Super-value Shinkansen & Limited Express 50% off tickets! Summary and points to note

Once again, great value tickets are coming!

The "Shinkansen e-Ticket Tokudane Special 28" is a campaign where you can get 50% off JR East and Hokkaido Shinkansen and limited express trains.
The usage period is

weekdays from Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, June 5, 2026.Whether you are an experienced traveler or someone who has not traveled by train much,

why not start by trying out these great value tickets?

I have summarized the detailed content and points to note, so please use it as a reference when planning your trip!😃

◇ Tokudane Special 28 Overview

Tokudane Special 28 is a great value ticket sold exclusively on "Ekinet" for a limited time, mainly on weekdays, which offers 50% off (half price) for reserved seats on Shinkansen and limited express trains. You need to book by 11:50 PM, 28 days before the boarding date, and there is a limit to the number of seats available for the designated sections.

The usage period this time is
weekdays from Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, June 5, 2026.

"Shinkansen e-Ticket (Tokudane Special 28)"
"Conventional Line Ticketless (Limited Express Ticket Tokuwari Special 28)"
of two types is easy to understand.

◇ Shinkansen e-Ticket

Main eligible trains and sections

・ Tohoku, Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Shin-Aomori, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto,
Sendai, Morioka to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (between each station from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto)

・ Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa, Hayate
→ Shin-Aomori, Okutsugaru-Imabetsu, Kikonai to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, Kikonai, Okutsugaru-Imabetsu

・ Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen
→ Morioka to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (between each station from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto)

・ Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka

・ Tohoku Shinkansen Nasuno
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Nasushiobara, Shin-Shirakawa, Koriyama

・ Akita Shinkansen Komachi
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Akita

・ Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Yamagata, Tendo, Sakurambo-Higashine, Murayama, Oishida, Shinjo

・ Joetsu Shinkansen Toki
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Niigata

・ Joetsu Shinkansen Tanigawa
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya to Echigo-Yuzawa

・ Hokuriku Shinkansen Asama
→ Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya ⇔ Nagano

Points

・ Child fares are available
・ Can board with a linked transportation IC card (ticketless)
・ These are reserved seats, not non-reserved seats
・ For travel outside the above sections, separate fares will be charged

◇ Conventional Line Ticketless (Limited Express Ticket Tokuwari Special 28)

Main eligible trains and sections

・ Limited Express Inaho (Ou Main Line)
→ Niigata to Tsuruoka, Sakata, Akita, etc.

・Limited Express Shirayuki (Shin-etsu Main Line)
→ Niigata/Nagaoka to Kashiwazaki/Naoetsu/Joetsumyoko

・Spacia Nikko, Kinugawa
Omiya/Urawa/Ikebukuro/Shinjuku to Tobu-Nikko/Kinugawa-Onsen

Points

・Spacia Nikko is not the "Spacia X"
・Child fares are available
・Can be used with linked transportation IC cards (ticketless)
・These are reserved seats, not non-reserved seats
・Travel outside the specified sections will incur additional charges

◇ Important Points

Regarding Changes

・If you have issued a paper ticket, no changes can be made at all
・If you have not issued a paper ticket, changes can only be made via "Ekinet". However! Changes cannot be made via "Ekinet" if you paid at a convenience store, financial institution, or station, so if there is a possibility of needing to change, please purchase using a credit card.
・Shinkansen e-tickets can be changed via "Ekinet" up to 4 minutes before departure, and conventional line ticketless tickets (Limited Express Ticket Toku-Wari Special 28) can be changed up to 6 minutes before departure.

Regarding Refunds

・A refund fee (from 560 yen) will be charged
・If you have not issued a paper ticket, Shinkansen e-tickets can be refunded via "Ekinet" up to 4 minutes before departure, and conventional line ticketless tickets (Limited Express Ticket Toku-Wari Special 28) can be refunded up to 6 minutes before departure.
・If you have already issued a paper ticket, refunds are possible until the departure time. Procedures must be done at a Midori no Madoguchi (ticket office) at major stations.
(Please note that Midori no Madoguchi offices are being reduced, so they may not be available at smaller stations)

※ For details on fees, etc., please also check theofficial website

Other Major Important Points

・Sold exclusively on "Ekinet"
・Must purchase tickets in advance
・Limited time only from May 25, 2026 to June 5, 2026
・Weekdays only within the above period
・No Green Car or Gran Class options available
・Must apply by 23:50, 28 days before the boarding date
・Sales start at 10:00, one month before the boarding date
・"Advance reservations" (lottery) possible from 14:00, one week before the one-month-prior date
・Note that this applies only to specific JR East Shinkansen lines, not all Shinkansen
・There are limits on the number of seats and sections
・JRE points are earned only when using ticketless boarding or issuing at a reserved seat ticket machine; points are not earned if issued at a Midori no Madoguchi

Summary

Shinkansen fares are expensive when paid in full, but at half price...
"A bullet day trip to Aomori for a seafood bowl lunch!"
I think that's a great idea.

Of course, it can also be used for a relaxing overnight trip, so it is important to plan your ticket purchases.

There are many conditions, so I recommend that you fully understand them before using the service.
It would be a shame to accidentally end up paying extra money without knowing.

It's weekdays only, but even for those who work, you might be able to take a day off!
Or if you have weekdays off anyway, it seems like it could be used for a quick solo trip!

I have also started writing about recommended travel options for Tokudane Special 28.
I will be adding more information sequentially, so
please take a look if you'd like.

【Source/Reference Sites】
Ekinet
JRE Media

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