How to Book the Sunrise Express
We travelled overnight from Himeji to Tokyo in private Single rooms. Here’s our booking guide, with the room choices, reservation steps and ticket pickup details in one place.
The Sunrise Express at Tokyo Station after our overnight journey.
Watch our journey or explore the guide
Join us on board, see the cabins and watch the booking walkthrough—or skip straight to the written booking steps.
Table of Contents
About The Sunrise Express
The Sunrise Express is an overnight train in Japan, encompassing two separate services, the Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo. This is the last regularly operating sleeper train in Japan.
It’s a magical experience to board the Sunrise Express in one city, trek across the silent countryside at night, then wake up in an entirely new location, ready to start the day!
Sunrise Seto & Sunrise Izumo Stations List
Stations Where Both Sunrise Seto & Sunrise Izumo Stop
| Station Name (City) | Arrival – Departure Time Westbound (Tokyo –>) | Arrival – Departure Time Eastbound (Takamatsu / Izumoshi–>) |
| Tokyo | 21:50 Departure | 07:08 Arrival |
| Yokohama | 22:14 Arrival – 22:15 Departure | 06:44 Arrival – 06:45 Departure |
| Atami | 23:21 Arrival – 23:23 Departure | 05:43 Arrival – 05:45 Departure |
| Numazu | 23:38 Arrival – 23:39 Departure | 05:26 Arrival – 05:27 Departure |
| Fuji | 23:52 Arrival – 23:53 Departure | 05:09 Arrival – 05:10 Departure |
| Shizuoka | 00:18 Arrival – 00:20 Departure | 04:38 Arrival – 04:40 Departure |
| Hamamatsu | 01:11 Arrival – 01:12 Departure | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Toyohashi | NO PASSENGER STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Nagoya | NO STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Gifu | NO PASSENGER STOP | NO STOP |
| Maibara | NO PASSENGER STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Ōsaka | NO PASSENGER STOP | 00:31 Arrival – 00:33 Departure |
| Sannomiya (Kobe) | NO STOP | 00:10 Arrival – 00:11 Departure |
| Himeji | 05:25 Arrival – 05:26 Departure | 23:32 Arrival – 23:33 Departure |
| Okayama | 06:27 Arrival – 06:31 Departure | 22:23 Arrival – 22:34 Departure |
| Decouple and Separate at Okayama | Couple at Okayama |
Sunrise Seto Only
| Station Name (City) | Arrival – Departure Time Westbound | Arrival – Departure Time Eastbound |
| Decouple and Separate at Okayama | Couple at Okayama | |
| Kojima | 06:52 Arrival – 06:53 Departure | 22:00 Arrival – 22:01 Departure |
| Sakaide | 07:09 Arrival – 07:10 Departure | 21:43 Arrival – 21:44 Departure |
| Takamatsu | 07:27 Arrival | 21:26 Departure |
| *Special* Seasonal Extended Services (Westbound Only) to Kotohira | ||
| Takamatsu | 07:54 Departure | N/A |
| Tadotsu | 08:33 Arrival – 08:35 Departure | N/A |
| Zentsūji | 08:43 Arrival – 08:45 Departure | N/A |
| Kotohira | 08:52 Arrival | N/A |
Sunrise Izumo Only
| Station Name (City) | Arrival – Departure Time Westbound | Arrival – Departure Time Eastbound |
| Decouple and Separate at Okayama | Couple at Okayama | |
| Kurashiki | 06:46 Arrival – 06:47 Departure | 22:13 Arrival – 22:14 Departure |
| Bitchū-Takahashi (Takahashi) | 07:14 Arrival – 07:14 Departure | 21:47 Arrival – 21:48 Departure |
| Niimi | 07:43 Arrival – 07:44 Departure | 21:19 Arrival – 21:20 Departure |
| Nunohara | NO STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Niizato | NO STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Kami-Iwami (Hino) | NO PASSENGER STOP | NO STOP |
| Ebi (Kofu) | NO PASSENGER STOP | NO STOP |
| Hōki-Mizoguchi (Saihaku) | NO STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Yonago | 09:03 Arrival – 09:05 Departure | 19:54 Arrival – 19:56 Departure |
| Yasugi | 09:13 Arrival – 09:14 Departure | 19:45 Arrival – 19:46 Departure |
| Iya (Matsue) | NO STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Matsue | 09:29 Arrival – 09:31 Departure | 19:23 Arrival – 19:24 Departure |
| Tamatsukuri-Onsen | NO STOP | NO PASSENGER STOP |
| Shinji | 09:45 Arrival – 09:46 Departure | 19:05 Arrival – 19:06 Departure |
| Izumoshi (Izumo) | 09:58 Arrival | 18:55 Departure |
Food and drinks on our overnight ride
We picked up McDonald’s before boarding at Himeji and ate our Shaka Shaka Chicken in the lounge car. It was a practical late-night snack. If you’re boarding late, don’t count on the station’s bento stands still being open. Buy your food before getting on the train; there were drink vending machines on board, too.
Our late-night Shaka Shaka Chicken stop in the lounge car.
Water, tea, coffee and soda in the onboard vending machine.
Sunrise Express Room Types
The table below lists the Room Types as they are categorized on the booking page for the Sunrise Express on the JR West website.
Complete guide to all six room types is available on our Solo Travel POV Youtube Channel – Timestamp 7:38
|
Room Type Label on Website |
Room Type Icon on Website |
Room Pictures |
|
SUNRISE-SETO or SUNRISE-IZUMO |
 |
   |
|
SUNRISE-SETO SOLO or SUNRISE-IZUMO SOLO |
 |
 |
|
SUNRISE-SETO SINGLE or SUNRISE-IZUMO SINGLE |
 |
 |
|
SUNRISE-SETO TWIN or SUNRISE-IZUMO TWIN |
 |
 |
The table below lists the Room Types as they are categorized on the booking page for the Sunrise Express on the JR West website.
Complete guide to all six room types is available on our Solo Travel POV Youtube Channel – Timestamp 7:38
Room Type Label on Website | Room Pictures |
| SUNRISE-SETO or SUNRISE-IZUMO |
|
| SUNRISE-SETO SOLO or SUNRISE-IZUMO SOLO |
|
| SUNRISE-SETO SINGLE or SUNRISE-IZUMO SINGLE |
|
| SUNRISE-SETO TWIN or SUNRISE-IZUMO TWIN |
|
What Amenities are on the Sunrise Express?
If you book a private room, you will have access to the following amenities. There's essentially everything you need for a comfortable night!
The features below reflect our Single rooms. Layouts and fittings vary by room type.
Bedding and nightwear
Bed and mattress, a firm buckwheat pillow, a soft blanket, a cotton yukata and slippers.
Window and lighting
A large window with adjustable blinds, a mirror, a room light and a separate night light.
Power and bedside controls
A standard Japanese power outlet with a safety switch, a clock, radio controls with a headphone connection and a speaker for train announcements.
Heating and ventilation
Adjustable heater settings and vents above the bed.
Small practical items
A clothes hanger, a plastic cup and cup holder and a trash bag.
Cabin security
A combination lock for securing the room from outside, a separate manual lock inside and an emergency release.
Single Deluxe extras
The premium Single Deluxe rooms also include a toiletries kit with a toothbrush set, hairbrush, razor, soap, shampoo and conditioner, plus towels and a shower card for the dedicated shower facilities. Kit contents can vary. For other room types, bring your own toothbrush and toiletries. See a Japanese cabin tour and amenity list.
How we slept in the Single rooms
We’re 5'6" (167 cm) and 5'10" (178 cm), and both had enough room to stretch out comfortably. With the blinds closed and earplugs in, we slept well. We were tired after a full day of travel, which probably helped. If you’re taller or find it hard to sleep on moving trains, you may find the cabins less comfortable.
Waking up on the way to Tokyo
The next morning, commuter trains began appearing outside our windows as we approached Tokyo. That change from quiet night-time stations to the morning rush was one of our favourite parts of the journey. The large windows made the view wonderful, but we also noticed how visible the cabins were from outside; we used the blinds when we wanted privacy.
When Are Sunrise Express Tickets Available?
This train is extremely popular, and tickets are released one month in advance. If you want a private room, it’s essential to book as soon as the tickets become available.
Keep in mind…
- One month in advance doesn’t always mean 30 days. JR defines this window as one month corresponding to the same day of the preceding month. If that day doesn’t exist, tickets are released at 10:00 AM Japan Standard Time (JST) on the first day of the departure month. Let’s explain with some simple examples:
- Example 1 – Traveling January 31? Book at 10:00 AM JST on December 31.
- Example 2 – Traveling March 31? Since February has no 31st, you’ll book at 10:00 AM JST on March 1.
*If your train departs after midnight, such as from Osaka Station, you will end up booking your trip via JR one day after travelers who boarded at an earlier stop.
Off-Peak Travel:
Booking during off-peak travel times is much easier. Tickets during peak times, like Golden Week, will sell out in minutes.
The Nobi Nobi open seat may still be available closer to the departure date as a last minute booking, but it’s always best to book early to secure your preferred option.
Sunrise Express Booking Guide
Complete booking guide is available on our Solo Travel POV Youtube Channel – Timestamp 19:42
Once your dates and stations are decided, it’s time to book!
- Log on to the JR West website (www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/) at exactly 10:00 AM JST, one month before your departure.
- Navigate to the home page and click “Reserve” → “Reserve Ticket by Selection Stations.”
- Enter your date, departure station, arrival station and departure time. Then select your preferred Sunrise Seto or Izumo cabin type.
- You don’t need to search for the exact departure time. For Tokyo departures, entering something like 20:00 works as long as it’s before the actual train departure time.
- Keep an eye out for the smoking and non-smoking designation of rooms when going through this step.
IMPORTANT
Use a physical, foreign transaction approved credit card you’ll bring to Japan for booking. Virtual card numbers or digital wallets won’t work because you need to insert the physical card into the machine or present it at the ticket office to pick up your tickets.
During checkout, you’ll create a 4-digit PIN for ticket pickup. Make sure to write it down or choose something memorable – This will be used if you are picking up your tickets at a JR machine.
Picking Up Tickets
Almost done! Once you’ve successfully booked, print the confirmation page and save the PDF confirmation email from JR.
To pick up your tickets – Visit a JR station in Japan.
Bring:
- The physical credit card you used for booking.
- The passports for all passengers.
- Your 4-digit PIN for ticket pickup
- Your ticket confirmation details as sent in the confirmation email from JR, which includes your 5-digit reservation number.
You can choose to go to a counter with an attendant or use the ticket machine.
If you choose to go to the counter, look for signs pointing you to the Midori no Madoguchi.
If you use the ticket machine, follow the instructions at the JR West website here: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/howto/train-reservation/receive/
Five Tips for Securing Sunrise Express Tickets
- We recommend practicing booking a few times before your actual attempt!
- You can pre-enter your information in advance on the first screen of the booking website so you can hit “Search” immediately at 10:00 AM JST.
- REMEMBER – Use a physical, foreign transaction approved credit card you’ll bring to Japan for booking. Virtual card numbers or digital wallets won’t work because you need to insert the physical card into the machine or present it at the ticket office to pick up your tickets.
- Travel from another city towards Tokyo – You will have a much better chance of securing a ticket as you will not be competing with everyone in Tokyo heading to other destinations.
- Travel during weekdays and non-holidays for your best chance to secure a ticket!
Happy booking and safe travels on the Sunrise Express!