Is it OK to eat on the Shinkansen?

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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It is considered bad manners to eat or drink inside trains, the exception being on the Shinkansen or other long-distance express trains. The smell of the food offends those around you and there is always the possibility of spilling drinks or food, so please avoid bringing food and drinks into the train.

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Any journey on the Shinkansen – Japan's bullet train – is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an ekiben, the iconic bento filled with an assortment of delicacies tucked into a container and eaten in bite-size pieces. The term comes from the Japanese words for station (eki) combined with ben for bento (or “lunchbox”).

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Hazardous materials, sharp objects*1, furnaces / stoves, animals*2, deceased biological material, unclean objects, objects that emit offensive odors, items that may hurt other customers, and objects that may damage the train are not allowed on board. *1: Sharp objects packed as to not hurt other customers are allowed.

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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. But on commuter trains, avoid eating.

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You can bring food and drink on Shinkansen. At Shinkansen station, you will find KIOSK selling drink, food, and books/magazines. Also, you often see small shops selling Obento box, sandwiches, and drinks. Large station, such as Tokyo station, has many stores inside/outside of Shinkansen gates.

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We appreciate your cooperation. You may bring up to 2 baggage items with a total length, width, and height of up to 250 cm (up to 2 meters in length) and a weight of up to 30 kg. However, please reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area or oversized baggage compartment when carrying on oversized baggage.

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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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Using mobile phones on trains Never talk on your phone while on the train, unless using the designated phone area of the shinkansen. Silence and use headphones so that your media cannot be heard by others. Finally, turn your phone off if sitting near the priority seating area.

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Bringing Your Food Aboard 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.

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In Japan, the high-speed Shinkansen trains spray water onto snowy tracks to prevent the snow from blowing up into the undercarriage and re-freezing. In all areas with extreme winter conditions, de-icing, like in the airline industry, is essential.

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The Shinkansen operates 365 days a year, and 800 kg to 1 ton of garbage are collected every day. At the end of a day, staff will spray 30 fold diluted Activated EM-1 on the floor, belt conveyer and compressed pet bottles and cans. “We have been using EM for many year so we got used to it not being smelly here.

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The train's tilting mechanism to lean into curves at high speed and the high-quality airtight body minimize vibration and provide a smooth, quiet ride.

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Baggage with overall dimensions of less than 160 cm You can put baggage whose overall dimensions are less than 160 cm (the same size as the baggage that can be carried for free in airplane holds) * on the overhead baggage rack of the Shinkansen.

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On a Green car, as there is a footrest, please store your baggage on the overhead baggage rack. If your baggage cannot be stored on the overhead baggage rack or by your feet due to its shape, weight, etc., you may store it in the area at the back of the car by reserving a seat with an oversized baggage area.

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Some trains do not have non-reserved seats (all seats are reserved). There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line (Shin-Osaka—Hakata), or on Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line.

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WiFi access is now available on most trains on every Shinkansen line. Additionally, all major stations and many smaller stations also have free WiFi available to passengers. All trains on the following lines have free WiFi available: Tokaido shinkansen.

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? Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) Most window seats (A and E) will have charging outlets, as will some seats in the front and last rows of each carriage. Newer Shinkansen will have outlets available in all seats, so it just depends on the train you get!

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