Is it OK to eat on a train in Japan?

There is a custom in Japan where most people do not eat food outside other than when in restaurants. However, when using the bullet train or the green car, you are permitted to eat food. Normal trains and people commuting using said trains do not permit the consumption of food whilst riding the train.



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You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

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Walking and eating in Japan Japanese tend not to eat while walking along or standing around on the street. However, it is acceptable to drink while standing aside a vending machine. Eating and drinking on local trains, but not long distance express trains, is also frowned upon.

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People don't usually eat or drink anything other than water while on the train. When riding the Shinkansen or on a long train ride in a green car (reserved seating) you are allowed to eat and drink. The seats actually have tables and cup holders. There are also food, drinks, and snacks being sold in these train cars.

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Here are 10 do's and don'ts while on the train in Japan.
  • Don't take up too much space. ...
  • Keep it quiet. ...
  • Put your phone on mute. ...
  • Priority seats. ...
  • Get on the train in turn & don't rush onto the train. ...
  • Don't eat and drink. ...
  • Don't litter. ...
  • Don't do your makeup.


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There is a custom in Japan where most people do not eat food outside other than when in restaurants. However, when using the bullet train or the green car, you are permitted to eat food. Normal trains and people commuting using said trains do not permit the consumption of food whilst riding the train.

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If you bought a Japan Rail Pass in advance, it includes unlimited train rides on the Narita Express. If you're a little hungry, you can purchase food and drinks to enjoy en route as you relax and look forward to your stay in Japan. There is also a restroom that you can use to freshen up.

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It's generally not acceptable to eat or drink on buses either. If you are carrying a small bottle of water or something similar, then it's a good idea to wait until the bus comes to a halt at a traffic light or bus stop, before taking a drink to mimimize the risk of spilling your drink on the seat or someone nearby.

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Eating while walking is a big no-no for most Japanese–even children enjoying an ice cream are often told to sit down before consuming food.

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Don't leave food behind. It's considered bad manners to leave even grains of rice behind, so be sure to clean your plate! If there are some foods you cannot eat, ask to have them left out of the dish. Do use the opposite end of chopsticks to pick up food from a shared dish.

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There are no restrictions about which sort of food you can bring on board, but please be considerate of other passengers and don't take strong-smelling food on board. On intercapital and daytime ski trains; each traveller can take 4 bottles or cans of beer, or 1 bottle of wine.

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SUICA (offered by JR East) allows you to access trains, subways, monorails, and buses in the Kanto region such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, etc., Sendai, Niigata, and Okinawa. You can also use it in restaurants, taxis, vending machines, and food stores as long as they have the SUICA logo.

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Visit Naritasan Shinshoji Temple This large and popular Buddhist temple near Narita Airport is in Narita City, making it the ideal spot to visit during a layover.

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While on the train, your phone should be on silent mode and you should avoid making or receiving phone calls. Keep conversations to a minimum. Much like phone etiquette, if you are riding with friends, family, or coworkers, you can typically talk but do so quietly. Don't eat or drink.

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Eating and drinking on Japanese trains You should eat on trains only when taking a long-distance train, such as the Shinkansen. These types of trains have a tray and cup holder at every seat, and snacks are sold from a vendor trolley. When taking this type of train, it is also acceptable to bring your own food.

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The availability of toilets on trains in Japan depends on the type and class of the train, as well as the specific route. While many long-distance and high-speed trains, such as the shinkansen (bullet trains), are equipped with toilets, some local and commuter trains may not have them.

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All shinkansen are equipped with multiple toilets, which are sometimes separated by gender. The toilets are Western-style except on some older train sets.

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Refrain from eating on urban trains. However, the consumption of snacks, meals and drinks is perfectly okay at your seat on long-distance trains, but avoid bringing overly smelly food and make sure not to leave any garbage behind.

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Especially when visiting large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, you will want to avoid traveling during rush hour. Throughout Japan, rush hour typically lasts from 7 AM to 9 AM each morning, and 5 PM to 7 PM each evening. These are the times when many residents and going and coming from secular employment.

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