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    Shinkansen seating

    Shinkansen seat map: rows, car layout and the best seats

    Shinkansen seat numbers follow the same logic on almost every line, so once you can read one seat map you can pick a good seat anywhere in Japan. Here is how the layout works and which seats are worth asking for.

    01

    How seat numbers work

    • Rows are numbered from the front of the train towards the back.
    • Seats are lettered A to E across the car in ordinary class: A and E are windows.
    • Ordinary cars use a 2+3 layout: A and B on one side, C, D and E on the other.
    • Green Car uses a 2+2 layout, so A and D are windows and every seat has an aisle.
    • GranClass on the Tohoku and Hokuriku lines uses 1+2 with only 18 seats.
    02

    Which side for Mount Fuji

    On the Tokaido shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, Fuji appears on the right hand side heading west, so ask for seats D or E. Heading east towards Tokyo, sit on the left, which is seats A and B. The view lasts a few minutes between Shin-Fuji and Mishima.

    03

    Seats worth asking for

    • Row 1 or the last row: extra space behind or in front of you for large suitcases.
    • Seat E in ordinary class: window plus only one neighbour to climb past.
    • Cars next to the buffet or toilet if you travel with small children.
    • Avoid the row directly beside a door if you dislike draughts and passing traffic.
    04

    Oversized luggage rows

    On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu shinkansen, bags over 160 cm in total dimensions must go in a reserved oversized baggage area behind the last row. That reservation is free if you make it in advance and costs 1,000 yen if you board without one. See our guide on shinkansen luggage rules for the limits.

    05

    Reserving with a Japan Rail Pass

    • Seat reservations are free and unlimited with the Japan Rail Pass.
    • Reserve at a ticket machine, a JR ticket office or online before you travel.
    • Ask for a window, an aisle or a specific car when you book, staff can pick from the seat map.
    • Nozomi and Mizuho need a supplement even with a pass.

    Frequently asked questions

    Quick answers to common questions.

    Which shinkansen seat has the Mount Fuji view?

    Seats D and E travelling west from Tokyo, or A and B travelling east towards Tokyo, on the Tokaido line.

    Are shinkansen seats 2+2 or 2+3?

    Ordinary cars are 2+3, Green Cars are 2+2, and GranClass is 1+2.

    Do I pay for a seat reservation with a JR Pass?

    No. Reservations on covered trains are free and you can make as many as you like.

    Where do suitcases go?

    Overhead racks fit cabin size bags. Larger cases go behind the last row, and on some lines that space must be reserved.

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