Japan’s Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Adds Supreme Class Cabins
Supreme Class private cabins run on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen since October 1, 2026. Fares, trains and how to book.
Supreme Class, a private-cabin class above the Green Car, has been running on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen since 1 October 2026. JR Central and JR West introduced it on N700S trains of the bullet train corridor between Tokyo and Hakata in Fukuoka, which links Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima.[1]
The first product is the Supreme Class Cabin, a private room you reserve through Express Reservation or Smart EX. It is a ticketless product: you board with an EX reservation IC card, a registered transport IC card or a QR code, and no paper ticket is issued.[1]
What does Supreme Class offer?
Each train has two cabins: a larger one in car 7 for up to two guests and a smaller one in car 10 for one guest. Both have an electronic-lock door that opens with the IC card or QR code you boarded with, a large table, power outlets and USB ports, and a hanger for your coat. The car 7 cabin also has a sofa. The seats do not rotate.[2] You get reclining seats with leg rests, dedicated Wi-Fi, seat speakers you can connect to your own device by Bluetooth, and a tablet for lighting, air conditioning and announcements. Luggage space takes a carry-on suitcase up to 55 x 40 x 25 cm.[1]
A second product, Supreme Class Seat, is planned for fiscal year 2027, which runs from April 2027 to March 2028. It will offer six semi-private seats in car 10 that turn to face each other. Prices will be announced separately.[1]
Where and when does it run?
Supreme Class runs between Tokyo and Hakata. JR Central’s list of scheduled trains, updated on launch day, shows 12 services in total, six in each direction, on Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama trains. Some trains are only announced on the day of travel, and a train can be swapped at short notice for inspection or weather. If the cabin matters for a specific travel day, check JR Central’s list for that day before you book.[3]
How much does it cost?
Supreme Class costs far more than a reserved seat or a Green Car seat. These are adult one-way Smart EX fares on a Nozomi in the regular season for the car 10 cabin (one guest) and the car 7 cabin (up to two guests). Fares include the basic fare and the limited express fee.
- Tokyo to Nagoya: 32,660 yen or 47,060 yen.[4]
- Tokyo to Shin-Osaka: 42,390 yen or 60,790 yen.[4]
- Tokyo to Okayama: 51,840 yen or 74,440 yen.[4]
- Tokyo to Hiroshima: 60,020 yen or 86,620 yen.[4]
- Tokyo to Hakata: 64,070 yen or 90,670 yen.[1]
- Shin-Osaka to Hakata: 50,090 yen or 72,690 yen.[4]
In the off-peak season 200 yen comes off these fares, and in the peak season 200 yen is added, in the super-peak season 400 yen.[4] Express Reservation members pay a few hundred yen less than Smart EX users.[1] A companion in the car 7 cabin needs their own ticket for the same train in any seat class, and children aged 6 or younger travel without one.[4]
Food, drink and onboard service
Supreme Class passengers on Nozomi and Hikari trains receive a free welcome service with a drink and a sweet, once per person. From the cabin tablet you can also order paid drinks and snacks, including regional specialties made for Supreme Class, and the onboard attendant brings them to your cabin.[1]
Service varies by train and section. On trains and sections without an onboard attendant, the welcome service and ordering are not offered, so do not count on full catering on every journey.[1]
What to check before booking
- Availability: only about 12 services a day run with Supreme Class, six in each direction.[3]
- Booking channel: you need a Smart EX membership, so register before you go. Supreme Class is not sold at station ticket offices or through EX from LINE.[5]
- Luggage: the cabin takes a carry-on suitcase up to 55 x 40 x 25 cm.[1]
- Seat direction: the seats do not rotate. In the car 7 cabin the seat faces Hakata and the sofa faces Tokyo.[1]
For most visitors, ordinary reserved seats and the Green Car remain the practical choice on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen. Supreme Class is for travellers who want a door that locks, a table of their own and a quiet space on one of Japan’s busiest rail corridors.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] JR Central / JR West: JR Central and JR West press release: Supreme Class on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen (17 June 2026). Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- [2] JR Central: Supreme Class: seats and facilities. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- [3] JR Central: Supreme Class: scheduled trains. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- [4] JR Central: Supreme Class: fares, reservations and trains. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
- [5] JR Central: Supreme Class: reservations and boarding. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Supreme Class Cabin started on 1 October 2026. Sales opened at 5:30 a.m. on 15 September 2026.
It runs on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hakata, with stops such as Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima.
No. JR Central’s list of scheduled trains shows 12 services a day in total, six in each direction, on Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama trains. Some trains are announced only on the day of travel.
Yes. Supreme Class is reserved through Smart EX or Express Reservation, and Smart EX membership is required. Register in advance on the Smart EX website or in the app. It is not sold at station ticket offices.
Yes. A companion in the car 7 cabin needs their own ticket valid for the same train, in any seat class. Children aged 6 or younger travel without a ticket.
