What do people get wrong about carry-on rules on Japanese flights and trains?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Domestic flights, the Shinkansen and even city trains each have luggage rules that differ from what many visitors expect — including a reservation requirement for large suitcases on some bullet trains that catches people at the platform.
The rules
| Mode | Limit | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights (JAL, ANA) | 10 kg, 1 bag + 1 personal item | Size 55 × 40 × 25 cm (aircraft with 100+ seats); 45 × 35 × 20 cm on smaller aircraft |
| Low-cost carriers (Peach, Jetstar) | 7 kg total | Strictly weighed at the gate |
| Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu Shinkansen | Bags 160–250 cm (sum of three sides) need a free "oversized baggage" seat reservation | No reservation: ¥1,000 fee and staff stow it where possible. Over 250 cm, over 2 m on one side, or over 30 kg: not allowed |
| Other Shinkansen (Tohoku, Hokuriku etc.) | No reservation system; overhead rack or behind last row | Space is limited |
| City trains and subways | No formal limit for suitcases; bicycles must be bagged | Avoid rush hours (7:30–9:00) with large bags |
| Highway buses | 1 suitcase in the hold, usually under 30 kg / 160 cm | Varies by operator |
- The Shinkansen oversized-baggage rule started May 2020. A typical check-in suitcase (about 70 cm tall) is roughly 150–160 cm in total — measure before you travel.
- Liquids on domestic flights are not restricted to 100 mL containers (unlike international departures); but sharp items and lithium batteries follow standard rules.
[Verify] Airline size/weight limits with JAL and ANA; Shinkansen rule details with JR Central's oversized-baggage page. Airlines change limits.
Misunderstanding 1｜Shinkansen luggage is first-come, first-served
On the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu lines, large bags need the reservation — free when you book a seat in the last row of the car (the space behind it is yours). Without it, you pay ¥1,000 on board.
Misunderstanding 2｜Domestic flights have the same allowance as international
10 kg is the usual carry-on limit — lower than many international economy allowances. Checked baggage on JAL domestic is 20 kg free in economy; ANA switched in May 2026 to a piece system (two bags of up to 23 kg each in economy, fare-dependent).
Misunderstanding 3｜Liquids are limited to 100 mL on all flights
Domestic flights in Japan do not apply the 100 mL rule. International departures do.
Misunderstanding 4｜You can take a suitcase on a rush-hour train
You can, but a large case on a packed Yamanote Line at 8:15 is a hardship for everyone. Use the airport express lines (Narita Express, Skyliner, Haruka) which have luggage racks, or travel after 9:30.
Misunderstanding 5｜Luggage forwarding is the only alternative
It is the best one for suitcases (see the lockers article), but for the Shinkansen the reservation route is free and simple if done at booking.
---
Sources
- JR Central — Oversized baggage on the Tokaido Shinkansen (特大荷物スペースつき座席)
https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/oversized-baggage/
- Japan Airlines — Carry-on baggage (domestic)
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/dom/baggage/carry-on/
- All Nippon Airways — Carry-on baggage (domestic)
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/guide/boarding-procedures/baggage/domestic/carry-on/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Rules and procedures change. Please confirm the latest official information before you act.
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