Japan shinkansen (bullet trains) with kids

By far the most popular and comfortable way to travel across the country, shinkansen is the best way to travel between cities in Japan with kids! Shinkansen means bullet train, so look out for this word on English signage. 

Shinkansen routes may be slightly more expensive than flying, but it’s worth it for the extra comfort and the experience. Riding the shinkansen with kids is a rite of passage for visiting Japan! 

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Baby and toddler shinkansen info

Children ages 5 and under can ride Japanese shinkansen for free, but they are not guaranteed a seat. If there isn’t a seat available near you, they will need to sit on your lap. 

Each adult can bring up to 2 children under the age of 6 for free. Meaning 2 parents can have up to 4 children under age 6 with them for free. Additional children will need to pay for their fare.

Additionally, if you want your child to have their own seat, you will need to pay for their seat. I would recommend getting a seat for squirmy toddlers anyways, just to make the ride more enjoyable. 

Read more: Essential gear for flying with a toddler

Shinkansen with kids

Kids ages 6-11 will require a ticket, but will only be charged 50% of the adult fare. 

Like many things in Japan, kids 12 and older will be charged as adults.

When to buy shinkansen tickets

For travel during the week, you can buy your tickets the day of your journey. 

If you’re traveling on a Friday or Sunday evening, you will definitely want to book tickets in advance, as commuters are traveling between their hometown and their work town. 

You should book tickets in advance if you’re traveling during Golden Week, Silver Week, Obon and Japanese New Year. 

Read more: When to visit Japan with kids

Personally, I like to book train tickets as soon as they become available so I know it’s taken care of and I can plan the rest of my trip. 

💡Pro tip: Reserve your seats in advance, so you know your family will be seated together and you are guaranteed a seat (unreserved tickets are not guaranteed seats). The last thing you want is to have to stand the entire 3 hour trip from Tokyo to Osaka, especially with a toddler or a baby.  

Where to buy shinkansen tickets

Japanese bullet train tickets can be purchased at the station when you arrive, if you are comfortable with waiting until the last minute. 

If you would like to book in advance, or are trying to save money, I always recommend buying discounted shinkansen tickets on Klook. Even if you are purchasing the day of your journey, book on Klook! 

Shinkansen tickets can be purchased up to 1 month in advance. 

Types of shinkansen tickets

Ordinary car tickets are the standard shinkansen tickets. The seats are typically 3 wide, and conveniently rotate, so your party can all face each other. 

Green car tickets are in business class on the shinkansen. The seats are a bit roomier and typically are only 2 wide. You will also receive complimentary snacks and drinks aboard. 

Is the shinkansen green car worth it?

Personally, I don’t think the green car is worth the price. You’re already leagues ahead in terms of comfort in a shinkansen vs a plane, even in the ordinary car.

How to reserve a seat on the shinkansen

You have 2 options to reserve a seat on the shinkansen with kids without a Japan Rail Pass:  

Reserve online (easiest!)

When purchasing your shinkansen ticket on Klook, you can easily select the seat you’d like during your transaction. Make sure you select the Reserved Seat option when initially selecting your train.  

Find a Midori-no-madoguchi

These ticket offices marked by green signs have staff who can help with reserving your seat. 

The biggest stations (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) will likely have a staff member who speaks English, otherwise get your Google Translate app out! 

If you need to change your seat reservation, you will need to find a ticket office for assistance. 

Luggage on shinkansen with kids

Each passenger is allowed 2 pieces of luggage, so long as the total dimensions are less than 160cm per item. 

Oversized luggage tickets are required if you will be bringing any luggage with the dimensions totaling between 160-250cm. 

Bags with dimensions totaling over 250cm, or that weigh more than 30kg, are not allowed on the train. 

Mailing luggage in Japan

If you are changing hotels, you can mail your luggage to your next destination and pack an overnight bag. Your luggage will arrive at your next hotel the following day. This is a super reliable, affordable option that you can easily arrange with the front desk of your hotel. 

Mailing luggage is a very common service Japanese people use. You can also use this service to send items to the last hotel you’ll stay at, if you won’t need them for the rest of your trip (like a car seat or laundry…). It’s polite to email your hotel to let them know when your luggage will be arriving. 

Note that some hotels will charge a daily storage fee for your luggage, so take that into consideration if you’re sending items to your final hotel. 

Mimaru Hotels will ship your luggage to other Mimaru hotels the same day! For all other hotels, you can check out luggage shipping rates here. 

💡 Pro tip: you can also mail your luggage to the airport the day before you fly home! Then you won’t have to worry about hauling it around on public transportation. 

Shinkansen timetables

Japanese trains are always on time, down to the minute. Don’t be late! 

If you miss your train, you can hop on the next one and sit in the non-reserved section. You can purchase a reserved seat if it’s available, but you do lose the reserved seat (and cost) from the missed train. 

Download the HyperDia app for train timetables. 

What to bring on your shinkansen journey

Grab an ekiben from the train station. Ekiben are a special kind of bento box that are purchased from vending machines in the shinkansen train stations. They typically use locally sourced, in-season food. Don’t let the fact that it’s in a vending machine fool you – they are very fresh! 

Bring an eki stamp book! Each train station in Japan has a unique stamp that kids (and adults) can collect as they travel around the country. You can find the stamp desk near the ticket gates. If you can’t find the stamping desk, a staff member will be able to help you locate it. Eki stamps are self-service, so let your child (even toddler!) help press the stamp into your eki book. 

Other shinkansen tips

If you will be taking multiple shinkansen during your Japan vacation with kids, consider getting the Japan Rail Pass. The JR Pass also covers many local trains and buses in cities, so can be quite economical and make it easier to hop on a train. Check out my full post on the Japan Rail Pass with kids to determine if this is right for you while traveling Japan with kids.

Trains only stop for a couple minutes in each station, so make sure that you get everything packed back up and get ready to disembark to make getting off easier. 

You can bring your own food on the train, but avoid smelly food (like how you avoid being the one who brought tuna or burned the popcorn in the office). Grab an ekiben (bento box) from a vending machine in the train station to bring on board! 

Ticket checkers will ask to see your ticket sporadically throughout your journey, so make sure they’re always accessible.

Wrapping it up

Riding the shinkansen with ekiben is a top experience in Japan, so try to take it at least once during your Japan vacation with kids! Don’t forget your eki stamp book to collect momentos of each station you visited and traveled through in Japan.

Protecting your Japan family vacation

Japan is a gorgeous island country showcasing some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. However, from earthquakes to typhoons, Mother Nature can be very unkind to the Land of the Rising Sun.

From weather to lost luggage to illness (especially with toddlers), make sure you protect your family vacation by getting travel insurance.

I personally use Arch RoamRight for all my travel, and recommend all my clients use the same. Get your personalized quote here!

You may also like:

• Apps for Japan travel with kids
• When to visit Japan with kids: a family travel guide
• Guide to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with kids
• Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) with kids

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Molly

Molly spent her 20’s traveling the world, mostly solo. She loves planning travel almost as much as actually traveling, and loves the added challenge of traveling with her toddler. Get to know Molly.

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