New Luggage Reservation Rules for the Shinkansen
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Travel in Japan is largely associated with the Shinkansen, but as of 2020 there are new luggage regulations when traveling with oversized baggage that require a train reservation. Read up on the new regulations along with additional travel tips for your next trip to Japan!
Has anything changed when riding the shinkansen?
The Shinkansen (新幹線) bullet train is seen as Japan’s most archetypal express form of travel, allowing riders to traverse the country by high-speed rail. Bullet train travel is a common-place means of transportation with rail services to and from major cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto, along with accommodations for a trip to lesser-known destinations through the medley of different lines. Thanks to the Shinkansen rail, a trip from one end of Japan to the other can be done within a day, an unimaginable feat from decades ago that allows many to depart from a nearby station rather than an airport. After an over two-year period of highly-restricted travel, foreign tourists are once again able to board the Shinkansen and travel around Japan, made even easier and more affordable with the Japan Rail Pass.
However, since the times of more prominent and open tourism prior to the year 2020, a few regulations have changed in regards to riding the Shinkansen when traveling with larger luggage, contrasting the days of more open-space protocols from a few years ago. Here is an overview and guide of the new regulations for reserving and riding the bullet train to help you optimize your trip.
What are the new luggage regulations in Japan?
Previously, larger luggage were left to the discretion of travelers to bring onto the Shinkansen and to find space to store such luggage, such as the designated floor-level luggage sections at the front/back of certain train cars, or the spaces above seat level.
However, it is now required that those traveling with larger baggage reserve special seats with space for their suitcases prior to boarding JR Central Tokaido Sanyo, JR West, and JR Kyushu Shinkansen trains. Please note that bullet trains that are not operated by any of these three Japanese organizations do not require special seat reservations. Be sure to confirm whether the train you plan to travel on does require this special reservation protocol prior to boarding. It is advised to make reservations a few days in advance, but making reservations on the same day is fully possible if done prior to a given departure time.
What is considered oversized baggage?
The definition for larger baggage is in accordance with the following:
Luggage with a total height, width, and depth of 161 cm to 250 cm are considered oversized luggage and thus require prior notification and reservation before being brought onto the bullet train. In general, suitcases at a large enough level that require a check-in at the airport will fall under this category and need a reservation. At many stations, special baggage sizers are available to check if luggage requires a reservation or not.
Note that there are exceptions to this rule that do not require reservation prior to being brought onto the bullet train, even if they do measure between 161 cm to 250 cm in total dimensions. This includes sports equipment (such as bikes), musical instruments in cases, and baby strollers. However, if one wishes to use the oversized baggage area for any of these items, a reservation is required.
Luggage whose total dimensions exceed that of 250 cm are barred from being brought onto the Shinkansen at all.
On most trains, these special reserved seats will be in the back of each respective train car, with space for their luggage behind that exists on the train's ground level. There are also established large luggage compartments available for reservation and use on many train cars as well. Travelers will have the option to choose between the two, depending on availability.
Dimensions for luggage on the Shinkansen bullet train
Items NOT considered as oversized for the Shinkansen bullet train
How much luggage can I bring onto the shinkansen?
Each passenger is allowed to bring on two pieces of oversized luggage each. Each of these pieces of luggage cannot exceed 250 cm in total dimensions as previously stated. Additionally, each piece of luggage cannot exceed 30 kg (66 lbs) in weight. This does not include hand-carry items like backpacks or purses.
How do I reserve seats on the shinkansen?
If you've made the purchase of JR Pass and have already made the exchange of your voucher, please visit a JR Ticket Office in order to reserve specific seats on the Shinkansen. When talking to the JR Ticket Office agent, you'll be required to show your JR Pass then specify that you have oversized luggage to bring on, and they will accommodate your seat reservation so that it is located next to the oversized baggage area and that the baggage area is there for you to use. You will also be asked to choose from the different cars that can be ridden on the Shinkansen, including the general-access ordinary cars, the Green Cars, or Gran Class Cars if available. The availability of cars largely depends on destination, so commonly ridden trains (i.e. ones to and from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, etc.), will have different options, but note that the large crowds they garner from tourists and traveling business people alike make them more prone to early reservations.
Take the time to research your routes leading up to the days prior to your departure. In contrast to a few years ago, reservations for travelers with JR Passes can also be made online at the official Japan Rail Pass Reservation website along with at the automated ticket vending machines.The default language for these machines is Japanese, but there are a number of other languages that these machines can be operated in. If you are having issues at one of these machines, station staff will be glad to guide you in order to find the correct tickets. Travelers aren't required to show their JR Pass to station attendants as they had to a few years ago, and instead, they'll insert their pass before entering the gates to the train line.
If you are not using a JR Pass, or have not made the exchange of your voucher yet, individual tickets with reserved seats can also be purchased at any given JR Ticket Office (major stations like Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Kyoto Station, and Osaka Station, and the number of stations that operate lines to-and-from the airport will often have JR Ticket Offices), at the automated ticket machines at JR Stations, and are available on our website to book ahead of time and exchange using a QR code we send.
Reserve your train tickets ahead of time with Japan Experience!
Check out the essential destinations in Japan with the Shinkansen bullet train!
JR Central
If you wish to buy reserved seats for your desired bullet train, be sure to select “Seat with an oversized baggage area.” Entry passes with train and seat information will be printed out for you to enter through the ticket gates. Station attendants can also guide travelers to their seats in case they get lost using the information on these passes as well. These individual passes can also be reserved online. The reservation website depends on which Shinkansen is being ridden and the managing organization. Travelers can buy tickets for these trains one month in advance of the day and time of departure. Prior to this departure, tickets can be exchanged or altered, though one should note that an exchange to a more expensive ticket will require a payment in the difference price, but an exchange to a cheaper ticket will result in a refund for the difference.
Reserved seating with oversized luggage with Japan Experience
For those who have booked their tickets through Japan Experience, you will need to select and reserve your tickets on our website as usual. However, upon exchanging for the tickets using the QR code at the machine at the station, you will need to make a modification at the machine. The process, after initially receiving physical tickets with the QR code, is as follows:
- After receiving your train tickets from the machine using the QR code, back on the home screen, press "Seat reservation with coupon ticket/Change of Reserved Seat."
- Press "Change reserved seat (today)."
- Insert the previously received ticket(s) into the designated slot on the machine.
- Once all the desired tickets for a reservation change are inserted (up 4 at one time), press "All tickets inserted" once prompted.
- Press "Do not change section," and find the corresponding train information for the reserved tickets. (This will be searchable by departure time).
- Choose either "Purchase seat with oversized baggage area," or "Purchase seat with oversized baggage compartment" depending on preference and availability.
- Choose from further seat details.
- Collect your new tickets.
Can I book seats for oversized baggage on the Kodama Train?
The Kodama Train on the Tokaido Shinkansen runs between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka and caters largely to Japanese commuters rather than people traveling for leisure, much like the many express lines that operate throughout the country, so typically, all the ordinary cars for this train are non-reserved in order to accommodate those traveling more frequently who wish for a more streamlined process. But in regards to the new policies, one car on many Kodama Trains will have reserved seats and a section for passengers with larger baggage. However, this is not the case for all Kodama Trains, so be sure to check the Sanyo Shinkansen and Kyushu Shinkansen websites to confirm. For these trains, note that it may be necessary to book a seat in the more luxury-level and spacious Green Car in order to accommodate large suitcases, as opposed to the more plentiful and accessible ordinary cars.
What if I need help with boarding and getting off the train?
Naturally, with oversized baggage, boarding the Shinkansen, disembarking the Shinkansen, and general movement becomes a bit more hindered. In principle, the new policies in regards to oversized baggage were designed to further ease travel for riders, so bullet train and station staff will do everything in their power to promote an easier flow when traveling and guide you throughout the process. If your large baggage is difficult to bring onto the train and/or put into the designated area on your own, alert train or station staff who will assist you with handling your luggage, though staff will have other duties to tend to while the train is operating, so there may be a need to wait if staff are busy.
What if I board without making a reservation?
Shinkansen conductor and staff
@flickr/ David McKelvey
Though it isn’t ideal, boarding the Shinkansen with large baggage without a reservation is still possible. However, once the train attendant comes by to confirm passenger tickets, they will be asked to purchase new train tickets and exchange their seats for an oversized baggage seat and pay a 1000 yen fee. In order to avoid the hassle and additional purchase costs, it is advised to reserve seats prior to boarding.
