about ticket refunds.