Shinkansen discount possible?

I'll go to Kyoto from Tokyo 09/05 and return 09/09.
I have a residency and am traveling with a friend that's visiting as a tourist.
I already checked, rail pass doesn't save money.
Is there any other way to get a discount. Other than choosing a cheap(er) time window.

Thanks?

There are some ticket shops (often around the stations) where you can by a 300 yen discounted Shinkansen ticket. Another option is the app EX. You can have some discount also around 300 yen

Shinkansen is fixed prices and there is no discount unless you combine the ticket and arrange by a tourism office.

Are you able to take advantage of this Japanican offer? https://www.japanican.com/en/tour/list/?typecd=TOU&sbit=9&typegrpcd=TP...

We've used it, they are a reliable company and the prices are a saving.

Foreign tourists can get 150 USD round trip flight by ANA or JAL while residents must pay around 200 USD. I think Japanican round trip ticket is also for foreign tourists only.

There's the Platt Kodama...

Japanican is a brand under JTB which is a Japanese tour company.
Just read the small print and you can understand why they are cheap. If you agree with the terms and dont mind the waiting, exchanging etc than they are indeed cheaper.

The Japanican eVoucher is for temporary visitors, so residents are not eligible. However, with a lengthy email correspondence with them a while back they told me a resident can use one when travelling with a visitor. But, nowhere in the terms and conditions could I actually find where that was permitted.

Next best is to buy the 21-day advance purchase shinkansen ticket via SmartEx reservation system. I can do Tokyo to Kyoto for around 10,000 yen. Limited times/availability.

JR Tokai tours
https://www.jrtours.co.jp/en/flex/kyoto/


Many Japanese travel agencies such as JTB, NTA, KNT offer gfree packh which means a set of round-trip Shinkansen ticket and 1night hotel stay.
It cost about 20000 yen to 35000 yen depending on the hotel and the date.
We, Japanese business traveler usually use them.
https://www.jtb.co.jp/kokunai_tour/list/2601/?departure=TYO&godate=&ca...
https://www.nta.co.jp/jr/shinkansen/

I couldnft find English site. Go to travel agencies.

Thanks for all your input.
I ended up buying a regular ticket but 8pm "take off".
It was cheaper and combined with hotel also cheaper than a special offer or rail pass.