+46 839 91 32 Mon – Fri 11:00 to 15:00 GMT+1

Authorized Travel Agent

Rules on Shinkansen with Oversized luggage

Are you travelling with larger bags, or belive you travel with larger bags than allowed? The chance is big you’re not and just overthink it. We’ll break down the allow luggage requirements and rules. But don’t worry – you will always be able to travel with your larger luggage free of charge with a Japan Rail Pass, regardless of the size. But a special seat with a larger luggage area or compartment may be required.

Reserve a seat with extra large luggage area on Shinkansen trains

Most first time visitors in Japan panic about their luggage, without really having to. There are a few seats and compartments on each Shinkansen bullet train wagon for travellers with extra large luggage. This area is for travelers with a suitcase larger than 160 cm in width, height and depth combined or for other larger items such as bikes, instruments and strollers. The oversized luggage area seats are included and free to reserve for Japan Rail Pass holders, but the amount of seats for oversized baggage is limited to just a few per wagon. Make sure to not book them if you don’t need to so others can use them who really have to.

A+B+C = Less than 160 cm

Allowed luggage & baggage

Most check-in “23 kg” sized suitcases fit in this category and does not require any special reservation on the Shinkansen trains. Meassure the height + width + depth of your suitcase, if it’s less than 160 cm you’re free to bring it along on the train and use the normal baggage area and rackets on the train without a reservation with a normal tickets. Even on the non-reserved wagons.

161-250 cm luggage

Reservation required

If your bag measure 161-250 cm in height+width+depth you are required to book a seat on the Shinkansen train with extra large luggage area or extra large baggage compartment. This is free for Japan Rail Pass holders, but limited to 4-8 seats per wagon. Most Shinkansen trains consists of 15 wagons, where 3 are non-reserved seating, 7 normal wagons with reserved seating and 5 green wagons. The green wagons are less crowded and with more luggage areas, due to less people per row.

Where do I store my luggage?

Normal luggage racks

The picture may not make it justice, but the rackets are actually much wider than on a normal plane or train and will fit your large check-in sized suitcases and bags, without a problem. This area is for your check-in and carry on sized bags and can easy fit a 160 cm bag.

Extra large luggage area

Store my large luggage

As seen on the picture, this is one of the available options to store your larger luggage and baggage. These seats are called “Seat with larger luggage area” and is required to reserve beforehand. But apart from these seats, there are also special rackets for larger bags in the entry and exit area of the train wagon where you can store your bags. They are however required to reserve beforehand as well.

Both options are free and included in the Japan Rail Pass, but as previously mentioned limited to a few per train car. If you were to need a seat like this but the train is out of them, the trains are running so frequently in Japan that you most likely can get a seat on the next comming train within 20-30 minutes between the larger cities.

I made a misstake

Large luggae without booking

Did you enter the train with an oversized luggage without a reservation? You may be asked to pay a 1,000 JPY (7 EUR) carry-on oversized baggage fee by the train staff.

However, all the bags in this picture are within the accepted 160 cm requirement (width+height+depth) and allowed to bring on the train without a special seat reservation beforehand. How big is your bag, really?

How to reserve a seat with overisized luggage space

It’s very simple, just scan the QR code on your Japan Rail Pass at any Shinkansen Ticket Machine and reserve your seat. You will be asked if you wish to have a ordinary seat or a seat with larger luggage space as one of the steps.

You can also get help from the JR staff at any JR disk. Both options are free of charge and included in the Japan Rail Pass.

Is the ticket more expensive?

A seat with larger luggage space does not come with any extra cost as it’s included in the Japan Rail Pass. You book it as normal, but it may require some more planning beforehand as they may run out at popular hours quickly. Try to travel with a bag smaller than 160 cm in height+width+depth instead and save yourself the headache of looking for special seats on every train as normal sized check-in bags are allowed without a reservation.

Video on how to reserve seating

Have a look at our detailed and step-by-step video on how to reserve seatin on the Shinkansen trains in Japan!