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Japan Bullet Train

The Japan bullet train or shinkansen is one of those iconic images you'll see on most travel Japan brochures.

At TokyoTopia we highly recommend a shinkansen trip if you get the chance. You can either book from a range of pre-arranged bullet train tours or make up an itinerary of your own. It's entirely up to you and your travel preferences.

If you fancy the independent route and you're here on a tourist visa we strongly recommend getting your hands on a Japan Rail Pass. It can save you a ton of money even though at first glance it may seem expensive.

If your plan is to travel and see as much of Japan as you can, this pass will get you on all but the fastest Japan bullet train. What does that mean? You can use any of the shinkansens apart from the Nozomi train which has the least number of stops.

The pass will also get you on all JR trains, some buses and the Miyajima JR ferry for one flat cost. We think it's a bargain.

What About Baggage On The Japan Bullet Train?

If you plan on traveling round Japan using the shinkansen then it's best to pack light if you can.

You can see from the picture above the Japan bullet train has overhead racks pretty similar to those you'll find on a plane. The rack will easily hold the same weight and size as standard carry on luggage for most airlines.

The picture on your right shows you the leg room and space around each seat - that's me in the hot seat after our recent trip to Hiroshima : )

There are no other areas for you to store your luggage on the bullet train other than those we've shown you here. Your bags are not allowed to block the aisle or doorways so you need to make sure you can fit everything in without too much hassle.

If you don't mind sharing your leg room with your suitcase then you can squeeze most sizes of baggage in here. Just remember you might be sitting for several hours depending how far you're traveling. We want you to be comfortable so you can really enjoy your time on the Japan bullet train!

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Are You A Cyclist? Need To Carry Your Bike On The Japan Bullet Train?

If you're a cyclist and want to be able to transport your bike between locations as you travel, you'll need to pack it up in a bike bag. Actually this is the rule for all trains in Japan.

We've heard some people make their own bike bag if you're that way inclined but you can also buy bags that are made for just this purpose. This is a great blog post by Japan Cycling that shows you what you need to do to prepare your bike for any train travel in Japan.

Remember to check out these bullet train tours if you prefer a pre-arranged travel package.