JR Central has been holding a “Supreme Class” experience event for the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines since September 1. On the same day, the company held a press preview at the event space near the Yaesu Central Exit of Tokyo Station, where it unveiled a mock-up of the semi-private “Supreme Class Seat” for the first time.
Supreme Class is the “top-tier” seating category set to be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines starting in October 2026, offering amenities and services that are even more luxurious than those of Green Cars. It will be available in two types: the fully private “Supreme Class Cabin” and the semi-private “Supreme Class Seat.” This marks the return of private compartments to the Tokaido Shinkansen for the first time in 23 years, since the “100 Series” was retired in 2003.
While the fully private “Cabin” model was unveiled in July, the semi-private “Seat” model is making its debut as a mockup at this event. The company plans to introduce these models into its commercial fleet during fiscal year 2027, and it notes that the specifications of the mockup on display differ slightly from the final product.
The fare (*) for the Tokyo–Shin-Osaka route is 42,100 yen for the “Cabin” class, which goes on sale on September 15; the fare for the “Seat” class has not yet been announced. For reference, the fare for the Green Car under the same conditions is 19,100 yen, and the fare for a reserved seat in the standard car is 14,230 yen.
*All prices are for one adult, one-way, on the Nozomi train, during the standard season, and when booking via EX Reservation.
There are a total of six Supreme Class Seats located in Car 10, near the Tokyo-bound end (Car 11), occupying the space of five rows of Green Car seats. Not only do these seats feature a large back-shell design that shields passengers from prying eyes, but they also include a door (with an electronic lock) between the aisle and the seating area, ensuring a more private space than even Green Car.
Since these are semi-private compartments, there are no walls in front of or behind the seats, and by rotating the seats, two people can sit facing each other. While there isn’t quite enough legroom to extend the footrest all the way forward, this arrangement allows the two passengers to sit closer to each other than they would in a fully private compartment, and it’s nice that both can sit in the same seat rather than one having to use the sofa. However, as in Green Cars, passengers must be mindful of the volume of their voices and any noise they make.
The seats are the same as those in the fully private “Cabin” section, featuring reclining seats with leg rests that allow for precise adjustment of the angle of each section. The upper left corner features Seat’s proprietary reading light, and the headrest is equipped with a seat speaker that can be connected to your smartphone or tablet (common to both Cabin and Seat).
The large table is stowed in the armrest on the left side of the seat. It is folded in half, but when unfolded, it is quite large—there was plenty of room to place a 13-inch laptop and a smartphone.
Using the dedicated tablet provided, you can adjust the brightness and color of the lighting, the airflow of the air conditioning, and the volume of the public address system. You can also check how to connect to the dedicated Wi-Fi network and place orders through the mobile ordering service (alcohol, soft drinks, and light meals).
In addition, the “Nozomi” and “Hikari” trains offer on-board services exclusive to Supreme Class. As part of the welcome service, each passenger is provided with a beverage and a snack (limited to one per person), and the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen mobile ordering service features products exclusive to Supreme Class.
The Supreme Class experience events will be held sequentially in five cities across Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka). Participation is free for all dates.
Seat trials at the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya venues are by advance reservation only (on a first-come, first-served basis), with each session expected to last about 5 to 10 minutes. Due to popular demand, all reservation slots were fully booked as of August 31.
At the Hiroshima and Hakata locations, no advance reservation is required, and visitors are free to tour and take a seat as they wish; however, depending on crowd levels, there may be wait times, or the tour may be closed to new visitors.
© Source travel watch