Book a private car on the Shinkansen bullet train!

Japan’s transportation network is world-renowned. For many visitors to the country, train facilities serve as an attraction all their own. Nothing is more representative of this than the Shinkansen bullet train.

Japan launched the world’s first ever bullet train in 1964. Into the modern day, the Shinkansen remains a calling card of the island nation, utilized en masse by locals and visitors alike.

Riding the Shinkansen in Japan

Tickets can be pre-ordered online or bought at stations in Japan. Simultaneously, a vast majority of Shinkansen bullet trains are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, which is a popular choice for visitors to the country. 

Indeed, the experience of riding these high-speed trains is essential to a worthwhile trip in Japan and serves as the gateway to seeing some of the country’s best destinations. Be it Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka, or Hiroshima to Fukuoka, making the journey with the Shinkansen bullet train is most often the best choice. 

Reserving a private Shinkansen car

As of recently, JR Central  has introduced the option to reserve a Shinkansen bullet train car, largely directed towards private group tours or company-sponsored travel groups. 

This is a great option to make your trip to Japan memorable, treat your party to a special Shinkansen experience, or just optimize privacy. Additionally, there are a lot of extra add-ons to personalize your private Shinkansen experience. 

At the moment, this option is only available on itineraries that are managed fully by JR Central, particularly from Tokyo to destinations in Kansai like Shin-Osaka Station and Kyoto Station, as well as destinations in-between, like Nagoya Station. 

Take a look at more details on reserving a private Shinkansen experience for your next trip out to Japan! 

There are a number of advantages to booking these private cars, including the following:

• Personalized travel for special events
• Assure your party all sits together when traveling
• Host private events on the Shinkansen

Details for reserving a private Shinkansen car

Requests for booking private Shinkansen cars can be made through Japan Experience. The reservation process is as follows:

1. Contact us at contact@Japan-Experience.com at least 3 months before the intended departure date.
2. Provide us with the following information:
   • Intended date of travel
   • Approximate departure time within a 1-hour frame (We will confirm the actual available departure times and contact you later.)
   • Number of riders
   • Choice of Green Car or Ordinary Car
   • Departure Point or Destination Point
   • Add-ons and extra options
3. We will get back to you with a quote for your request.
4. Once confirmed, we will issue payment, which must be done at least 2 months before the departure date.*

*Once payment is confirmed, the date of the reservation cannot be changed.

In the case of cancellation, no refunds can be made. 

A breakdown of the car capacity and other details can be found as follows:

• Ordinary Cars:
  • Up to 75 people
  • Up to 80 people
  • Up to 90 people
  • Up to 100 people
• Green Cars:
  • Up to 64 people
  • Up to 68 people
• Full private Shinkansen train:
  • Up to 1,319 people 

While the above are capacity limits, there is actually no minimum party size needed in order to book a private Shinkansen car; however, there is a flat rate associated with which train car is being reserved. 

Reservation requests for a private Shinkansen bullet train car must be made AT LEAST 3 months prior to the intended date of travel. The desired train (with disembarking and arrival times, etc.) will need to be finalized 1.5 months prior. 

There is a medley of extra add-ons that can be requested for a private Shinkansen car booking, ranging from deluxe speakers to quality-of-life accessories and personalized visuals that are especially great for company-sponsored travel. A list of a few notable add-ons is as follows:

• Logo projection lights
• Original design head covers
• High-resolution monitors
• In-car soundproofing
• High tables
• High-fidelity speakers for events or music
• Custom banner decorations
• Aisle red carpet
• Special food and drink options

There are more options available to request, and a full list can be had upon request!

Pricing for reserved trains varies largely depending on the destination, desired train car, and add-ons, but for reference, JR has the following estimates listed: 

• For a one-way trip from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station with a red carpet, speakers, and custom head covers:
  • Ordinary Car (75 Seats) = approximately 1,550,000 yen
  • Green Car (64 Seats) = approximately 1,700,000 yen

It's worth noting that the total will always be on a case-by-case basis dependent on a number of factors, but also, during off-season travel or for departures that aren't during rush hour, prices will generally be more affordable! These are things worth considering when making your booking request to optimize your trip and savings!

If you have a company-sponsored trip to Japan or just want to make your travels more memorable, or even if you want to just travel with optimal comfort, reserving a private Shinkansen bullet train car is a great option to look into! Contact us at contact@Japan-Experience.com for more information and inquiries!