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Since May 2020, the busiest Shinkansen lines have treated a large suitcase as something you reserve rather than something you carry on. The rule is simple, the penalty is small, and almost no visitor knows about it until a conductor explains it in a moving train.
The short answer
- Applies to: Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen (Tokyo ⇄ Osaka ⇄ Hiroshima ⇄ Kagoshima).
- Under 160 cm total: nothing to do.
- 160–250 cm total: reserve an oversized baggage seat. Free.
- No reservation: ¥1,000 charged on board, plus stowage where the crew decides.
- Over 250 cm or 30 kg: not allowed on board. Forward it instead.
- Other Shinkansen lines (Tohoku, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Hokkaido) do not currently apply the reservation rule.
How to measure your bag
Add height, width and depth. That total — not any single dimension — is what the rule uses. Include wheels, handles and any protruding feet: the measurement is of the object as it stands.
| Case type | Typical dimensions | Total | Reservation? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin bag | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 118 cm | No |
| Medium check-in | 67 × 45 × 27 cm | 139 cm | No |
| Large check-in | 75 × 50 × 31 cm | 156 cm | Borderline — measure it |
| Extra large | 81 × 55 × 34 cm | 170 cm | Yes |
| Golf bag, ski bag, instrument case | — | Usually over 160 cm | Yes |
The awkward zone is the large check-in case, which lands within a few centimetres of the line. If yours is close, measure it properly at home rather than discovering the answer on the platform.
Sports and instruments are exempt
Bags designed for sports equipment or musical instruments are treated differently and generally do not require the oversized reservation even when they exceed 160 cm. A suitcase does. Check with the operator if you are carrying something unusual.
What an oversized baggage seat actually is
It is a normal reserved seat in the rearmost row of a carriage, sold together with the space behind it. That gap between the last row and the bulkhead is where your case goes — in your sight, at your seat, at no extra charge.
- No extra cost. You pay the ordinary reserved seat fare.
- One space per seat. Two large cases means two oversized seats.
- Limited in number — a handful of rows per train — so they sell out on busy departures.
- Some newer trains also have lockable baggage compartments, reserved the same way, with a code to lock them.
How to reserve one
- Ticket office (midori-no-madoguchi). Say “oversized baggage seat” or show the bag. Simplest, and the staff will handle it.
- Ticket machines. Reserved seat selection includes the oversized option on the seat map.
- Online reservation systems. The oversized baggage area appears as a seat type when selecting seats.
Reservations open one month before departure. On a normal weekday there is no urgency; before a holiday block, reserve the day the window opens.
A rail pass does not exempt you
Pass holders make seat reservations at no extra charge, and that includes the oversized baggage seat — but the reservation still has to be made. Turning up with a pass and a 170 cm case and no reservation attracts the same ¥1,000 charge as anyone else. See is the JR Pass worth it.
If you board without one
You are charged ¥1,000 on board and the crew decides where the bag goes — typically a vestibule or a space they nominate. You are not thrown off the train and nobody is unpleasant about it. It is a small penalty for a small piece of admin, but it is entirely avoidable.
Which lines the rule covers
| Line | Route | Rule applies? |
|---|---|---|
| Tokaido Shinkansen | Tokyo – Nagoya – Shin-Osaka | Yes |
| Sanyo Shinkansen | Shin-Osaka – Hiroshima – Hakata | Yes |
| Kyushu Shinkansen | Hakata – Kagoshima-Chuo | Yes |
| Tohoku, Hokkaido | Tokyo – Sendai – Aomori – Hakodate | No |
| Hokuriku | Tokyo – Kanazawa | No |
| Joetsu, Yamagata, Akita | — | No |
| Limited express and local trains | — | No |
Operators have signalled that the scheme may extend, so verify before travelling on a line currently listed as exempt.
The better answer
None of this arises if the suitcase is not on the train. Forwarding a case between hotels costs roughly ¥2,000–3,000 and removes the measuring, the reservation, the stairs and the struggle at the door — see luggage forwarding in Japan.
For everything else about moving with luggage, see luggage and transport rules in Japan.
Taking the most common route? Our Tokyo to Kyoto Shinkansen guide covers fares, train types and booking the oversized baggage seat on Smart EX.
Sources
- JR Central — oversized baggage rules on the Tokaido Shinkansen, effective May 2020.
- JR West and JR Kyushu — corresponding rules for the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen.
- JR East — confirmation that the reservation requirement does not apply to its Shinkansen lines.
Data checked: 2026-09-29
