お問い合わせ
Japan Travel GuidesTrain Travel

Will My Luggage Fit
on the Shinkansen?

Shinkansen luggage rules depend on your route and bag size. On lines that require it, reserve the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area at no extra charge. Use the diagrams and checker below to see what your bag needs.

Blue-and-copper Shinkansen beside a green Shinkansen at a station platform

Picture Your Bag on Board

At Your Feet

Keep a small bag at your feet without crowding your legs or blocking the aisle.

Overhead Rack

Use the rack only if your bag fits securely and you can lift it safely.

Behind the Last Row

Large luggage goes behind designated seats. Reserve the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area where required.

Check Your Shinkansen Luggage

Select a journey to see which rule applies.

2 Add your bag’s measurements

Measure height, width and depth, including wheels and fixed handles. Keep the pull handle retracted. Check each bag separately.

Your ResultEnter three measurements.

We’ll show whether your route requires an oversized baggage reservation.

Checks ordinary suitcase rules, not a guaranteed fit. Maximum 30 kg per bag and two bags per person, excluding personal items. Special items have separate rules. Official limits ↗

Over 250 cm: Not Permitted

That limit applies to ordinary suitcases on all these lines. Each bag must also be no longer than 200 cm on any side.

Which Shinkansen Routes Require a Baggage Reservation?

For bags over 160 cm, up to 250 cm in total

Shinkansen LinesLuggage Reservation
TokaidoSanyoKyushuNishi KyushuReserve the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area
TohokuHokkaidoAkitaYamagataJoetsuHokurikuNo luggage reservationUse suitable onboard storage. Designated racks, where provided, are first come, first served.

Where to Store Your Shinkansen Luggage

At Your Feet

JR gives a 25 × 40 × 55 cm bag as an example that can generally fit at your feet in an ordinary car, depending on the passenger.

Blue Shinkansen seats with folded tray tables, armrests and the space between rows
Your bag shares this space with your legs and the tray table. The photo shows the layout, not a measured clearance.

Overhead Rack

For bags you can lift and place securely. Tokaido racks are approximately 42 cm deep, but shape and safe handling matter too. Take out anything you need before lifting your bag. JR-Central’s rack guidance ↗

Suitcases and bags on overhead racks above blue Shinkansen seats
Bags stored overhead during our journey. Only lift a bag you can handle safely and place securely.

Reserved Baggage Area

This shared area is for passengers who booked the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area. An empty gap does not mean it is available to everyone. Ask staff if another bag is in the space you reserved.

Marked oversized baggage area between the last row of Shinkansen seats and the carriage wall
The marked space behind the last row on the Tokaido Shinkansen, photographed in May 2020.Photo: Indiana jo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Coat & Small-Bag Hooks

Look on the seatback or by the window for hooks to hang a coat or light bag. Their position varies by train. Keep anything you hang out of your neighbour’s space. Store heavy bags in suitable storage. JR-East’s storage guide ↗

A white cap hanging beside a Shinkansen window, with the blue seat and a bento lunch below
A handy place to hang a cap while you settle in for the ride.

How to Book Shinkansen Luggage Space

At a Ticket Machine

JR ticket machine showing Ordinary seat and Seat with Oversized Baggage Area marked Sold out
After choosing your train, select the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area as your seat type. These seats can fill before ordinary seats. Screens vary by machine.

With SmartEX

Official SmartEX Train Search screen highlighting the Seat Type option for an inside-cabin oversized baggage area
  1. Search your journey. Enter your date, stations and passenger count.
  2. Set the seat type. Choose the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area (inside cabin).
  3. Check the seat map. General train availability does not guarantee the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area is available.

SmartEX directs passengers to book these seats from one month before departure, rather than through its advance requests.

Official SmartEX example screen. Follow the full booking walkthrough ↗

Using a rail pass or a ticket office? Ask for the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area and confirm it is included on each applicable train.

Forgot to reserve? The handling fee is ¥1,000 including tax and staff choose where the bag goes. It is much easier to sort this out before boarding.

Common Questions

Is There an Extra Charge for the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area?

No. The Seat with Oversized Baggage Area costs the same as a regular reserved seat in the same class. The usual train fare and reserved-seat charges still apply.

What If the Luggage Seats Are Full?

Try another departure or available class, or ask a ticket office for help. A shared deck rack does not replace a required oversized reservation. You can also send the suitcase ahead and travel with an overnight bag.

What About Strollers, Sports Equipment & Instruments?

If your stroller, sports equipment or instrument won’t fit safely at your feet or on the overhead rack, reserve the Seat with Oversized Baggage Area. This gives you access to the storage space behind the last row.

Does 160 cm Mean the Height of My Suitcase?

No. Add the height, width and depth together, including wheels and fixed handles. A 75 × 50 × 35 cm suitcase totals 160 cm. Enter all three measurements in the checker above.

Prefer to Ship Your Luggage Instead?

Send it to your next hotel and keep an overnight bag with you. The concierge or front desk can often help arrange delivery.

Luggage Forwarding →