Saturday, February 29, 2020

Big Suitcase? Make Reservations



In Japan, the Shinkansen trains are fast and convenient. There are no luggage fees or check-in procedures.  


Beginning in May, this will change for those who have large luggage. Passengers with large suitcases will be required to make reservations, which cost more than the non-reserved seating. Reservations can be made online or at Shinkansen ticket counters.  If you fail to make reservations ahead of time and show up with your big suitcase, you will have to pay a 1000 yen penalty, and upgrade to the more expensive reserved seating area.  I don’t know what happens if the reserved area is full.  Maybe you have to wait for the next train.  

“Large” suitcases are those having a combined length, width, and depth of between 160 and 250 centimeters (63 and 98.4 inches).  


So, how big is your suitcase?

6 comments:

jacaranda said...

Ours are not considered large or big but thank you for pre warning us, husband, daughter and I have booked our flights for November.

Janie said...

Interesting, I think it's practical from their standpoint.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Well that is interesting! I wonder what the reasoning is for making the change.

Do you have as much news coverage for the Coronavirus as we do here? It's amazing how badly it has already effected the global economy. It's kind of scary here since the idiot in the WH only thinks about how it will affect his re-election.
xx, Carol

Jeanie said...

Mine is pretty small now. But on my trip to Japan and also my first to France it was very big. Walking metro stairs and up five flights to my friend's apartment cured me of that forever!

D1-D2 said...

What if you have a JR pass? You normally can't make a reservation.

Leonore Winterer said...

I know when we were travelling with our rail pass last year we could have made reservations, it just wasn't required. We were always just lucky to find room for our luggage! It's probably smart to have people reserve seats in advance.