Understanding the Shinkansen Luggage Rules
SHINKANSEN luggage rules — causing confusion for travelers to Japan since 2020. But worry not, the bullet train is still one of the best ways to get around the country, so here’s what you need to know about bringing your bags on the Shinkansen.
Shinkansen Luggage Rules (The Basics)
Once upon a time, getting on the Shinkansen with baggage was a fairly simple affair, you got on with your suitcase and stowed it whetever there was space. But in May 2020, JR announced a policy requiring travelers with luggage of a certain size to reserve specific seats on certain Shinkansen routes.
Which Shinkansen routes have baggage size rules? The good news is that only three Shinkansen routes have strict luggage size rules.
- Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo to Osaka)
- Sanyo Shinkansen (Osaka to Fukuoka)
- Kyushu Shinkansen (Fukuoka to Kagoshima)
Shinkansen Luggage Size Allowance
Restrictions on Shinkansen Luggage Size
If you have luggage with overal dimensions between 161-250 cm, you will neet to reserve specific seats on the Shinkansen. Luggage of this size falls into a challenging category: it is too big to safely store on the overhead luggage racks and also (usualy) too big to squeeze in front of your knees.
Size 160 cm and below: no, reserved required
Size 161-250 cm: yes, reserved required
Size 250 cm and above: not allowed on train
- Luggage under 160 cm linear dimensions, this is surprisingly big, does not need a seat reservation.
How to Calculate Shinkansen Baggage Size
You will need to add the width, height, and depth of your suitcase together to come up with the overall dimensions. And there are baggage sizers at all Tokaido Shinkansen station, so you can always double check before boarding. Note that the example dimensions are a max 50 cm (Widht) + 80 cm (Height) + 30 cm (Depth).
Exceptions: Sports equipment (including, unbelievably, skis, surfboards, and bikes with covers), musical instruments, wheelchairs, and baby strollers do not need reservations, no matter the size. However, it is strongly recommended that you reserve an oversized luggage seat for a more comfortable journey.
How to Reserve Shinkansen Seats with Luggage Storage
Only certain types of seats come with extra luggage storage. These are the seats in the back row of the Shinkansen carriage, just note that the specific seat numbers for this row change depending on the type of Shinkansen you are riding.
You will need to reserve these seats before getting on the train, but they won't cost you more than a reguler reserved seat. And with a JR Pass, they are complimentary.
Pro tip: if there are no oversized baggage seats available in the regular cars, consider booking some in a Green Car (it is like Business Class). The Green Car is not always that much more expensive.
How to Reserve Seats with Luggage Space on the Shinkansen
You can make seat reservations the same way you normally would, at a ticket office, a ticket vending machine, or online. Tickets are available to book from one month in advance. Note that you cannot use these seats if you bought a ticket for a non-reserved seat.
Sites and app for booking Shinkansen tickets (with seat selections)
- Smart-Ex website and app
- Japan Rail Pass Reservation (JR Pass holders only)
- JR West Online
- JR Kyushu Online
- Eki-net (Japanese only)
Reserving the Shinkansen Luggage Storage Compartment
As of May 2020, you can also reserve space in the baggage compartment on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen. The dimensions available are 80 x 60 x 50 cm for the upper space anda 80 c 60 x 40 cm for the lower space.
You can look your things in place with an IC card, such as Suica or Pasmo. Note that you will also need to reserve certain seats to use the baggage compartment. Note: only some cars on the Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama Shinkansen services have baggage storage compartment.
Luggage Forwarding and Storage Services
What if all the spaces are booked up or you just have too much baggage for one person to handle? Luckily, there are alternatives to loading everything onto a Shinkansen. One you could send your luggage separately with delivery service, we have a comprehensive guide to baggage forwarding services. Two, there is also the option of leaving it behind in a safe spot.
