Which is the best seat for Shinkansen?

Shinkansen Travel Tips: Choosing the Right Seats
  • For Productive Work: Front Row or Window Seat. ...
  • For Sleeping: Window Seat or Last Row. ...
  • For Charging Devices: Window Seat. ...
  • For a Quiet and Relaxing Journey: Seats Closer to the Center. ...
  • To Avoid Oversleeping: Seats Near the Deck Entrance.




The "best" seat on a Shinkansen (bullet train) depends on your priorities: the view, luggage space, or tranquility. If you are traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka, you absolutely want a Seat E in a standard car (or Seat D in a Green Car), as these are the window seats on the right side that provide a spectacular view of Mount Fuji about 40 minutes into the journey. If you are traveling with large suitcases, the best seats are in the last row of the carriage, which provides access to the "Oversized Baggage" storage area behind the seats (which must be reserved in advance in 2026). For the quietest experience, choose a car in the middle of the train to avoid the "wind noise" of the aerodynamic nose and the foot traffic of the smoking rooms or toilets. If you are a solo traveler, many people prefer the "2-seat" side of the 3-2 configuration to avoid being stuck in a middle seat, ensuring a more private and comfortable high-speed experience across the Japanese countryside.

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Go to a ticket machine at a train station and change to a language other than Japanese if needed. Select Reserved Seat on the screen. Select For seat reservation on Shinkansen. (There will be other options if you are riding a train other than a Shinkansen.)

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Green vs. ordinary They are available on most shinkansen and limited express trains and on a small number of local trains. Many travelers find the size and foot room of ordinary seats sufficient, but those looking for additional luxury, should go for the green car.

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I definitely think that JR Himeji Station, not inside the trains, is one of the best spots to feel the technology, the high speed of Shinkansen. At the platform of the station, you can closely look at “Nozomi” or “Mizuho” trains pass way too fast, the speed of 300 kilometres per hour.

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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 the Gran Class Cars, there are even further amenities added to those of the Green Cars, with even further reclining and luxurious seats and even more leg space. Gran Class Cars are often formatted in a 2x1 seating arrangement so that each passenger either has easy aisle access or an individual seat.

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Some trains might have a stop as brief as 1 minute, while others might stop 5 to 10 minutes due to waiting for other Shinkansen to pass. Regardless, arriving at the platform about 15 minutes before the departure time provides ample mental and physical preparation.

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When traveling to Kyoto, Mt. Fuji is located on the right side, and traveling to Tokyo, it's visible on the left side. For the best view, always reserve the E seat (if you are a group of two, you should book D & E).

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The advantage of Green Car passes is that they allow you to ride in the Green Car on any JR train that has such cars (all shinkansen and tokkyu trains). As mentioned above, Green Car seats are more comfortable and spacious. The Green Cars tend to be quieter than ordinary cars. They also tend to be less crowded.

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With this popularity, reserving seats on the Shinkansen ahead of time is a common practice. This is especially recommended during peak travel times, such as Spring, Fall, and New Years, and not just for bullet trains, but for some Express Trains as well.

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Yes, it is generally allowed to bring food with you on the Shinkansen in Japan. Many passengers bring their own meals or snacks to enjoy during the journey. However, it is important to be considerate of other passengers and avoid strong-smelling foods or meals that may cause inconvenience to those around you.

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You may bring up to two pieces of baggage on board free of charge. For each bag the total of the length, width and height must not exceed 250 centimetres, the length must not exceed two meters and the weight must be no more than 30 kilograms.

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Note that for the Shinkansen, you need a “super (limited) express” ticket in addition to the basic fare ticket for that route (we sell these as a set). Do Shinkansen tickets sell out? Yes, especially for weekend travel and during peak seasons, Shinkansen services can be fully booked.

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Do Shinkansen tickets sell out? Yes, especially for weekend travel and during peak seasons, Shinkansen services can be fully booked. In this case, it may be possible to ride with a non-reserved seat ticket, if you are willing to stand for the entire journey!

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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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In Tokyo, you can catch the Shinkansen either at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, and then arrive to Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka. A one-way journey costs 13,620 yen (unreserved seat) or 14,340 yen (reserved seat), but with your JR Pass, you can avail of either without having to pay additional fees.

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Where Can I Board the Shinkansen? Platforms 14 through 23 at Tokyo Station are for all Shinkansen trains. Platforms 14-19 are for the Tokaido shinkansen and Sanyo shinkansen trains. Travelers headed to cities in western Japan like Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima will board from these platforms.

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