EX-IC Card

[Guest ___]

What are the outlets available for buying an EX-IC card the shinkansen?

 

[Tenorikuma]

What are the outlets available for buying an EX-IC card the shinkansen?

 

 

Probably just using the vending machines at stations.

 

I have no idea how the EX-IC card works, though.

[Guest ___]

It has a special kiosk as seats ar e often reserved. But I can find no information as to whether the cards are sold per machine or agent. Nor can I confirm if it is pre-paid or bills directly to a CC. I know there is a VISA that links and works as a IC card as a supplement to the EX-IC, however JR-C's website has only a small PDF on the use of the card which is not even accessible from the main navigation anymore and it does not denote in the English page on acquiring the card.  http://english.jr-central.co.jp/about/_pdf/about_express_reservation_service.pdf

[bill937ca]

It looks like enrollment is only by mobile phone or computer (scroll down on the link page).

[Guest ___]

Thats sorta what I was afraid of and can see why they re index the English links.

[Tenorikuma]

It has a special kiosk as seats ar e often reserved. But I can find no information as to whether the cards are sold per machine or agent. Nor can I confirm if it is pre-paid or bills directly to a CC. I know there is a VISA that links and works as a IC card as a supplement to the EX-IC, however JR-C's website has only a small PDF on the use of the card which is not even accessible from the main navigation anymore and it does not denote in the English page on acquiring the card.  http://english.jr-central.co.jp/about/_pdf/about_express_reservation_service.pdf

 

From the brief Japanese description I read, it looks like you have to use it together with a prepaid IC card like a Suica card. Presumably the Suica card handles payment and the EX-IC identifies your reservation. I could be wrong though.

 

(If reservations can be done by IC card, what do you show the conductor when he comes to check your ticket?)

[Guest ___]

the video i had found last night shows that when you stack and run the IC's over the sensor it kicks out a receipt.

[bill937ca]

EX-IC is called Express Reservation Service by JR Central.  You can make reservations from a mobile phone for the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansens and then using the EX-IC card (using IC card technology) board the train without having to go to the ticket window. Payment is made with a credit card. Receipts are given at ticket machines for members only.  Sounds like a Nozomi market enhancement to me.

 

Its explained with diagrams on page 16, item #29 in the Central Japan Railway Databook 2010 (which is a large PDF file).

 

http://english.jr-central.co.jp/company/company/others/data-book/_pdf/2010.pdf

 

In the 2008 Databook, the same information is full page, on page 17.

 

http://english.jr-central.co.jp/company/company/others/data-book/_pdf/2008.pdf