Shinkansen cuts low-cost non-reserved seats on Nozomi trains.
The removal of non-reserved seats on Nozomi Shinkansen trains will reduce budget travel options between major Japanese cities in 2025.
Japan's Shinkansen is facing a challenge. With recent changes, including a requirement for luggage reservations and no in-car food sales, the budget-friendly non-reserved seats are disappearing. Starting in spring 2025, JR Central and JR West will convert one of the three non-reserved cars on the Nozomi Shinkansen route to reserved seating, cutting down 85 non-reserved seats. This shift will impact travelers, especially domestic ones on a tight budget.
While the cost difference for a reserved vs. non-reserved seat isn’t huge, the flexibility of non-reserved seats is what matters most. They allow riders to change plans easily and make last-minute decisions, like sticking around an awesome temple or grabbing Kobe beef. In contrast, reserved tickets tie you to a specific train. So, for those who loved the freedom of hopping on whenever, this change will feel like a chain around your train plans.
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