If you decide to take the Shinkansen, you should know the difference between Reserved seats and non-reserved seats. Out of the 16 carriages, the 3 carriages (Car 1 ~ 3) at the end of the whole train are designated as non-reserved seats, and the other 13 carriages (Car 4 ~ 16)are designated as reserved seats.

A non-reserved seat (known as jiyu-seki) on the Japanese Shinkansen is a seat in a specific set of carriages (usually cars 1 through 3 on most Nozomi or Hikari trains) where seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike reserved seats (shitei-seki), where you are assigned a specific car and seat number, a non-reserved ticket allows you to board any train on your designated route and sit in any empty spot within the non-reserved section. This offers maximum flexibility; if you miss your intended train, you can simply hop on the next one without needing to change your ticket at a counter. The downside is that during peak travel times—such as Golden Week, New Year's, or the Friday evening rush—these carriages can fill up quickly, and you may end up standing in the aisle for the duration of the journey. In 2026, while many "Green Cars" (first class) and "Gran Class" (luxury) cars require reservations, the non-reserved option remains a popular, slightly cheaper way for budget-conscious travelers and spontaneous commuters to navigate Japan's high-speed rail network.