Key Facts
• Shinkansen lines (Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, Nishi-Kyushu) offer two luggage space options.
• ‘Oversized Luggage Space’ accommodates items up to 250 cm in total dimensions.
• Only passengers reserving ‘Oversized Luggage Space Seats’ can use this space.
• Reservations are free but mandatory, available online or at ticket machines.
• ‘Oversized Luggage Corner’ is available on 16-car trains like Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama.
• Dimensions for ‘Oversized Luggage Corner’: Upper tier (80x60x50 cm), Lower tier (80x60x40 cm).
• From July 1, 2025, ‘Oversized Luggage Corner’ is trialed as reservation-free.
• Oversized luggage: 160–250 cm in total dimensions, often used for international travel.
• Unreserved oversized luggage incurs a ¥1,000 fee upon boarding.
• Exemptions: Sports gear, musical instruments, wheelchairs, and strollers do not require prior reservation.
Summary
Shinkansen services across Japan, including Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu lines, provide designated spaces for oversized luggage. These include ‘Oversized Luggage Space’ behind the last row of certain reserved seats and ‘Oversized Luggage Corner’ on 16-car trains. Reservations for these spaces are free but mandatory, except during a trial period starting July 1, 2025, when the ‘Oversized Luggage Corner’ will be reservation-free. Oversized luggage is defined as items with total dimensions between 160 cm and 250 cm, commonly used for international travel. Passengers without reservations for oversized luggage may face a ¥1,000 fee. However, items like sports equipment, musical instruments, wheelchairs, and strollers are exempt from reservation requirements, though they must use designated spaces if applicable.
