Travelling across Japan on the Shinkansen is an experience in itself: spotless trains, perfectly on time, gliding past rice fields and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji. To enjoy it fully, it helps to understand how luggage works on board.
The oversized luggage rule
On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, bags with total dimensions (length + width + height) of more than 160 cm need a seat reservation with an oversized baggage area. Without one, you may have to pay an extra fee on board. Bags over 250 cm are not allowed at all. The rules can change, so check the latest information from the rail operator before you travel.
The simple solution: travel with a bag under 160 cm. Any standard cabin-size case or travel backpack fits easily in the overhead racks.
Which bag works best?
- A travel backpack like the Travel Bag is ideal for stations, where you often climb stairs and walk long corridors between platforms.
- A cabin case like the Front-Open Cabin Case rolls smoothly through Japan's modern stations, and the front pocket lets you grab your book or laptop once you are seated.
Tips for a smooth journey
- Board quickly. Shinkansen stops are short, sometimes just a minute or two. Have your bag ready at the door.
- Buy an ekiben. Station bento boxes are part of the experience, and eating on board is completely normal on long-distance trains.
- Use luggage forwarding for large items. Hotels can send bags ahead to your next destination, often arriving the next day.
- Keep valuables with you in a small bag at your seat.
Travel like a local
Japanese travellers are masters of light, organised luggage. Follow their lead with one well-packed bag, and moving between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima becomes one of the highlights of your trip.