JR East will operate the Shiosai, Wakashio, and Sazanami limited express trains between the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Boso area with all seats reserved from spring 2024 (also applies to Shinjuku Wakashio and Shinjuku Sazanami).
Fares are unified as “limited express fares,” which are roughly halfway between the current unreserved seat limited express fare and reserved seat limited express fare. If you use the “Ekinet Ticketless Service,” which was introduced at the same time and allows you to purchase reserved-seat express tickets via smartphone, you can use the service with a flat discount of 100 yen (50 yen for children).
In addition to “reserved seat express tickets” that specify the date, section, train and seat, “unassigned seat tickets” that specify only the date and section of the train and do not specify the train or seat will also be sold for reserved seats on ordinary cars (sold only at stations or onboard trains).
To commemorate the start of the service, a campaign to celebrate the start of the “Ekinet Ticketless Service” will be held from spring 2024 to June 30, 2024. During the campaign period, limited seats in regular reserved carriages will be available at a discount of 200 yen (100 yen for children), double the normal fare.
In addition, a 40% discount campaign for “Ekinet Tokudatei (ticketless limited express tickets)” will be implemented for the period from January 9, 2024 to spring (for boarding) before the service starts. The campaign offers a 40% discount on the regular reserved-seat limited express fares for the Shiosai, Wakashio, and Sazanami limited expresses (also available for the Shinjuku Wakashio and Shinjuku Sazanami limited expresses).
© Source travel watch