Published on: October 02, 2025
Last updated on: October 09, 2025
This blog is brought to you by Tetsu, our Shinkansen Expert — the go-to expert for train routes, seating tips, and travel hacks.
Planning to travel in Japan during the New Year holidays? The year-end season is one of the busiest times of the year for the Shinkansen (bullet train). For the upcoming holiday period, special rules apply that every traveler should know before booking.
Nozomi Trains: All-Reserved Seats from December 26, 2025 to January 4, 2026
JR Central (JR Tokai) and JR West have confirmed that during the 2025–2026 New Year holiday period, all seats on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi services will be fully reserved.
This means there will be no unreserved seating available on Nozomi trains between December 26, 2025 and January 4, 2026.
What About Other Shinkansen Services?
For trains such as Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, and Sakura, unreserved seating will still be available. However, seats are expected to fill up quickly, and travelers without reservations may face long lines or the risk of not finding a seat.
Why You Should Book Early
-
The New Year holiday is one of Japan’s peak travel seasons, with millions of travelers moving across the country.
-
Reserved seats on Shinkansen trains can sell out weeks in advance.
-
Without a seat reservation on Nozomi, you cannot board the train.
Book Your Shinkansen Tickets Now
If you’re planning to travel in Japan between December 26, 2025, and January 4, 2026, we highly recommend booking your Shinkansen tickets as early as possible.
Booking in advance ensures you can travel comfortably and avoid the stress of last-minute ticket shortages.
Popular Destinations
What is shinkansen-ticket.com?
Shinkansen-Ticket.com is a Japan-based travel agency specializing in booking Shinkansen and limited express train tickets—including high-demand routes that are often difficult to secure. With nearly a decade of experience, we’ve built a reputation for reliable, flexible, and traveler-friendly service.
We provide both QR code-based tickets for easy station access, ideal for last-minute bookings, and physical paper tickets, which can be delivered to your home abroad, hotel, major post offices, or even a friend’s residence across Japan—perfect for carefully planned itineraries.
Our expertise in Japan’s rail system allows us to offer customized support with a deep understanding of routes, connections, and seating options—including oversized luggage seats, scenic views, and group arrangements.
Trusted by thousands of repeat customers and partnered with numerous hotels and travel agencies, we regularly assist in arranging train tickets for hotel guests and tour clients across Japan.