The Shinkansen with a kid and luggage: what to know
Reserve seats so you sit together, and if a suitcase measures more than 160 cm in total (length plus width plus height), book a seat with an oversized baggage area on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines. Kids aged 6 to 11 pay a child fare. Going from Osaka to Tokyo, sit in seat E for the Fuji side.
| Our Shinkansen trips | Osaka to Himeji and Shin-Osaka to Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Tickets | ticket machines in the station, and a Japan Rail Pass for the later part of the trip |
| Shin-Osaka to Tokyo | about 2.5 hours on the fastest trains |
| Big luggage limit | 160 cm total without a special seat |
| Fuji side, Osaka to Tokyo | seat E |
The rides we took
We took the Shinkansen from Osaka to Himeji for our day trip, and from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo on March 3, the day we moved cities. For the later part of the trip we had a Japan Rail Pass, and we used the machines in the station, which have an English option and let you choose the seats on a map. It took a few minutes, with our son pressing the buttons.
The trains themselves are the show. They glide in exactly on time, the doors line up with the marks on the platform, and the cleaning crew turns a full train around in minutes. Our son wanted the window on every ride.
Luggage: the 160 cm rule
On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen (Tokyo to Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and beyond) there is a clear rule:
- Up to 160 cm in total (length plus width plus height): no reservation needed. It goes in the rack, at your feet, or in the luggage space.
- 161 to 250 cm: you need a seat with an oversized baggage area, booked when you buy the ticket. Without one, you pay an extra fee on board.
- Over 250 cm: not allowed.
Most normal checked suitcases are under 160 cm, but big family suitcases can be over. Measure at home.
Seats with a kid
- Reserve. You sit together and you know your car number, which is painted on the platform.
- Window for the kid, aisle for the bags. If the rack is full, a small case fits at your feet in the window row.
- Seat E for Fuji. In ordinary cars the seats go A, B, C on one side and D, E on the other. From Osaka to Tokyo, Fuji is on the E side, on a clear day.
Food on board
Station shops sell bento boxes (ekiben) for the ride, plus rice balls and drinks. Buying lunch before boarding gives a kid something to choose and look forward to. Eating on the Shinkansen is completely normal.
The move day to Tokyo
Our move day was rainy. Checkout in Osaka, the train to Shin-Osaka, the ticket machine at 11:33, the Shinkansen, then the subway and a walk through wet streets to the hotel in Shinjuku. We were checked in around 3:20 pm. It was a good day, but it was a whole day. Plan it as one.
If you travel on March 3, look out for Hinamatsuri, the Girls’ Day festival: convenience stores sell special sweets and parfaits for a few days. More on the season in Japan in late February with kids.
Shinkansen or local trains?
The Shinkansen is for long jumps: Osaka to Tokyo, Osaka to Himeji. For everything inside a city, you use local trains and the subway, with an IC card. That is in trains in Japan with a kid. For the day trips, read Osaka as a base for Kyoto and Himeji.
Official links
What we'd do differently
- We would measure our suitcases at home. The 160 cm rule is easy to follow if you know your sizes before you book.
- We would pick the Tokyo train around midday, not in the morning rush, and buy the food for the ride before we get to the platform.
Where to stay in Japan with kids
By area, not by hotel. We don't rate hotels.
- Osaka, Namba: Dotonbori and street food at the door, direct trains to Kansai Airport.
- Osaka, around Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka: Fast starts for day trips to Kyoto and Himeji.
- Tokyo, Shinjuku: The biggest train hub in Tokyo, lots of choice, Omoide Yokocho five minutes away.
- Tokyo, Shibuya: Right by the crossing. Busy and bright, kids usually love it.
The Holiday Deck
150 cards to play during the trip: play, talk, notice, chaos, photo and dare.
Questions parents ask
Do kids pay on the Shinkansen?
Children aged 6 to 11 pay a child fare. Younger children ride free if they sit on a lap, but a long trip is much nicer with a seat of their own.
Do you need to reserve seats on the Shinkansen?
Many trains also have non-reserved cars, but with a kid we always reserved. You sit together, and you know where the train stops for your car.
Where do suitcases go on the Shinkansen?
Small and medium bags go in the rack above the seats. Bags of 161 to 250 cm in total need a seat with an oversized baggage area, booked in advance, on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines.
Which side of the Shinkansen do you see Mount Fuji?
From Osaka towards Tokyo, Fuji is on the right, by seat E in ordinary cars. From Tokyo towards Osaka, it is on the left, again seat E. You need a clear day.
Can you eat on the Shinkansen?
Yes. Buying a bento (ekiben) at the station and eating it on the train is part of the fun. Take your trash with you or leave it in the bins on board.
How long is the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo?
About two and a half hours from Shin-Osaka on the fastest trains. Plan the whole move as half a day, with checkout and the hotel at the other end.
Written from our own trip. We use AI to help with writing and checking; every fact, number and photo is from our family. How we write