Private compartments are coming to the Tokyo-Osaka Shinkansen route

Travelling between Tokyo and Osaka is about to get a bit more exclusive. Starting October 1 this year, JR Central is introducing fully private compartments on Tokaido Shinkansen trains between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

This will be the first time in over two decades that bullet train passengers will be able to book a room to themselves on Japan’s busiest route, marking a return to the comforts and conveniences previously offered across the world-renowned train line.

In the past, the Tokaido Shinkansen included dining cars, cafeterias and drink carts, and up until 2003, private compartments were a feature of the now-retired double-decker bullet trains.

Under the new set-up, each train will initially include two compartments: one for two people and one for a solo traveller. These will be phased in gradually as existing trains are refurbished.

Equipped with lockable doors, dedicated wi-fi, reclining seats with leg rests and adjustable lighting and air conditioning, the booths have been designed mainly with business travellers in mind.

For Osaka residents and visitors, however, the compartments won’t just be a more comfortable option for frequent business trips to and from Tokyo – they’re also the makings of a quieter journey for anyone travelling between Japan’s biggest cities.

Whether you need to take a private call or show up for an important work meeting at 285 km/h, have lost your headphones and desperately want to watch a movie in peace, or simply want to travel without worrying about your surroundings, the cabins will be a significant upgrade for the world’s busiest high-speed rail line.

They’ll also hark back to the heady days when the shinkansen wasn’t just the fastest, but also one of the swankiest train lines in the world.

And this might just be the beginning. JR Central plans to roll out semi-private ‘booth seats’ in spring 2027 – suggesting that luxury on the bullet trains might just be making a comeback for good.

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