I took a ride on the Tokaido Shinkansen’s “Supreme Class Cabin,” which features completely private compartments. Here’s a look at the top-of-the-line onboard amenities that show just how serious JR Central is about this service!

Editor in Chief

2 weeks ago

On July 8, JR Central held a press preview of its “Supreme Class Cabin,” the top-tier seating class set to be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines starting in October.

The Supreme Class Cabin features two completely private compartments per train set, each equipped with a lockable door (electronic lock). One compartment is located in Car 7 and one in Car 10.

The private compartment at the rear of Car 7—a spacious area roughly equivalent to three seats in a Green Car—features a reclining seat facing Hakata and a sofa facing Tokyo, and can accommodate up to two people, such as family members or friends.

The private compartment at the rear of Car 10 is located in the Green Car section; it features a reclining seat facing Tokyo in a space roughly the size of two seats and is intended for use by a single passenger.

The service will operate on the Tokyo–Hakata route using “Nozomi,” “Hikari,” and “Kodama” trains (N700S, 16 trainsets), with approximately 12 round-trip services scheduled per day.

*The “Supreme Class Seat,” a semi-private seating option, is expected to launch during fiscal year 2027.