What are the rules for luggage on the Shinkansen bullet train?

Published on : 08/01/2026
by : Joshua

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The Shinkansen high-speed bullet train is a staple of cross-country travel in Japan, but many may not know how to deal with their luggage when taking it. Read more to learn about luggage storage options and what to do with oversized baggage.

Dealing with luggage on the Shinkansen

For most travelers, dealing with luggage and belongings when riding the Shinkansen bullet train isn’t a very complicated matter, and these two options will suffice for dealing with baggage. Even a majority of suitcases that are considered check-ins for airlines will fit in the overhead luggage rack.

Front seat space

The space around and below seats on the Shinankansen is quite spacious, adequate for legroom and also for personal items. There are hooks for bags and coats, and beneath the front seat is space for other belongings as well.

Overhead luggage racks:

Extending across the length of the train car, a vast majority of travelers will be able to put their larger luggage and suitcases on the overhead rack up to 160 cm in total dimensions (H+L+W). Depending on the Shinkansen, the rack is 40-42 cm deep and 60 cm wide.

Shinkansen seat
@Crouching Donkey on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Overhead luggage storage on the Shinkansen
@Japan Experience

Is my luggage “oversized”?

Oversized baggage is categorized by JR as luggage measuring between 161 cm and 250 cm in total dimensions (H+L+W). Luggage carried by a majority of travelers will not fall under this category. For example, a standard check-in-size luggage from a popular brand like Samsonite measures at just under 150 cm. This would NOT be considered oversized.

Be sure to check if your luggage is considered oversized before buying your Shinkansen tickets.

Luggage exceeding 250 cm in total dimensions is not allowed on the Shinkansen at all. Exceptions to this categorization include the following, even if they are larger than these specifications:

Sports equipment kept in proper storage
Musical instruments kept in proper cases
Baby strollers

Dimensions for luggage on the Shinkansen bullet train

What do I do if I have oversized luggage?

If you do have oversized luggage, there are two storage options when you board the train itself:

Oversized luggage compartment:

Located between train cars right by the bathrooms, these racks are dedicated to luggage and operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. This section isn’t dedicated solely to oversized luggage, so it may fill up quickly. Typically the upper rack measures at 80x60x50cm and the lower rack at 80x60x40cm.

Oversized luggage area:

Located behind the rearmost seats of the Shinkansen train car. This storage area requires reservations for these dedicated seats.

Oversized Luggage Compartment — Oversized luggage compartment located between cars
@Japan Experience

How to reserve seats with the oversized luggage area

Reserving tickets for the oversized luggage area at JR ticket counters

Tickets can be purchased at the “Midori-no-Madoguchi” office at JR stations in Japan. When buying tickets from the staff at the counter, be sure to inform them about your oversized luggage. You will be given the dedicated seats with use of the oversized luggage area included.

Reserving tickets for the oversized luggage area at JR ticket machines

Visit a dedicated Shinkansen/train ticket machine at a JR station in Japan.
Change to the language setting if needed.
Select departure/arrival points, times, date, and number of passengers.
Select “Seat with oversized baggage area.”
Select seats on the seat map if prompted.
Confirm your details, pay, and receive your tickets.

Reserve seating with oversized luggage for JR Pass holders

Oversized luggage seat reservations can be made for JR pass holders at the Midori-no-Madoguchi counters or at the ticket machines. For the ticket machines, follow these instructions:

Select “Seat reservation with coupon ticket” on the ticket machine screen.
Insert JR Passes for each passenger into the machine.
Select your itinerary details (destination, date, time, etc.).
Press “Confirm” when asked about the oversized baggage reservation.
Select “Seat with oversized baggage area.”
Press “Select from seat map.”
Choose your seats with the oversized baggage area
Collect your JR Pass(es) from the machine as well as the reserved seat tickets that have your seat information.

Book your JR Pass and travel around Japan!

Travel with unlimited access to JR Railway systems in Japan with reservations included!

Book your JR Pass!

Reserved seating with oversized luggage with Japan Experience

For those who have booked their tickets through Japan Experience, you will need to select and reserve your tickets on our website as usual. However, upon exchanging for the tickets using the QR code at the machine at the station, you will need to make a modification at the machine.

**Note that this change can only be done up to 3 days prior to your departure.

The process, after initially receiving physical tickets with the QR code, is as follows:

After receiving your train tickets from the machine using the QR code, back on the home screen, press "Seat reservation with coupon ticket/Change of Reserved Seat."
Press "Change reserved seat."
Insert the previously received ticket(s) into the designated slot on the machine.
Once all the desired tickets for a reservation change are inserted (up to 4 at one time), press "All tickets inserted" once prompted.
Press "Do not change section," and find the corresponding train information for the reserved tickets. (This will be searchable by departure time).
Choose either "Purchase seat with oversized baggage area" or "Purchase seat with oversized baggage compartment" depending on preference and availability.
Choose from further seat details.
Collect your new tickets.

If you board the Shinkansen with oversized baggage and don’t have a reservation for the dedicated oversized luggage area, adhere to the following guidelines:

First check if there is available space in the oversized baggage compartment. Be sure to check compartments in other parts of the Shinkansen.
If it is full, ask the train attendant for assistance, who may have you pay an additional fee to put the oversized luggage in an open space.
If there is no open space for your oversized luggage throughout the train, you may be asked to take another train that can accommodate your luggage.

In order to avoid the hassle and additional purchase costs, it is advised to reserve seats prior to boarding or be quick to use the oversized baggage compartment.

Use Takkyubin services to send your luggage to your next destination!

Instead of having to deal with handling your luggage yourself on the Shinkansen, the Takkyubin service by Yamato Kuroneko allows travelers to drop off their luggage at a pickup location and have it professionally couriered to their next destination!

The easiest and most accessible places to drop off your luggage for shipping are 7-Eleven and FamilyMart convenience stores, which you’ll find nearly everywhere in Japan. Keep in mind that these stores don’t serve as delivery points—they’re simply locations where you can hand over your bags to be sent to your destination.

Have Takkyubin services transport your luggage to your next place of accommodation and ride the Shinkansen stress-free!

Additionally, for self-guided tours, group tours, and tailor-made tours managed by us here at Japan Experience, we handle the Takkyubin service ourselves* fully between each of your destinations, optimizing your time traveling through the country without even the need to request services from Yamato Kuroneko at all.

*This does not apply to guided city discovery tours

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