Shinkansen luggage guides
Route by route advice, airport transfers and tips for skis, strollers, bikes and more.
Routes
Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka with luggage
The Tokaido Shinkansen is the busiest high speed line in Japan, and the one where luggage rules are checked the most. Here is how to travel stress free with big bags.
Read guideHokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa with luggage
The Hokuriku line links Tokyo with Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa and Tsuruga. It is popular with skiers and long stay travellers, which means a lot of large bags on board.
Read guideTohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen with luggage
Heading north to Sendai, Morioka, Aomori or Hakodate? Here is how to handle luggage on Hayabusa, Yamabiko and Komachi trains.
Read guideOsaka to Hiroshima and Fukuoka with luggage
The Sanyo and Kyushu lines follow the same oversized baggage rule as the Tokaido line, so the same planning applies all the way to Kagoshima.
Read guideAirport transfers
Narita Airport to the Shinkansen with luggage
Narita is about an hour from central Tokyo. With large bags, the train you pick decides how easy your Shinkansen transfer will be.
Read guideHaneda Airport to the Shinkansen with luggage
Haneda is close to the city, and Shinagawa is a Tokaido Shinkansen stop. That makes it the easiest airport if you are heading straight to Kyoto or Osaka.
Read guideKansai Airport to Shin-Osaka with luggage
The Haruka limited express connects Kansai Airport with Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, both Shinkansen stations, without changing trains.
Read guideSpecial baggage
Skis and snowboards on the Shinkansen
Ski trips to Nagano, Niigata and Hokkaido often start on the Shinkansen. Here is how to bring your gear without trouble.
Read guideStrollers on the Shinkansen
Travelling with small kids? Strollers are welcome on the Shinkansen and do not count toward the oversized baggage rule.
Read guideBicycles on the Shinkansen
You can bring a bike on the Shinkansen, but only when it is packed in a bag. Japanese cyclists call this rinko.
Read guideMusical instruments on the Shinkansen
Musicians tour Japan by Shinkansen all the time. Here is what to know about instrument cases.
Read guide