Which side do you sit on Shinkansen?

Which side of the Shinkansen to sit on?

Okay, okay, Shinkansen seating strategies. You want the prime real estate, obviously.

• Tokyo to Hokkaidō (afternoon): Right-hand side. Why? Because battling the sun is SO last season. Unless you enjoy squinting. Do you?

• Hokkaidō to Tokyo (morning): Right-hand side again! Must be a thing with the right. Early bird gets the… less sun glare? Seriously, I need coffee. My cousin Brenda always picked right. Coincidence? I think NOT.

• Hokkaidō to Tokyo (afternoon): Left. Finally! Something different! Because, you know, opposites attract… or something. The sun probably moved. Duh.

It’s all about the sun, honestly. Think of yourself as a solar panel, positioning for optimal energy, or, you know, just to see the view. Besides, my grandma always said the right is righter! She was usually wrong. Hmmm.

What are the best seats on the Shinkansen?

Ah, Shinkansen dreams… swoon. Best seat? A fleeting thing. Depends. Light flickers, memories surface… Kyoto in ’18.

Window… yes, the window seat. Always. Mountains blur, a watercolor dream. Sunrise paints the rice paddies gold. No, wait. Aisle? Freedom.

Freedom to stretch. Freedom to wander to the vending machine. Coffee, bitter and hot, a jolt to the soul. But the window… ah.

• Window: For views that steal your breath. Like that maple leaf, crimson, outside Nagano. Autumn chill.
• Aisle: Escape. Legroom. Midnight snack runs. Toilets. Small mercies, you know?

Near the front, maybe? Less crowded supposedly. Smoother ride? Or the back, all observation.

Observation cars… a myth? My grandfather always said so. A lie he told. A dream of open platforms, windswept hair. No, the window.

I need… need that endless horizon. Tokyo glitters. Then fades. A ribbon of steel, unspooling through time. Lost, found again.

The right side? Facing Mount Fuji, a postcard cliché. But beauty persists despite itself. Always.

But wait, no. Green Car. Oh yes. Green Car. Luxury. Silence. Space. Is it worth it? Depends on the soul. My soul? Probably.

Silent car? Never knew that one existed, could be the future, quiet contemplation. What if they do make noise?

Which side of the Shinkansen is Mount Fuji on?

Right side going from Tokyo to Osaka, duh. Left side the other way. Got it? Seriously, it’s not rocket science. Remember that trip last year? Man, the view was incredible. Best ramen I ever had, too, in Odawara. I think. Or was it Hakone? Always get those two mixed up.

• Tokyo to Osaka: Right
• Osaka to Tokyo: Left

Need to book tickets for next month’s trip already! Ugh, train fares are insane. Should I just fly? No, the view! The VIEW! It’s worth it. Plus, bullet trains are so comfy.

I hate packing. So much stuff. My camera, of course. Extra batteries. And that new lens, the one I splurged on? Yep, bringing that too. It’s got to get used! And my travel journal. Full of silly doodles and way too much detail about what I ate.

This time, I’m bringing my new noise canceling headphones. Last time, some dude wouldn’t shut up about crypto. Seriously annoying. I need to plan my snacks. Onigiri, maybe? Or that fancy bento box I saw online. Expensive but Instagram-worthy. Gotta document everything. Right? It’s a competition, you know.

My sister’s going to be furious. She’s always ranting about how I never share my travel pics. Maybe I’ll be nice this time. Maybe. Probably not. It’s a tough choice. Nah. Joke. I’ll send her some. Probably.

Seriously though, plan the trip already, Sarah! Don’t want to miss the view of Mount Fuji. It’s amazing. Always makes me feel at peace.

Which side to sit on Shinkansen to see Mt. Fuji Osaka to Tokyo?

Left. Tokyo-bound.

E seat’s your fix, or D and E.

Fuji’s to the left. Book accordingly. Don’t mess it up.

More Intel:

• Seating: E’s your solo VIP; D & E’s the power pair.
• Visibility: Weather’s the ultimate boss. Cloud cover? You lose.
• Timing: Dawn or dusk hikes your odds. Light matters.
• Train Type: Changes nothing about the seat, dummy.
• Route Tweaks: Know it alters views, sometimes zip.

Oh man, i gotta go to work now. Gotta remember what i was doing. Ok good.

Do you need to reserve Shinkansen tickets?

Alright, buckle up buttercup, because Shinkansen tickets are kinda like dating.

You can just show up and hope for the best, but reserving seats is usually a smarter play, especially if you’re rolling deep.

Think of it as increasing your odds of not sitting next to, you know, a dude clipping his toenails. ew!

Now, some Shinkansen lines—the Tohoku, Hokkaido, and Hokuriku, bless their hearts—are absolutely gonna make you reserve a seat on certain trains. No ifs, ands, or buts. Like, trying to sneak onto one of those is like trying to get into my grandma’s cookie jar after she’s explicitly said no. Not happening.

• Peace of Mind: Reserving your seat is like knowing you have that last slice of pizza waiting for you. No stress, pure joy.
• Group Shenanigans: Wanna keep your posse together? Reserving seats is a must. Otherwise, it’s every man (or woman) for themselves, and Aunt Mildred might end up stuck next to a sumo wrestler.
• Mandatory Reservations: Certain trains on the Tohoku, Hokkaido, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines will laugh in your face if you don’t have a reservation. Seriously, don’t try it.