This year’s year-end and New Year’s holidays will be up to nine in a row. Many people will be traveling or returning home with oversized suitcases. We asked JR about the rule.
First of all, oversized luggage is defined as “large luggage with a total of three sides exceeding 160 cm and not exceeding 250 cm. In the case of suitcases, this corresponds to the sizes listed as “more than 10 nights” or “more than 100 liters”. There is “no additional charge” to bring in oversized luggage, but please note that a “carry-in fee of 1,000 yen” will be charged if you bring it in without making a reservation in advance. Sports equipment, musical instruments, wheelchairs, baby strollers, etc. can be brought in without reservation regardless of size.
If you are concerned about the size of your luggage, it is recommended that you measure it before buying a ticket, as luggage with three sides totaling 250 cm or more will not be allowed on board. At major Shinkansen stations, luggage size measurement stands are available near ticket counters and at the Midori-no-Madoguchi counter.
Seats with oversized luggage space” are located in the last section of the train and the space behind it, and can be reserved and designated when purchasing tickets online (Express Reservations, Smart EX, e5489, JR Kyushu Internet Train Reservations) or at ticket vending machines at stations. If there are no seats available, you can make a reservation at the time of purchase. If the train is full, make a reservation for the next available train. Note that luggage space and seats are always combined as a set, so it is impossible to reserve only an oversized luggage space, for example.
The “Oversized Luggage Corner” set up on some decks will be used on a trial basis as a luggage storage area that does not require prior reservation from July 1, 2025 boarding.
According to JR Tokai, “Among large luggage items, musical instruments, sports equipment, baby strollers, etc. can still be brought in without prior reservation, but since the space at the end of the train car is used by those who have reserved seats with oversized luggage space, prior reservation of seats is recommended if you wish to use the space. If you wish to use the space, it is recommended that you reserve a seat in advance.
Especially during peak season, such as the year-end and New Year holidays, it is best to make reservations as early as possible if you are bringing oversized luggage. The company also suggests that those who do not have oversized luggage reserve other seats for those who need luggage storage space.
Note that there are no seats for oversized luggage on the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen trains, and luggage storage areas in the cars are available without reservation.
© Source travel watch