Oversized baggage on the Shinkansen
特大荷物スペースつき座席Rinko
Anyone taking a ski bag, a big suitcase or a boxed bike on the Shinkansen west or south of Tokyo should book a seat with an oversized-baggage area. JR East's lines north of Tokyo run no such booking.
Services
| Service | Time | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats with an oversized-baggage area on a 16-car NozomiJR Central | – | – | 57 seats per train: five in each of ordinary cars 3 to 6 and 12 to 16, and four in each of Green cars 8 to 10. Ten more seats come with a lockable oversized-baggage compartment for one item up to 80 by 60 by 40 cm. |
| Hikari and KodamaJR Central | – | – | A Hikari carries 42 seats with an oversized-baggage area and a Kodama 17. |
Fares
- Seat with an oversized-baggage areaCosts the same as an ordinary or Green reserved seat.–
- Carry-on fee without a booking¥1,000 (2026), about CAD 9 or USD 6.30 (October 2026 rates)
JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu share one rule on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen. A bag whose length, width and height add up to more than 160 cm needs a seat with an oversized-baggage area, and 250 cm is the most the train will take. The seat costs the same as any reserved seat. Turn up without one and the conductor charges ¥1,000 and finds the bag a space, or asks you to wait for a later train when the car is full.
The seats sit in the last row of some cars, and the five people in that row share the space behind it. A 16-car Nozomi has 57 of them, a Hikari 42 and a Kodama 17. JR Central's page lifts the rule for sports gear such as bicycles, yet still only booked passengers may put anything in the oversized space.
JR East's Shinkansen to Nagano, Niigata and Tohoku ask for no such booking. There, each passenger carries two items of up to 250 cm and 30 kg free, and the luggage areas fill first come, first served.
Worth knowing
- Book the oversized seat when you book the train, since a Kodama has only 17 of them.
- Measure a ski bag as length plus width plus height before you book.
Quick answers about Oversized baggage on the Shinkansenよくある質問
What size bag needs a reservation on the Shinkansen?
On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, any bag whose length, width and height add up to more than 160 cm needs a seat with an oversized-baggage area. Bags over 250 cm cannot ride at all.
Does the 160 cm rule apply on the train to Nagano or Niigata?
No. JR East runs no oversized-baggage booking on its Shinkansen, and each passenger may carry two items up to 250 cm and 30 kg free of charge.
How much is Oversized baggage on the Shinkansen?
Carry-on fee without a booking on Oversized baggage on the Shinkansen costs ¥1,000 (2026), about CAD 9 or USD 6.30 (October 2026 rates).
Can you take a bike on JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu?
Yes. JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu carries bikes in a bike bag (rinko bag). Book a seat with an oversized-baggage area for anything from 160 cm.
Can you bring a ski or snowboard bag on JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu?
Yes. JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu carries ski and snowboard bags up to 250 cm, length, width and height added.
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