The first time you stand on a shinkansen platform, it's easy to feel a little tense — do I need a reservation, which car do I board, where does my suitcase go? This page walks you through it step by step, from the main lines and seat reservations to oversized bags and on-board etiquette, so you can step aboard with confidence.
Let's be honest: most people are more nervous than they need to be the first time they ride the shinkansen. The car signs are in Japanese — 指定席 here, 自由席 there — train names like Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama scroll across the board, and there's that big suitcase you have no idea where to put. The truth is that once you understand a handful of basics, riding the shinkansen is easier than catching a city train. This page walks you through it step by step, the way you'd want a friend to explain it before you go.
The shinkansen (新幹線) is Japan's high-speed rail network, running since 1964 and now travelling at around 260–320 km/h, linking major cities across the country. What the world talks about is the second-perfect punctuality — the system's average delay runs to less than a minute a year. The cars are roomy, the seats recline and have fold-down tables, and you can ride from central Tokyo to Osaka in about two and a half hours — faster than flying once you count airport check-in.
The shinkansen isn't a single line — each one runs in its own direction, operated by a different company (JR Central, JR West, JR East, JR Kyushu). This table covers the main lines tourists use most, with train names — a train name is really a "speed tier," and the same name on the same line makes different stops.
| Line | Main route | Trains (fast → all-stops) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokaido | Tokyo ↔ Osaka (via Kyoto) | Nozomi · Hikari · Kodama | The most popular route: Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka |
| Sanyo | Osaka (Shin-Osaka) ↔ Hakata (Fukuoka) | Nozomi/Mizuho · Sakura · Hikari · Kodama | Heading south to Hiroshima and Fukuoka |
| Kyushu | Hakata ↔ Kagoshima | Mizuho · Sakura · Tsubame | Touring the island of Kyushu |
| Tohoku | Tokyo ↔ Aomori | Hayabusa · Yamabiko · Nasuno | Going north to Sendai and Aomori (fastest, 320 km/h) |
| Hokkaido | Aomori ↔ Hakodate (Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto) | Hayabusa | Continuing from Tohoku through the undersea tunnel to Hokkaido |
| Hokuriku | Tokyo ↔ Kanazawa ↔ Tsuruga | Kagayaki · Hakutaka · Tsurugi | To Kanazawa, Takayama and the Sea-of-Japan coast |
This is what trips up first-timers the most. Every train (that has non-reserved cars) splits its cars into "reserved" and "non-reserved." The only real difference is the guaranteed seat and a small price gap. Read these three at a glance and pick the one that fits your style.
There are several ways — from an app on your phone to a ticket machine to a staffed counter. Pick whichever suits you. The steps below run from the most popular method for tourists.
Since May 2020, the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines have had a rule about oversized luggage. It sounds scary but it's actually simple — just add up your bag's three dimensions (width + length + height, including wheels and handle) and see which group it falls into.
Beyond the Ordinary cars, the shinkansen has premium cars to upgrade to, for long journeys or days you fancy a little extra comfort. This table lines up all three classes.
| Class | Seating | Highlights | Which lines | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary (standard car) |
3+2 rows | Roomy enough, reclines, fold-down table, power sockets on aisle/window seats on newer trains | All lines | Standard |
| Green Car (グリーン車) |
2+2 rows | Wider seats (~47.5 cm), deeper recline, footrests, quieter — always reserved | Almost all lines | + Mid |
| GranClass (グランクラス) |
2+1 rows | Full-recline leather seats (~52 cm), some trains have an attendant + lunchbox + drinks | Tohoku · Hokkaido · Hokuriku only | + Top |
Nothing complicated — it's all about keeping things calm so everyone can rest. Remember these few points and you'll blend in like a regular commuter.
Now you know the shinkansen, follow up with passes, IC cards and getting around the cities, so the whole trip flows from the airport to your hotel.
The shinkansen is free with a JR Pass (except Nozomi/Mizuho, which cost extra) — find out whether a pass suits your trip.
Read the JR Pass guide →Enter your planned routes and compare whether a pass or buying shinkansen tickets separately is cheaper.
Calculate now →The tap-to-pay IC card for trains, buses and shops — link it to smartEX to tap onto the shinkansen.
How to get an IC card →Get off the shinkansen at Tokyo Station and onto the city trains — JR lines and the metro, all explained.
Getting around Tokyo →How to get from Narita into central Tokyo before transferring to the shinkansen for other cities.
Narita guide →Visa · eSIM · IC cards · the JR Pass · budgets — everything you need to know before flying to Japan.
Japan guide →See whether a JR Pass or separate shinkansen tickets work out cheaper with our calculator, or start booking a hotel somewhere with the easiest train access — so your Japan trip flows every single day.