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Sunrise Seto is the Overnight train that operated between Tokyo and Takamatsu in Shikoku island. This train is combined with Sunrise Izumo between Tokyo and Okayama. This train depart late night and arrive early morning. If you want to save the time, this train is the perfect choice.

(Please see my passenger’s review too)

Some of overnight train consist of the bedroom and the berth only. This train has the reserved seat. So Japan Rail Pass holder can take this train without the extra. This reserved seat is called “Nobi Nobi Seat”. It is like a berth and much more comfortable than the coach type seat.　You can lie on the seat. And you have some privacy because there is a small partition between the seat and the seat.

But some of Japan Rail Pass users want to take a bedroom or another choice even though additional will be charged. Let’s see the accommodation of Sunrise Seto.

Timetable and route

First of all, I show you the route and timetable.

View Sunrise Seto / Sunrise Izumo in a larger map

Station	Tokyo to Takamatsu	Takamatsu to Tokyo
Tokyo (東京)	22:00	7:08
Yokohama (横浜)	22:24	6:44
Atami (熱海)	23:23	5:43
Numazu (沼津)	23:40	5:26
Fuji (富士)	23:54	5:09
Shizuoka (静岡)	0:20	4:38
Hamamatsu (浜松)	1:13	|
Osaka (大阪)	|	0:34
Sannomiya (三ノ宮)	|	0:13
Himeji (姫路)	5:24	23:55
Okayama (岡山)	6:27	22:33
Kojima (児島)	6:52	22:01
Sakaide (坂出)	7:08	21:45
Takamatsu (高松)	7:26	21:26

As you see the timetable, you can use this train from Osaka to Tokyo as overnight transfer. But the train that depart from Tokyo do not stop at Osaka because it is too early. If you want to use this train from Tokyo, you need to get off this train at Himeji and then take Special Rapid Service train or local train to Osaka. It takes one hour by Special Rapid Service.

Accommodations

As I mentioned above, JR Pass user can take reserved seat that is called Nobi Nobi seat without any extra. But you have to pay accommodation fee and surcharge when you take other accommodation. Please see the below to see the details of all types of accommodation and extra charge.

Nobi Nobi seat

No extra charge
This seat is only choice if you don’t want to pay the extra. It is not a compartment, but like a berth. You can lie on the seat.

But it is very hard to reserve this seat since it is very popular. If you want to take this, please try to reserve right after you exchange the pass in Japan.

Single Deluxe

Additional fare 16,500yen (Express surcharge 3,150yen + Accommodation charge 13,350yen)
This is the best room in this train. The bed size is 196 cm X 85 cm. (Length/Width). These rooms are located in the upper deck in the double decker car. So you will have a better view than the other class. The desk, chair and sink are equipped in the room. There is no room that has a washroom or shower in the room in this train. But the shower room is in the same car. You will get the shower card to use the shower room. This shower room is for only Single Deluxe passengers.

Single

Additional fare 10,500yen (Express surcharge 3,150yen + Accommodation charge 7,350yen)
Most of the overnight trains has “Solo” that is the basic compartment for the single passengers. But Sunrise Seto has another oprion that is called “Single”. This has a bigger space than Solo. The bed size is 196 cm X 70 cm. (Length/Width). Especially the height of the room is way higher than Solo. The height is 180cm. Most of us can stand up in the room, but cannot do it in Solo. There is no room that has a washroom or shower in the room in this train. We have the shared shower room in the train. (It is different one from the shower room for Single Deluxe.) You need to buy the shower card from the conductor at 300 yen for 6 minutes. But only 20 cards are sold in the train because of the water supply.

* From left to right: isle / upper room / upper room / lower room / lower room

Solo

Additional fare 9,450yen (Express surcharge 3,150yen + Accommodation charge 6,300yen)
This is the standard single compartment. The bed size is 196 cm X 70 cm. (Length/Width). But the width is 56cm in some part of the bed. This rooms are located in the single decker car. But We have the rooms in upper and lower area. So the height is very limited. Most of us cannot stand up in the room.

* From left to right: upper room / the stair to upper room / upper room / lower room / lower room

Single Twin

Additional fare 12,320yen (Express surcharge 3,150yen + Accommodation charge 9,170yen)
if you use this room for 2 persons, you have to pay another 8,400yen (Express surcharge 3,150yen + Accommodation charge 5,250yen)
This room can be used for single or twin. The bed size is 196 cm X 70 cm. (Length/Width). This room has almost same floor space as Single. Upper bed is for the second person. The bed is a bit smaller than lower berth. The lower berth can be converted to the seat.

Sunrise Twin

Additional fare 10,500yen (Express surcharge 3,150yen + Accommodation charge 7,350yen) for one person
This room is the standard twin room. The bed size is 196 cm X 75 cm. (Length/Width). This rooms are located at the lower deck in the double decker car.

you exchange the pass in Japan.

Other facilities

This train has several vending machine and the public space to drink, eat or taking a break. You can buy some refreshment here.

There is a shower room beside the public space. You have to buy a shower card from the conductor at 200 yen for 6 minutes. Only 20 cards are sold in the train.

The washrooms are Japanese style and western style.

Train formation

8	9	10	11	12	13	14
B	B	B	B	N/B	B	B

Car numbers are starting from 8 because it is combined with Sunrise Izumo between Okayama and Tokyo.

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80 Comments to “Overnight train to/from Tokyo and Takamatsu via Okayama, Sunrise Seto. JR Pass user can take with no extra charge!”

1. Soshi says:

   March 2, 2013 at 5:04 am

   Hi again Takeshi-san,

   I’m planning to take the Sunrise Seto from Takamatsu to Tokyo on 2 Aug (Friday night)… I’ll be landing in Japan, 27 July — do you know what are the chances of being able to book a Nobi Nobi seat a week in advance…?

   I also vaguely remember that there was someone on your site who made a comment about booking over the phone to reserve a seat as well…?

   Thanks again

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     March 2, 2013 at 9:05 am

     Hi Soshi,

     In my opinion, your chance is very small. If it is sold out, it is not surprised.
     Regarding reservation, it is Odekake Net. It is basically Japanese only. They said some of staff can speak English, but not always available. And also, they cannot take a reservation for JR Pass. So even if you use Nobi Nobi, you have to pay surcharge. Basic fare is still covered by the pass.
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
     • Soshi says:

       March 2, 2013 at 11:19 pm

       Thanks for your advice, Takeshi-san.

       Ah that’s a pity — I could make the call but looks like I’ll have to pay extra anyway ): I’ll cross my fingers and hope that there are still Nobi-Nobi seats available…

       Thank you again!

       Reply
       • JPRail says:

         March 3, 2013 at 12:10 am

         Okay. Good Luck, Soshi!
         Takeshi / JPRail

         Reply
2. KKKHOO says:

   October 24, 2012 at 7:24 pm

   Hi Takeshi-san,

   I will arrive at kansai airport for 8 days tour and also depart from kansai airport and wish to buy 7 day rail pass. I will appreciate that you could advise how I could go about doing it the most efficient way as I wish to visit kyoto, tokyo, nagoya, hiroshima & osaka. Should I explore osaka first or go to tokyo ?

   Thank you very much and as I am first time visitor to Japan and look forward for your advise.

   Regards.

   KKKHOO

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     October 24, 2012 at 11:17 pm

     Hi KKKHOO,

     How about the following route:
     Day1 KIX-Kyoto
     Day2 Kyoto
     Day3 Kyoto-Hiroshima
     Day4 Hiroshima-Tokyo
     Day5 Tokyo
     Day6 Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka
     Day7 Osaka
     Day8 Osaka-KIX

     If you can get a seat on overnight train Sunrise Seto, you can use it for Day4 transfer. But it will be very hard to get it after you arrive in Japan. I’m not surprised if it is sold out. If you cannot make it, you need to take Shinkansen. But in this case, you need an accommodation in Tokyo for Day4. So if you don’t want to take any risk, take Shinkansen and avoid to use overnight train.

     You can use 7 days Japan Rail Pass for either Day1-7 or Day2-8. If you will take limousine bus or non JR trains to get KIX on Day 8, you can use the pass for Day1-7.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. Meryana says:

   May 11, 2012 at 3:44 am

   Hi Takeshi-san,

   Could you help advise me with the two trips below? I will be using my Japan Rail Pass and if possible want to avoid any extra charges that may not be covered by the pass.

   (1) I’d like to depart from Kyoto in the evening of June 9th to arrive in Hakodate in the afternoon of June 10th. I can also depart from Osaka instead of Kyoto if it makes the trip easier. Could you recommend a route please?

   (2) I’d like to depart from Sapporo in the evening of June 12th to arrive in Morioka in the morning of June 13th. Could you also advise a route please?

   Thank you so much for your help.

   Regards,
   Meryana

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     May 11, 2012 at 11:36 pm

     Hi Meryana,

     1) There is only one choice.
     Take Nobi Nobi seat of Sunrise Seto/Izumo from Osaka to Tokyo. And then take Shinkansen and Super Hakucho. See the link below to get the details about Shinkansen and Super Hakucho combination:
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-get-sapporo.html

     2) There is only one choice too.
     Take Hamanasu from Sapporo to Aomori.
     http://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/overnight-trains/hamanasu.html
     And then take Ltd Exp Tsugaru to Shin-Aomori and transfer to Shinkansen to Morioka.

     As long as you take Nobi Nobi seat of Sunrise and Carpet/Dream/Non reserved seat of Hamanasu, JR pass cover it. But if you cannot make these types of seats, you need to pay Express surcharge and accommodation fee.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply

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