Many people traveling to Japan likely plan to take the Shinkansen with their suitcases. However, there are restrictions on the size of luggage you can bring onboard. So, if you have oversized baggage, how should you board the Shinkansen? And where should you put your large luggage?
This time, we looked into the designated storage areas for oversized luggage on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines.
Two Special Seats Required for Oversized Luggage
The Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines offer two types of reserved seats with oversized baggage storage space:
- Oversized Baggage Area Seat
- Oversized Baggage Space Seat
You need to select one of these seats when purchasing your Shinkansen ticket.
If you bring oversized luggage without a reservation, you will be charged a fee of 1,000 yen.
Oversized Baggage Area Seat / Oversized Baggage Space Seat
On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines, “Oversized Baggage Area Seats” and “Oversized Baggage Space Seats” are designated for travelers with large luggage. These are seats equipped with either a “baggage area” or “baggage space,” respectively.
Oversized Baggage Area Seat
On the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, 16-car trains have a “Special Baggage Area” in the deck section of the car (near the doors). The reserved ticket that allows you to use this special baggage area is called the “Oversized Baggage Area Seat.” This is a reserved seat that comes bundled with access to the luggage storage space on the deck.
Luggage Size for Oversized Baggage Area
80cm x 60cm x 40cm (lower shelf) or within 50cm (upper shelf).
Oversized Baggage Space Seat
The “Oversized Baggage Space” refers to the area behind the last row of seats in each car.
On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines, the space behind the last row of seats in each car is designated as “Oversized Baggage Space” and is sold along with the seat in front of it.
The last row seats in ordinary reserved cars and Green Cars on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen are designated as “Oversized Baggage Space Seats.” If you reserve one of these, you can use the space behind your seat (the Oversized Baggage Space) for your luggage. So, if you book the very last seat, you’ll have the space behind it for your luggage. That seat is called the “Oversized Baggage Space Seat.”
How to Reserve “Oversized Baggage Seats”
Reserving “Oversized Baggage Seats” is similar to purchasing a regular reserved seat ticket. You can reserve and purchase “Oversized Baggage Seats” at ticket counters at stations, via reserved seat ticket machines, or through JR’s internet reservation websites.
If you bring luggage exceeding 160cm in total dimensions without a prior reservation, you will be charged 1,000 yen on board, and you must store your luggage in a location designated by the conductor.
Reservations for Seats with an Oversized Baggage Area
These baggage rules are known as “baggage160” and apply only to the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines.
Utilize the Overhead Racks
Suitcases and trunks with total dimensions less than 160cm will fit in the overhead luggage racks above the seats. The depth of the Shinkansen’s overhead racks is about 42cm, so your luggage won’t fall out even if it slightly protrudes.
Don’t Expect Much from Shinkansen WiFi
Now you should have a good idea of what to do about large luggage when boarding the Shinkansen. There’s one more thing you should know about the Shinkansen: its WiFi environment.
Almost all Shinkansen cars offer free WiFi. However, the Shinkansen often travels through mountainous areas, and many people use the WiFi, so the connection quality isn’t always great. You might experience little to no connectivity when the train is in a tunnel.
Don’t rely too much on Shinkansen WiFi. It’s best to buy a SIM card or eSIM, or rent a Pocket WiFi beforehand. Even if you can connect to the Shinkansen’s WiFi, the communication speed is often quite slow. With a SIM card, eSIM, or Pocket WiFi, you should be able to communicate relatively stably outside of tunnels.
If you’re considering purchasing an eSIM, we recommend Travel Mobile’s eSIM, which offers high data capacity, supports tethering (HOTSPOT), and provides connectivity throughout Japan. It uses the Docomo network and is sold at a very reasonable price for an eSIM for communication in Japan.
Travel Mobile Japan eSIM Plans
I am Japanese and my nickname is Momo.
I have been working in the mobile telecommunications industry for about 7 years and am familiar with Japanese telecommunications services. Although my English is not very good, I would like to provide useful telecommunication-related information to those who stay in Japan as accurately as possible.
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