Shinkansen "Nozomi" to Be Fully Reserved Seating during Golden Week Holidays
During Japan's Golden Week, one of the country's peak travel seasons, the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen "Nozomi" services will operate with fully reserved seating, and unreserved seating will not be available.
This change will be effective from April 26 to May 6, 2024, throughout the Golden Week period.
Based on past experiences, during major holiday seasons like Golden Week, reserved seats tend to fill up quickly, leading to long queues for unreserved seating on the platforms and potential delays in boarding and disembarking. To address these challenges, it was decided to make all seats on the "Nozomi" services fully reserved during this Golden Week period.
Other Shinkansen services such as "Hikari," "Kodama," "Mizuho," and "Sakura" will continue to offer unreserved seating as usual during Golden Week.
However, given their limited availability, these trains are anticipated to be heavily crowded.
Plan Ahead for Your 2024 Golden Week Shinkansen Travel! With this announcement, it is anticipated that reserved seat reservations for the Shinkansen during Golden Week will be in high demand, making it more important than ever to secure your tickets early.
If you're considering a trip to Japan during Golden Week, we recommend securing your Shinkansen tickets with us as soon as possible!
You can search for trains during Golden Week on this page.
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Seat guide
Reserved Seat (Ordinary Reserved Seat)
Your seat is reserved and secured when you book your tickets, allowing you to head to the station with peace of mind.
Think of it as "economy class" seating.
Green Reserved Seat
Enjoy better seats and free blankets. Popular among Japanese business people, executives, and those who prefer a comfortable travel experience.
Consider it "business class" seating.
GranClass
Known as the "First Class" of Shinkansen seats.
Available only on the Hokuriku and Tohoku Shinkansen lines, these seats offer airline-like amenities and meals (only on select trains).
They are the most expensive option.
Unreserved Seat
You can take any open seat in the unreserved cars on the departure date (no departure time will be indicated on your ticket).
This is the best option if cost is your priority and you are traveling during less crowded seasons or times.