Differences between a Reserved and Non – Reserved Shinkansen seat.
Those who are planning a trip to Japan should definitely try using the Shinkansen (a.k.a Bullet Train). For example, Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto may be quicker than taking an airplane, when you consider the check-in time and the distance between airports and the main attraction area. Typically Shinkansen stations are located in a transportation hub area, wherefrom there it is quite easy to access major hotels and popular tourist areas. If you decide to take the Shinkansen, you should know the difference between Reserved seats and non-reserved seats. Out of the 16 carriages, the 3 carriages (Car 1 ~ 3) at the end of the whole train are designated as non-reserved seats, and the other 13 carriages (Car 4 ~ 16)are designated as reserved seats.
Let’s suspect that you will be using the “Nozomi”, which is the most common type of train that runs through Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin – Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin – Osaka. (Also runs through all the way to Hakata) Usually, paying approximately an extra 1,000 yen when purchasing the train ticket can get you a reserved seat. (The price varies about 200 yen depending on the high or low season.) Unless you are trying to save up as much money as possible, we recommend you buy a reserved seat ticket.
However, if you are planning on using the Shinkansen a lot in your short stay, you may want to consider buying Japan Rail Pass. (However, when you use the Japan Rail Pass, You will not be able to take the “Nozomi” which makes your trip 1 ~ 2 hours longer than taking the “Nozomi”.) Also, If you want to save up some travel money the price for a reserved seat on a Nozomi will be approximately 2000 yen cheaper if you purchase it 21 days before your actual departure date. For more information, check out the official page of Japan Railway.
Now that you know the basic differences between Reserved and Non – Reserved seats and decided to buy a Non – Reserved seat ticket, you might wonder, “What if I bought a Non – Reserved seat ticket and couldn’t get a seat at all. Is there a possibility where you get stuck the whole ride without having a seat?”. Well, to answer that question, the answer will be Yes. There is a possibility that you will have no seat at all and get stuck the whole ride without a seat at all. This may not sound so bad if you are traveling from let’s say, Shin – Osaka to Kyoto. Or perhaps Nagoya to Kyoto, because that will only take about 30 minutes. However, it can be a nightmare if you don’t have a seat for more than 2 hours.
How horrible is it? What happens if you can’t get a seat.
Now you might be wondering how bad it might be to not have a seat when hopping on a Shinkansen. You might think to buy purchasing a Non – reserved seat ticket, you at least find a seat somewhere, maybe at the far end of the carriage. However, you would have to keep in mind that depending on the season, and the situation, you might not get a seat. But how bad is it to not get a seat. It can’t be that bad right? Taking a Nozomi from Tokyo to Shin – Osaka will take you about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Now imagine, going through all packed seats and ending up standing with your heavy luggage all the way through. You see all the other passengers enjoying their lunch boxes with the beautiful view of Mt. Fuji from the window seat, but you can’t see it clearly because you have to crouch to see it through the window. So you have no choice but to go to the deck between the carriages so that at least you have your own private space and enjoy the personal space.
We actually recommend you do this if all of the seats are taken. This way at least you can lean against the wall, and you will have the closest distance to the bathroom. Also, you will be able to get off the Shinkansen as soon as possible when you arrive at your destination. However, if you would want to avoid such a situation, you should consider avoiding the following seasons.
Seasons to avoid when taking the Shinkansen
- New years. (Shogatsu) December 30th to January 7th
- Golden Week. April 29 to May 7th. (date may vary depending on the year.)
- Obon. August 13 to 16.
- Silver Week. September 21 to 24. (date may vary depending on the year.)
- Christmas. December 24 to 25.
If you travel in any season mentioned above or at a national holiday, there is a high chance that you will be stuck standing the whole way through your trip. Also when there is a natural disaster, such as a Typhoon or heavy rain approaching, it is safe to say that the Shinkansen will most likely be packed as well. People tend to use the Shinkansen to rush home as soon as possible when there are natural disasters because it is risky to use the airplane in such conditions. Therefore, if you are planning to take the Shinkansen, you should definitely avoid these seasons and situations. If you really need to take the Shinkansen, we highly recommend you to purchase the Reserved seat tickets.
If you couldn’t find an open seat between Car 1 ~ 3(the non-reserved seat area), and you found an open seat in Car 4 ~ 16(the Reserved seat area), you can always upgrade your ticket from a Non – Reserved seat ticket to a Reserved seat ticket. How to upgrade your ticket? Well, you simply ask the staff in the Shinkansen, to upgrade your ticket. You will only have to pay the difference in the ticket price and after doing so, you may proceed and go sit at the reserved seat.
A secret trick to always sit in a Non – Reserved Shinkansen seat.
If you have decided to save a little cash and take the Non – Reserved Seat, here is a little trick that you can use when doing so. Follow the steps below and you will most likely get a seat in any situation.
How to always get a seat on a Non – Reserved seat carriage
- Arrive Early.
- Line up before the previous train leaves.
- Line up at “Car 2”, on the closer side to “Car 3“.
It’s simple as that. However, the key is to Line up at Car 2, on the closer side to Car 3. Below are the comparison of seat numbers for Nozomi between Car 1 ~ Car 3. You can see even further detail on this page.
As you can see, the number of seats varies depending on which car you hop on. If you count them up, the car with the most seat in Car 2, with 100 seats. This is because there is no driver’s seat or any bathrooms. Car 3 has 85 seats, and Car 1 has 65 seats. Therefore, if you are planning on taking a seat at a Non – Reserved seat, you should line up at Car 2, on the closer side to Car 3, because that way you will have a high chance at getting a seat in Car 3 and even if you couldn’t, you can always go to Car 3 and maybe there find an open seat.
This fact is not commonly known even among Japanese people so, usually, people will be equally dispersed when lining up. (Car 3 might have slightly more people lined up just because it is closer to the exit gate. When lining up, you should always arrive about 10 to 15 minutes earlier than your actual departure time. If you arrive 10 ~ 15 minutes early, there may be another bullet train on the platform that is one step ahead of the one you are supposed to take. Most people already lined up between Car 1 ~ 3 will most likely hop on to that train, so you will have a high chance to line up first for the actual train you are planning to take.
Enjoy the Non – Reserved Shinkansen seat
By keeping in mind the, seasons and situations to avoid when taking the Shinkansen, and using the small trick mentioned above, you will most likely be able to always sit on a Non – Reserved seat. A Shinkansen ticket isn’t cheap. You should relax and enjoy the view from the window, see the beautiful Mt. Fuji and scenery of rural Japan, and get your money’s worth. If you are paying a lot of money to take the Shinkansen, being stuck standing the whole way would be the last thing you would want.
Not only will you have a miserable time in the Shinkansen, but you won’t have the legs to travel after you reach your destination. Therefore you should always try to avoid being in such a situation when trying to ride on a Non – Reserved carriage. If you take the Non – Reserved seat, you can use the saved-up cash to buy souvenirs or Japanese lunch boxes sold at the station. Whether it’s a business trip or just traveling through Japan, using the Shinkansen is a great way to reach your destination. If you decide to buy the Non – Reserved seat, just keep in mind the small tricks you can use to possibly always get a set.
