A gradually decreasing number of shinkansen trains are served by small food carts with a selection of snacks, drinks and boxed meals (bento) which periodically pass along the aisle. Free Wi-Fi is available on board of all shinkansen except on some older train sets in eastern Japan.

In 2026, the food experience on the Shinkansen has shifted toward purchasing before you board. While the iconic "service carts" still operate in the Green Cars (First Class) of the Tokaido and Sanyo lines (Nozomi and Hikari), they have been discontinued in Ordinary Cars to improve efficiency. Travelers are encouraged to buy an Ekiben (station bento box) from the specialized kiosks found on the platforms or inside the ticket gates. These bentos are high-quality, often featuring regional specialties like Okayama festival sushi or Kobe beef. If you are traveling in Gran Class on lines like the Hokuriku Shinkansen, you receive complimentary gourmet meals and drinks at your seat. For everyone else, major stations like Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, and Kyoto offer an incredible variety of snacks, seasonal bento boxes, and "Doctor Yellow" themed meals. It is a peer-to-peer pro-tip to buy your food and a "frozen" Shinkansen ice cream at the station convenience store before the gates close, as onboard options are now quite limited.