Reserved, non-reserved and premium cars
The first choice is the kind of seat. Reserved seats guarantee a place; non-reserved cars can be crowded at busy times; the Green Car is the more spacious premium class.
At the ticket office or when booking with staff, the useful details are window or aisle and whether your group needs seats together.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 指定席 | shiteiseki | Reserved seat |
| 自由席 | jiyūseki | Non-reserved seat |
| グリーン車 | gurīnsha | Green Car, the premium class |
| 窓側の席はありますか。 | Madogawa no seki wa arimasu ka. | Is there a window seat? |
| 二人並びの席でお願いします。 | Futari narabi no seki de onegaishimasu. | Two seats next to each other, please. |
| 自由席は何号車ですか。 | Jiyūseki wa nan-gōsha desu ka. | Which cars are non-reserved? |
Car numbers and boarding positions
Your ticket shows a car number, written with gōsha. On the platform, the floor or overhead signs show where each car stops, so you can wait in the right place and board directly.
Trains stop for only a short time at many stations, which is why finding the boarding position before the train arrives matters more than on local lines.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 七号車はどこですか。 | Nana-gōsha wa doko desu ka. | Where does car 7 stop? |
| 乗車位置 | jōsha ichi | Boarding position |
| この列車は新大阪に止まりますか。 | Kono ressha wa Shin-Ōsaka ni tomarimasu ka. | Does this train stop at Shin-Osaka? |
| 次の東京行きは何時ですか。 | Tsugi no Tōkyō-yuki wa nanji desu ka. | When is the next train to Tokyo? |
Finding your seat and fixing a mix-up
Seat codes combine a row number and a letter. Read the row with ban and the letter with seki. If someone is in your seat, it is usually a simple mistake, and a soft check works better than stating that the seat is yours.
Showing your ticket as you ask removes any need for further explanation.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 七号車の十二番E席です。 | Nana-gōsha no jūni-ban ī-seki desu. | Car 7, row 12, seat E. |
| すみません、席番号を確認してもいいですか。 | Sumimasen, seki bangō o kakunin shite mo ii desu ka. | Excuse me, may I check the seat number? |
| ここは私の席だと思うんですが…… | Koko wa watashi no seki da to omou n desu ga… | I think this might be my seat… |
| あ、すみません、間違えました。 | A, sumimasen, machigaemashita. | Oh, sorry, I made a mistake. |
Turning seats and reclining
On many shinkansen, a row of seats can be rotated so a group faces each other. It is common for families and friends, but check that the row behind or in front is part of your group, and ask if not.
Reclining is normal on long journeys. A quick question to the person behind you is a small courtesy that is always appreciated.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 座席を回してもいいですか。 | Zaseki o mawashite mo ii desu ka. | May we turn the seats around? |
| 席を倒してもいいですか。 | Seki o taoshite mo ii desu ka. | May I recline my seat? |
| どうぞ。 | Dōzo. | Go ahead. |
| ちょっと通ります。 | Chotto tōrimasu. | Excuse me, coming through. |
Luggage and the overhead rack
Small and medium bags go on the overhead rack. Space for very large bags is limited, and some lines have specific rules and reservable spaces for oversized luggage. Those rules can change, so check the current guidance for your line before you travel.
If you are unsure where to put something, a crew member or the person next to you can usually point you in the right direction.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 荷物棚 | nimotsudana | Overhead luggage rack |
| この荷物はどこに置けばいいですか。 | Kono nimotsu wa doko ni okeba ii desu ka. | Where should I put this bag? |
| ここに置いてもいいですか。 | Koko ni oite mo ii desu ka. | Is it okay if I put it here? |
| 大きい荷物のスペースはありますか。 | Ōkii nimotsu no supēsu wa arimasu ka. | Is there space for large luggage? |
Ekiben and snacks
Ekiben, station lunch boxes, are part of the experience, and big stations sell regional specialities. Buying one before boarding is the reliable option, since onboard sales are limited or unavailable on many services.
Shop staff are happy to recommend a local speciality if you ask.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 駅弁 | ekiben | A station lunch box |
| おすすめの駅弁はどれですか。 | Osusume no ekiben wa dore desu ka. | Which ekiben do you recommend? |
| これを一つください。 | Kore o hitotsu kudasai. | One of these, please. |
| 温かいお茶はありますか。 | Atatakai ocha wa arimasu ka. | Do you have hot tea? |
| 箸をもらえますか。 | Hashi o moraemasu ka. | Could I have chopsticks? |
Understanding the announcements
Announcements follow a steady pattern: the next station, then a warning shortly before arrival, then which side the doors will open. English announcements often follow on major lines, but the Japanese comes first and is worth catching.
Delay announcements use formal forms. The key word is okurete, meaning running late.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 次は、名古屋です。 | Tsugi wa, Nagoya desu. | The next station is Nagoya. |
| まもなく、京都です。 | Mamonaku, Kyōto desu. | We will soon arrive at Kyoto. |
| お出口は左側です。 | O-deguchi wa hidarigawa desu. | The doors will open on the left. |
| 一号車から三号車は自由席です。 | Ichi-gōsha kara san-gōsha wa jiyūseki desu. | Cars 1 to 3 are non-reserved. |
| ただいま、列車が遅れております。 | Tadaima, ressha ga okurete orimasu. | The train is currently running late. |