The overnight express train Sunrise Seto train guide and timetable. It runs between Tokyo and Takamatsu via Okayama. JR Pass user can take with no extra charge.

Sunrise Seto is an overnight train that runs between Tokyo and Takamatsu in Shikok. This train is coupled with Sunrise Izumo between Tokyo and Okayama. This train depart late night and arrive early morning. It helps you to save your time.

No extra charge with Japan Rail Pass to take this overnight train! Passenger’s review of Sunrise Seto

This train has many kinds of accommodations. One of these is called “Nobi Nobi Seat” which is like carpet section. This Nobi Nobi Seat is fully covered by JR pass. This is not very comfortable but you can lie on the seat. And you have minimum privacy because there is a small partition between the sections.

But some of Japan Rail Pass users want to take a bedroom or another choice even though additional will be charged.

In this post, I will explain you about Sunrise Seto with lots of photos.

Timetable and route

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

As you see the timetable, you can use this train from Osaka to Tokyo as the overnight train. On the other hand, the train from Tokyo does not stop at Osaka. If you want to use this train from Tokyo, you may get off this train at Himeji and then take a rapid train to Osaka.

As of October 2019, the timetable is the following:

Tokyo 22:00 (Sunrise Izumo or Sunrise Seto) 5:25 Himeji
Himeji 5:36 (rapid train) 7:08 Osaka

The Sanyo Shinkansen runs between Himeji and Shin-Osaka but it is too early to catch the Shinkansen. Rapid is the fastest way to get Osaka.

If you take this train between Tokyo and Okayama, you can take Sunrise Izumo too.

The overnight express train Sunrise Izumo train guide and timetable. It runs between Tokyo and Izumoshi via Okayama. JR Pass user can take with no extra charge.

How to reserve this train

Actually it is quite hard to book this train for overseas tourist. There is no online booking available. The only way is to book at the reservation window that is called Midori no Madoguchi. Please find more information about booking at the link below:

How to reserve a seat of Japan Railway trains at the station and online

If you plan to use this train, you have to consider the risk of booked out. If you do not want to have any risks, this train is not recommended. It is very hard to find how busy this train is. This train is sometimes booked out in even weekdays of the shoulder season. You must prepare a back up plan in case of booked out.

How to make a back up plan

First of all, you must have a few days between the arrival date and travel date by Sunrise Izumo. It is too risky to take this train on the arrival day.

Please search the hotel in your departure place of the travel by Sunrise. And try to find the hotel which allows you to cancel before two days without any cancellation fees.

Right after you arrive in Japan, try to book a space on Sunrise Izumo. If you can make it, just cancel the hotel. If you cannot make it, stay overnight in the hotel and travel on next day.

e.g.
If you plan to take this train from Osaka to Tokyo on November 10th, book a hotel in either Tokyo or Osaka for November 9th, one night. Please remember that Sunrise Izumo leaves Osaka after midnight. The date when you get on the train is one day after the hotel check-in date.
If you book a hotel in Tokyo and you cannot book a space on Sunrise Izumo, take the last Shinkansen to Tokyo from Shin-Osaka and overnight in Tokyo. If you book a hotel and you cannot make it, stay overnight in Osaka and take the earliest Shinkansen on next day.

In my experience, I could make it 4 times and could not make it only once. But I have never traveled in the peak season.

Accommodations

You find the interior of this train in my trip report in the movie below:

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 on top of JR Pass

This is only choice which is covered by JR pass fully. It is not a compartment but it is like a berth. The space is 190 cm length and 80 cm width. You can lie on the space and it is much more comfortable than the seat. But it is very hard to reserve this seat since this is most affordable choice in this train. Of course you must try to book right after you arrive in Japan.

Single Deluxe

Express surcharge and compartment fee are required on top of JR Pass.

This is the best room in this train. The bed size is 196 cm length and 85 cm 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 rooms that has a washroom or shower in the compartment of this train. But the shower room is in the same car. The shower card is included in Single Deluxe compartment fee. I will explain you about the shower room later in this post.

There are only six rooms available in Sunrise Seto. This is most expensive room but this is very popular and it is very hard to book.

Single

Express surcharge and compartment fee are required on top of JR Pass.

This is most common comparment of Sunrise Izumo. All compartments are located in the bi-level car. The bed size is 196 cm length and 70 cm width. Since the compartment is in the bi-level car, the height is about 180 cm. It is a bit tight for a tall passenger.

Solo

Express surcharge and compartment fee are required on top of JR Pass.

This is another type of the single compartment. The bed size is 196 cm length x 70 cm width. But the width is 56cm in some part of the bed. This compartment is located in the single level car. But there are compartments in upper and lower area. The height is very limited. The space where you can stand up is very limited in the upper level. In the compartment at the lower level, you cannot stand up. The space is much smaller than Single. In my opinion, Single is more recommended.

Single Twin

Express surcharge and compartment fee are required on top of JR Pass.

This room can be used as a single room or a twin room. The bed size is 196 cm length and 70 cm width.. The floor space of this room is almost same as Single. Upper berth is for the second pessenger. The bed is a bit smaller than lower berth. The lower berth can be converted to the seat.

Sunrise Twin

Express surcharge and compartment fee are required on top of JR Pass.

This room is the standard twin room. The bed size is 196 cm length and 75 cm width. This size bed are side by side in the compartment. The space is much bigger than Single Twin. This rooms are located at the lower level in the bi-level car.

Only four compartments are available. It is very hard to book.

Lounge space

The lounge space is located at car #3 and #10.

Shower room

Shower room is located at car #3 and #10. You have to buy a shower card at the vending machine in car #3 and #10. It is slod at 320 yen for 6 minutes. But the number of the card is limited because of the water supply.

If you stay in Single Deluxe, you may use the shower room at car #4 and #11. These shower rooms are located at same cars as Single Deluxe compartments. And these shower room at car #4 and #11 are available exclusively for Single Deluxe passengers only. Other passengers must use the shower room at car #3 and #10.

The way of using the shower room is same at all shower spaces. Single Deluxe includes small towel. But other compartments and Nobi Nobi seat passengers cannot get any towels in the train. If you intend using shower room, you must prepare some towels. The shampoo and soap are available in the shower room.

Bathroom

It is available in all cars. But in the morning, this space is busy.

Train formation

Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto are coupled between Tokyo and Okayama.

The train from Tokyo, car #1 to #7 is Sunrise Seto and #8 to #14 is Sunrise Izumo. The train to Tokyo, car #1 to #7 is Sunrise Izumo and #8 to #14 is Sunrise Seto.

Fare and accommodation fee

As I mentioned, JR Pass covers Nobi Nobi Seat fully. But you have to add some more extra on top of the pass if you want to book a compartment.

How to culculate the fare

Three kind of fares are required to take this train.

Ticket, Pass / Fare	Base fare	Limited express surcharge	Accommodation fee
Nobi Nobi seat by JR Pass	Covered	Covered	Not required
Compartment by JR pass	Covered	Required	Required
Nobi Nobi seat by regular ticket	Required	Required	Not required
Compartment by regular ticket	Required	Required	Required

Nobi Nobi seat is a sort of the regular reserved seat. It does not require any accommodation fee.

Base fare

Departure / Arrival station	Tokyo	Yokohama
Osaka	8,910 yen	8,580 yen
Sannomiya	9,640 yen	9,130 yen
Himeji	10,010 yen	9,790 yen
Okayama	10,670 yen	10,340 yen
Kojima	11,000 yen	10,670 yen
Sakaide	11,150 yen	10,820 yen
Takamatsu	11,540 yen	11,210 yen

Limited express surcharge

If you want to use a compartment by JR Pass, you must add this surcharge on top of the accommodation fee on top of JR pass. If you use JR pass to take Nobi Nobi Seat, this fee is not required.

If you use a regular ticket and book a compartment, you have to pay this surcharge on top of the base fare and the accommodation fee. If you use a regular ticket and use Nobi Nobi seat, you have to pay base fare, this limited express surcharge and add 530 yen.

Departure / Arrival station	Tokyo, Yokohama
Osaka, Sannomiya	2,960 yen
Himeji, Okayama, Kojima, Sakaide, Takamatsu	3,300 yen

Accommodation fee

This fee is required if you want to use a compartment. All accommodation fee is per room.

Single Deluxe	13,980 yen
Single Twin (single use)	9,600 yen
Single Twin (twin use)	15,100 yen
Single	7,700 yen
Solo	6,600 yen
Sunrise Twin	15,400 yen

Only one adult passenger is allowed in each compartment other than Single Twin and Sunrise Twin.

How to culculate child passenger cost

If you travel with a child who is 5 years old under and share your space with a child, it is free of charge.

If you travel with a child who is 6 to 11 years old and share your space with a child, it is not free of charge for a child. A child passenger requires half amount of the limited express surcharge and half amount of the base fare. If you use JR Pass, this age range of child required JR Pass child. JR Pass child covers all. If you use Nobi Nobi seat, a child passenger can take own space by JR Pass child or half amount of the limited express surcharge and half amount of the base fare.

Preparation before boarding

I would like to share a few tips if you take this train. Especially if you take Nobi Nobi Seat, please read the following tips.

You should bring something to eat and drink.

This train does not have any dining services and on board sales. There is a soft drink vending machine only. Please buy something to eat and drink before boarding. You may drink and eat anywhere. You may drink beer, wine, whatever. There is no restrictions. But do not have a party.

Is this train okay for travelers with child?

If you share your space with child who is 5 years old or younger, it is free of charge. You can share a young child in even Nobi Nobi seat. I have seen mother and young child to share one spot of Nobi Nobi seat a few times. However if you ride this train with baby, I recommend you to stay in the compartment. If you stay in Nobi Nobi seat with a baby, both you and other passengers may be stressful because a baby cries.

Is Nobi Nobi Seat safe for women traveling alone?

In my experience, a female solo traveler can ride on Nobi Nobi Seat. I have seen many female solo travelers in Nobi Nobi seat. Of course most of travelers are male. But I have seen many types of travelers in Nobi Nobi Seat, like senior couples, mother and small child, and some female travelers.

There is no privacy but if you are okay with it, you can travel on Nobi Nobi Seat.

Does this train offer Wi-Fi and power outlet?

This train does not offer any Wi-Fi service. If you want connection, please bring a mobile router or slot a SIM card into your phone. Please find more informaion in the post below:

How to get the connection in Japan. Which one is the best choice, public wifi, mobile router or SIM card

All compartment equip the power outlet. But Nobi Nobi Seat does not have any power outlet. You may require an extra battery.

Assessment

We have lots of restrictions to take this train. Especially the booking is an issue. But this train is only scheduled overnight train in Japan now. You can save your time and save your cost of the accommodation. You may take this train from Osaka to Tokyo. I believe that Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto offer very memorable ride.

I hope this post encourages you to take this train and enjoy your the ride.

The overnight express train Sunrise Izumo train guide and timetable. It runs between Tokyo and Izumoshi via Okayama. JR Pass user can take with no extra charge.