Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto

Shinkansen tickets - enter SKS10OFF to get $10 off on your ticket.

 Not as easy as expected 

When I purchased my Shinkansen tickets, I was dropped off at Tokyo station at the Yaesu side.  The driver who brought me back on the day of my departure dropped me off on the Maronouchi side.

This is what led to my difficulty. This could’ve easily been addressed if I had simply looked at this map of Tokyo station before going there.

https://maps-tokyo.com/img/0/tokyo-station-map.jpg

If you’re coming to Tokyo and planning to use the local trains or the Shinkansen, you should take a moment and get familiar with the station layout. It will take away all the confusion and I will help here with the few things that are not shown on this map. 

So on approach from the Marinucci gates, here are the steps:

1. You must use your SUICA (ic card) to enter the terminal
2. Signage was weak, and there were no information personnel to help me, looking at the map, you simply walk straight ahead and follow the pathway to the Shinkansen gates.
3. The green Shinkansen gates will take you north. The blue gates will take you south - Kyoto.  The steps leading up to the Shinkansen gates are colored blue or green to help you. At this point take your time, especially if you have luggage, do not fight the steps. There are small escalators and even ramps if you simply take a breath, slow down and look.   With that in mind, give yourself time on your first attempt at using Tokyo station just so you can slow down and make life easier.
4. Your Shinkansen ticket has a train number on it, there are massive boards above the ticket Gates showing you which platform your train number will leave from.
5. When you are going through the ticket gate to reach your platform you will have to enter both Shinkansen tickets into a small receiver. The ticket will pop out the other side, make sure you take it as you will need it to exit at the destination station. You will also need to scan your SUICA or IC card to get through these gates.
6. Again, if you have luggage, there are escalators to reach the platforms… Do not fight the stairs if you have luggage. On the platform, there are small kiosks with snacks. There is an air-conditioned room with seats where you can wait for your train to arrive.  
7. I recommend you go find your Gate for the car number assigned to your ticket then you can relax and wait for your train to arrive.