Shinkansen Seat Selection Guide
Where you sit radically alters your Shinkansen experience. In this guide, we break down exactly how to select seats for views, electricity, silence, and luggage.
How to hunt down the perfect seat
1. The Golden Selection
| Your Primary Goal | The Seat to Target |
|---|---|
| Epic Landscape Views | Seat E |
| Working & Charging | Window Seats (A, E) |
| Absolute Silence | Very Front Row |
| Huge Suitcase Space | Very Back Row |
When In Doubt, Pick Seat E
It hugs the window and faces the ocean side coming up from Osaka, and faces Fuji going down from Tokyo. It hits every metric perfectly.
2. Seat Layout Refresher
Standard Shinkansen cars utilize a 3-seat and 2-seat layout separated by a central aisle.
- Seat A: Left Window
- Seat B: Left Middle
- Seat C: Left Aisle
- Seat D: Right Aisle
- Seat E: Right Window
3. Seats for Fuji Views
| Direction of Travel | Required Seat |
|---|---|
| Tokyo → Osaka | Seat E (Right side of train) |
| Osaka → Tokyo | Seat A (Left side of train) |
4. Seats for Charging Ports
If you don’t have a power bank, aim for the following areas:
- All Window Seats (Seats A & E)
- The Front Row (Entire width of train)
- The Back Row (Entire width of train)
Older generations of Shinkansen trains only placed outlets in the walls next to the windows. The brand new ‘N700S’ trainsets have charging ports installed in the armrests of every single seat, but since you cannot choose your specific train model, targeting a wall outlet is much safer.
5. Seats for Deep Sleep
If you are desperate for an uninterrupted nap, aim for the Very Front Row.
- Zero people in front of you means nobody will crush your knees by fully reclining their seat back.
- Incredible feeling of wide open space facing the cabin door.
- Fastest exit once the train reaches the station.
6. Seats for Huge Suitcases
If you packed terribly and your bag is massive, pick the Very Back Row.
The Oversized Luggage Rule
- By taking the back row, you gain access to a massive empty gap behind the chairs.
- Since 2023, you MUST formally reserve these “Oversized Luggage” seats if your bag has total dimensions (L+W+H) exceeding 160cm.
- Booking them costs nothing extra, but failing to book them and dumping a massive bag in the aisle incurs a ¥1,000 penalty.
7. Seats you MUST avoid
| Terrible Seat | Why it ruins your trip |
|---|---|
| Seat B | The cursed middle seat. You are glued between two strangers elbowing you for 3 hours. |
| Seat C | Exposed entirely to the aisle. Constant foot traffic, drink carts, and people bumping your legs. |
| Restroom Adjacent | Heavy foot traffic, opening and closing mechanical doors, and unpleasant noises. |
Never select the middle B seat unless you are traveling as a unified trio holding seats A, B, and C.
8. FAQ
- Q What is the supreme king of seats?
- A Seat E. You get the Mt. Fuji view, a charging port, and a sturdy wall to lean your pillow against.
- Q Which side is best on the trip back to Tokyo?
- A Reversing direction flips the map. When leaving Osaka/Kyoto heading to Tokyo, you need Seat A to see Fuji.
- Q Will my laptop charger reach my seat?
- A If you sit in Seat C or D in an older train, you'd have to drape a cable entirely across stranger's laps to reach the wall. It's forbidden and rude. Stick to window seats.