JAPAN: Amenities You Will Find Inside the Shinkansen (Japan bullet train)

JAPAN: The Amenities You Will Find Inside the Shinkansen

(Japan bullet train)

If I had a choice between riding the plane in economy seats or riding the shinkansen, I would definitely choose to ride the shinkansen. The shinkansen is very comfortable, clean and fast. The ride is very smooth. I had no difficulty sleeping.  Below are the amenities you will find inside the Shinkansen.

The Shinkansen or bullet train

My reserved seat ticket shows:
I should ride the Hikari 467 at 10:03 AM,
at Car No. 14, seats 2C and 2D.

Seat configuration is 2-3 per row.
Generous legroom 

Sign shows Car 14 has a restroom nearby at Car 15

The back of the tray table shows where facilities are located  

There's a socket available
for charging cell phones and laptops  

Ample space on the overhead bin

There's a food cart selling snacks 

in case you go hungry. 

Eating is not prohibited inside the bullet train. 

There's free Wi-Fi
available all throughout the ride. 

JAPAN: How to use the JR pass on the Chuo Line limited express train WITHOUT reserved seats

How to use the JR pass on the Chuo Line limited express train WITHOUT reserved seats

All cars on the limited express train are reserved seating only. But if you are a holder of a JR pass or limited express unreserved tickets, this is how to ride the train.

1. All cars on the train indicate they are reserved. You can board any car except the green car, which is the first class car, unless of course you have a green car JR pass.

2. Find any vacant seat, which is indicated by a red light on the overhead bin. If it turns yellow in the middle of the journey, it means someone will board and take the seat in the next stops.

The limited express train I rode from Shinjuku to Kobuchizawa has restrooms in cars 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11.

Peering inside the limited express train

Car shows reserved seat sign. 
Car 1, where we are seated has a restroom.

The red light indicates that seat 5c is vacant.

The green light indicates that the seat is reserved.

Generous legroom 

Snacks can be bought on the train