Shinkansen Tips: 3 Things to Know Before You Ride
If you have a super-big suitcase, reserve a seat with luggage space on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. Take phone calls in the deck area between cars, and enjoy an ekiben (station bento) at your seat, which is totally fine.
Video out Oct 13The 21-second video, with Hako. Follow on YouTube to catch it.
The 3 things to know
Reserve luggage space for super-big bags
On the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, reserve a seat with luggage space for a super-big suitcase. Bags whose three sides add up to more than 160 cm must be reserved, and bringing one unreserved costs ¥1,000.
Take calls in the deck
For a phone call, step out to the deck between cars.
Enjoy a bento at your seat
A bento at your seat is totally fine, and ekiben is part of the fun. Be mindful of your neighbors and any strong smells.
Quick answers
Do I need to reserve a seat for a big suitcase on the Shinkansen?
On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, a bag whose three sides total more than 160 cm must be reserved with a seat that has luggage space. Bags over 250 cm in total are not allowed.
Can I eat on the Shinkansen?
Yes. Eating and drinking at your seat is normal on the Shinkansen, as long as you're mindful of neighbors and smells.
Where do I take a phone call on the Shinkansen?
Step out to the deck area between cars, and keep your phone's sound off or low in the seating area.
Read the video transcript
Riding the bullet train? Three Shinkansen tips.
One. Super-big suitcase? On the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, reserve a seat with luggage space.
Two. Phone call? Step out to the deck between cars.
Three. A bento at your seat is totally fine. Ekiben is part of the fun.
Enjoy the ride.
Sources & how we checked
The tips on this page were checked against these official pages:
- global.jr-central.co.jpJR Central - Oversized baggage
- global.jr-central.co.jpJR Central - Shinkansen Perfect Guide
- japan.travelJNTO - Traveling Mindfully
- Updated
- Video
- 21 seconds, made by Ready in Japan
- Good to know
- Rules can vary by place. Follow local signs and staff.
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