If you decide that a JR Pass isn't worth it, but you still need to take the bullet train (Shinkansen), you're in for an easy time. Unlike in other countries, in Japan, unless you are traveling on the Friday or Monday evening of a three-day weekend, or before/during certain national holidays such as Golden Week, Silver Week, and the New Year, there is no need to book bullet train seats in advance. Depending on your location and your destination, bullet trains may depart as frequently as once every ten minutes, and no less frequently than once every hour. If you're not sure what time you want to travel, don't sweat it - there will be a train for you. However, make sure you use Hyperdia to look up how long the train will take to reach your destination, so you don't get there late! Also, make sure you don't leave things too late in the evening. Bullet train services start winding down around 9PM. If you're planning on traveling late in the evening, make sure you look up your last train in advance, so you don't end up stranded.

To buy tickets, you don't even need to go to a counter or wait in line to talk to a person. All you need to do is use the simple automated kiosks located right outside the ticket gates. These machines include services in English, which walk you through a series of touch-screen menus where you select the number of passengers, your arrival and departure stations, your preferred seat, etc. Slot your cash into the machine and it will print out your ticket immediately. Be warned: most of these machines don't accept credit cards. Have your cash ready and waiting! Now all you have to do is go through the gates, find the right platform, and board your train! However, make sure to check that you're on the right train by checking the number on your ticket against the platform displays. There are a lot of bullet trains, so it's easy to get confused. If you're supposed to board the Nozomi 260, don't get on the 259 by mistake!

Some bullet train lines, most notably the Tokaido Line, also offer an option called 自由席 ("free seat cats" or "non-reserved cars.") Tickets to non-reserved cars are slightly cheaper than tickets for reserved seats, and the advantage to a non-reserved seat ticket is that because your ticket isn't tied to a specific seat number on a specific train, you can use it on any train you like. To board a non-reserved car, simply enter the car, choose a seat, and sit down! However, if you want to ride in a non-reserved car train, make sure to get to the station a little early, since depending on the time of day, lines may form, and if you don't get a seat, you'll have to stand, which is no fun.

Discount ticket shops known as 金券ショップ sell non-reserved seat bullet train tickets for cheaper rates than those offered by train stations, so if you're an enterprising bargain-hunter, you might want to try this method. Discount ticket shops are usually located near the entrances to major train stations. They may also be located in department stores. Fun fact: in addition to train tickets, they also sell tickets for everything from movies to art museums to concerts (though don't expect to find Buck-Tick tickets there).

If you bought a non-reserved seat ticket from a discount ticket shop but then decide you want a reserved seat after all, you can get one if you line up at the Midori no Madoguchi (help desk). However, the lines are often long, and you'll have to pay extra money for a reserved seat, so cheapo fast-and-loose travelers probably won't want to bother.

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