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Catching a bullet train in Japan can be as simple as turning up at the station, buying your ticket and jumping on the next service – but not always. Some popular trains become reservation-only at some times of the year, and a few others operate reservation-only seating year-round. Here’s what you need to know to ensure you don’t get caught out.
All bullet train services have reserved-seat cars; that’s not unusual. On most trains, you can either choose to book a seat in these in advance so you know you’ll be seated on the journey with the other members of your party—or you can choose to turn up, get on what’s known as an unreserved car, and just grab whatever seat you see.
However, there are some bullet trains where you can’t do this. These only have reserved seats, and even if you’ve bought your ticket or have a rail pass covering the route they serve, you can’t get on these without booking your spot. These are the trains we’re talking about here.
When it comes to identifying these, there are two things to remember: the route the train travels on and, most importantly, the train’s name – ie Nozomi, Kagayaki or Hayubasu. Some routes have multiple trains running on them, but only this one type might require reserved seating.
1. Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen – Nozomi Trains
This route travels between Tokyo and Hakata. Its stops include Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Himeji, Hiroshima, and Hakata.
This is the most popular route for first-time travellers, and the good news is that you usually don’t need to book seats in advance if you don’t want to. Trains run every 5-10 minutes, so you can usually turn up at the station and buy a ticket for one of the next departures. However, three times a year, this all changes, and you can’t ride the fastest train traveling the route, the Nozomi, unless you have a seat reservation.
The times are during Golden Week, which occurs from the end of April through to the beginning of May, Obon in early August and the New Year Period, which covers the last few days of December and the first few days of the year. These are when the trains are busiest. If you’re travelling around these times, the train companies announce the exact dates reservations are needed in advance, so keep your eyes peeled.
In 2025, the dates reservations are required are
Golden Week: April 25 to May 6
Obon: August 8 to August 17
New Year: 26 December to 4 January 2026
Where to Buy Tickets for the Nozomi
The official app is called Smart Ex. It’s generally very easy to use, but it’s not yet available in every country and sometimes it can be tricky with foreign credit cards.
If you can’t use it, either book in advance via Klook or wait until you get to Japan and book at the station as soon as you can; however, seats might be limited.
Booking opens one month before the date you want to travel.
If the Nozomi is full, you can ride the other types of train on this route – the Sakura, Kodama, Hikari and Mizuho – without a reservation, but these will be busy, so it’s still a good idea to book a seat if you can.
Related Read: You must also book seats in advance on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen at any time of year if you are traveling with oversized luggage. See more about this in our guide to the Shinkansen luggage rules.
2. Hokuriku Shinkansen – Kagayaki Train
This route goes between Tokyo and Kanazawa. Stops include Tokyo, Nagano, Toyama and Kanazawa.
The Kagayaki is the fastest train on this route, taking 2 hours and 28 minutes to reach Kanazawa. All seats on the Kagayaki require reservations. There are 20 services daily, with trains leaving roughly every 30 minutes.
You don’t need to book special oversized luggage seats on the Kagayaki. If you can’t lift your bags over your head to place them in the overhead rack, luggage racks are in the carriage.
Where to Book Tickets for the Kagayaki
Book the Kagayaki to Kanazawa via Eki-Net – the official JR East website. You can also buy it on Klook
If the Kagayaki is sold out, or you don’t want to commit to a reservation-only train, other trains that travel on this route include the Hakutaka, Asama, and Tsurugi Shinkansen. These all take a little longer, and exactly which of these you can catch depends on your departure point and destination, as they each have slightly different routes. The Navitime app can show you the options for the time you want to travel.
A Note on the Thunderbird
Right now, the Shinkansen doesn’t go all the way between Kanazawa and Kyoto/Osaka. You must change to or from a train called the Thunderbird at a Tsuruga station. While it’s not a Shinkansen, the Thunderbird is another train that requires seat reservations, so make sure you book seats on this too.
3. Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen – Hayabusa Train
This route goes between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. Stops include Sendai, Morioka, Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
The Hayabusa train on this route requires seat reservations at all times. It can get busy, especially during public holidays and over the ski season, so you’ll want to book early, especially if you are a group that wants to sit together.
No special seats are needed for those with large luggage on this train. There are overhead racks and luggage racks in the car for larger luggage – although they are first come, first served so, make sure you join the queue. Bags that measure over 250cm can’t be carried on the train so be careful with the dimensions of ski/snowboard equipment.
Where to Buy Tickets for the Hayabasu
You can book via the Eki-Net, JR East train reservation site, or, again, Klook offers this route if you find it easier to use with your credit card. Booking opens one month in advance.
If the Hayabusa train is full when you want to travel, you may also be able to use a mix of the Yamabiko, Nayuso and Hayate trains. This will take longer, and you will have to change trains, plus there can be a limited number of trains a day. If you’re taking this journey, plan in advance.
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T&Cs apply. Some items, including Tokyo Disney and USJ tickets, are not available for discounts.
4. Akita Shinkansen – Komachi Trains
This route goes between Tokyo and Akita. Other stops include Fukushima, Sendai and Morioka.
The Akita Shinkansen follows the same route as the Hayabusa train until it reaches Morioka, when it splits and goes west toward Akita.
All seats on the Komachi train on this route are reserved.
Again, you don’t need to worry about luggage seats on this train. There are luggage racks in the cars or space on the overhead racks.
Where to Book Tickets for the Komachi
You can buy these via Eki Net – the official JR East reservation site. They are also available via Klook.
5. Tohoku/Yamagata Shinkansen – Tsubasa
This route goes between Tokyo and Shinjo. Other stops include Utsunomiya, Koriyama, Fukushima and Yamagata.
The Yamagata Shinkansen goes northeast of Tokyo to the Yamagata region. It’s not the obvious route for most first-time tourists, but if, for example, you’re going on a tour of Fukushima or using this route to get to the Zao Onsen ski area, remember that the Tsubasa is all reserved seating all the time.
Where to Buy Tickets for the Tsubasa
Again, this train is run by JR East so you’d buy tickets via Eki-net. You can also book them in advance on Klook.
Need Extra Planning Help?
Our Japan trip planners can help. Choose from our 62-page Japan Super Planner, which includes tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing. Or, try a specific planner like Tokyo Tips, Kyoto Tips, or the Rail Pass Planner. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.
Using Any of these Trains With a Rail Pass
If you’re travelling on a rail pass like the Whole JR Pass, one of the Kansai Passes or the Hokuriku Arch Pass, first, check the terms and conditions for which trains you can ride; sometimes, trains like the Nozomi are not included.
If you can ride one of the trains above on your pass, you have paid your fare, but you will still need to make a seat reservation to join the service. You can do this at the station in Japan, or if you bought your pass directly from one of the Japanese train companies, you can also book seats in advance online. See the paperwork that came with your pass for more details on how to book seats.
Is It Worth Booking Seats on Other Shinkansen?
So, if you’re not traveling on any of the trains above where you must book a seat, need you bother with seat reservations on the other trains? It’s up to you – if you’re more of a ‘let’s just wing it’ traveler, and don’t mind if you’re not sitting with your traveling companions, or at all, then no, you don’t need to – or, you can just reserve a seat at the last minute.
Personally, I’m very much team ‘reserved seats’ on any journey on the Shinkansen over about 15 minutes. Too many years commuting around England, not knowing if you might have to stand for your whole journey, have scarred me; I like to know I have a seat!
I also tend to book most of my trains in advance as it helps keep me on schedule. Even on a route like Kyoto to Tokyo where there are multiple trains an hour, I’ll book the day before just so I’m not having to hang around the station once on the move. I have seen trains fill up before due to the time of day (early morning and around 6pm can often be busy), large tour groups, or bad weather.
So, there you have it. Our guide to the Shinkansen services that need a seat reservation. They aren’t the only trains in Japan that need reservations – some services known as Limited Express trains, do, as do some sightseeing trains like the Aoniyoshi between Kyoto and Nara. But, that’s a post for another day.