Sunrise Seto is an overnight train that runs 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. It helps you to save your time.
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 some 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. I will show your the detailed information about the accommodation of Sunrise Seto.
Contents
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) | 6:31 | 22:34 |
| Kojima (児島) | 6:52 | 22:01 |
| Sakaide (坂出) | 7:09 | 21:45 |
| Takamatsu (高松) | 7:27 | 21:26 |
As you see the timetable, you can use this train from Osaka to Tokyo as overnight transfer. On the other hand, the train from Tokyo do not stop at Osaka. 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 to Osaka. It takes one hour by Special Rapid Service. Shinkansen runs between Himeji and Shin-Osaka but it is too early to catch Shinkansen. Special Rapid is the fastest way to get Osaka.
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. How about online reservation available?
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 expect how busy this train is. This train is sometimes booked out in even shoulder season.
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 (If you take this train by single fare, base fare ticket and express surcharge 3,760 yen are required.)
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 16,970 yen (Express surcharge 3,240 yen + Accommodation charge 13,730 yen)
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 10,800 yen (Express surcharge 3,240 yen + Accommodation charge 7,560 yen)
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 9,720 yen (Express surcharge 3,240 yen + Accommodation charge 6,480 yen)
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 12,670 yen (Express surcharge 3,240 yen + Accommodation charge 9,430 yen)
if you use this room for 2 persons, you have to pay another 8,640 yen (Express surcharge 3,240 yen + Accommodation charge 5,400 yen)
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 10,800 yen (Express surcharge 3,240 yen + Accommodation charge 7,560yen) per person based on 2 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 at the vending machine. The price is 320 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.
Hello Takeshi-San
Thank you for all of this excellent information.
I have two questions for you:
We”ll be travelling in the second week of October 2019 – is this a peak time?
We’ll be at Narita at 16th October. How dificult could be to reserve three nobi nobi for 19th October from Yokohama to Takamatsu?
Thank you for your help
Hi Alarcia san,
October is not a super busy season. But October 22nd is a holiday. October 19th is Saturday of this weekend. So it will be busier than usual.
It’s hard to day how difficult you will be able to reserve Nobi Nobi. It is sold out sometimes even in weekdays. You must have a back up plan in case that you cannot make it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi-San
Thank you for all of this excellent information.
Three questions for you:
Does the train operate on every day of the week?
I will be travelling in the last week of September 2019 – is this a peak time?
I will definitely not be using a JR Pass – does that mean that someone in Japan can make a booking in my name?
Thank you for your help
Hi Clare san,
This train runs everyday and the last week of September is not a peak season.
Someone can make a booking for you. Name and other personal info are NOT required at the time of the booking. You can ask someone in Japan to book a ticket. You can pay someone when you receive a ticket. That’s all you have to do.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi-san,
Regarding the free fare on the Sunrise Seto with the JR pass, is this free fare for any JR pass holders or for specific JR passes. For eample, if I were to have a JR Kansai Area Pass versus having a JR Kansai Wide Area Pass, would both of them still enable me to have free fares on the Sunrise Seto?
Many thanks!
Hi Chi san,
This applies to the pass which covers the reserved seat fee. Kansai Wide Area Pass does not cover the reserved seat fee. Kansai Area Pass does not cover any limited express trains except Haruka. Only Sanyo Sanin area pass covers reserved seat fee other than JR Pass. But you cannot stay overnight on the train by Sanyo Sanin Area Pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-San,
Thank you for the information, and sorry for the amount of questions
A follow up question,
I’m planning to spend the last week of May in Japan, so if I buy tickets for the Sunrise Seto from Osaka to Tokyo 3 days in advanced, would you say this is possible, or will it be too late?
Also, how full will the tickets be for Nobi Nobi, solo and single rooms during the end of May?
Many thanks again!
Hi Chi san,
Late May is a shoulder season. So usually it is not difficult to book any type of seat/compartment. I believe you can make in 3 days. But I cannot say that you can make it easily. This train is sometimes very busy even on weekday in shoulder season.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-San
Thanks for the notice.
I also want to ask whether there it is possible to bring a small suitcase on board the Sunrise Seto, and whether we can possibly put it in our rooms or sleeping area? More specifically, if I were to reserve a Single Twin room, how much space is there to move around in, because in the pictures above, it seems there is a small open area in the Single Twin room where I could potentially put my small suitcase.
Again, thank you very much!
Hi Chi san,
This room does not have any luggage space. You may be able to place the small suitcase between bed and door. I think the width is about 30 cm. You may see more in the link below. It’s Youtube movie which is recorded by Japanese traveler.
https://youtu.be/DAwagOZ3V_I
If you stay in Single, the space is same. If you stay in Solo, the space is much tighter. If you stay in Twin, you have some more spaces. But it is super hard to book this type of compartment.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello. Is June a peak month in Japan? We plan to take the Sunrise Seto on the first week of June using JR pass and quite worried about not getting a space.
Hi Leny,
June is not a peak season. It is easier to get the space on Sunrise Seto. I believe you can make it. However it is very hard to say how much chance you have.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi san!
Im traveling on the first week of july, is this a very busy season for the sunrise seto?
Do I have a chance of reserving nobi nobi seats one week before I need them?
Thank you!
Hi Tati san,
Early July is very slow season. Your chance is much bigger than other season.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
I plan to take the Sunrise Seto express train from Osaka to Tokyo this coming May after Golden Week (May 11), I had researched that it is technically possible to purchase tickets in Japan and later have them refund (at a small fee) and re-booked under the JR Pass. However, the forum was dated back in 2015, is it still possible to do it now?
Thank You!
Warm Regards,
Jack
Hi Jack san,
You can do it same way. The cancellation fee is 330 yen before 3 days. If you do it in two days, 30% of the ticket will be charged.
It is very small risk but you may lose your space when you cancel it. Because if the train is completely booked out and someone try to get a space, someone will take your space just between cancel and rebook. Your space will be returned to the system and then you will rebook it by JR pass. This is small risk but it may happen. Please keep it in your mind.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
I will travel with Sunrise Seto express train from Osaka to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Takamatsu in about a month with a Japan Rail Pass (10th April). I read that the nobinobi zaseki / stretch-out seats are free with JRP free but should be reserved in advance.
Can I send a friend to the station now to reserve it for me or the Japan Rail Pass / or any data from its voucher is needed for making the reservation?
Unfortunately I will receive my Japan Rail Pass only when arriving to Japan (end of March).
Thank you!
Best regards,
Andor
Hi Andrew san,
Unfortunately you cannot ask someone in Japan to book it for you. Because you will use JR pass. You can book it after you exchange an actual pass. You cannot book it before you exchange the pass. It’s gamble but you have to accept it unfortunately.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi-san,
I am traveling to Takamatsu for a cycling trip with an obvious luggage question. I usually make this trip on the shinkansen but this time I would like to try the sleeper train. There will be 2 of us. If I can book a twin would it be possible to stow the bikes in the cabin? (They will of course be bagged and Im aware they will take up space) If so, which twin would be the most spacious and what are the fees involved.
Hi Dean san,
I don’t have any info about the space between the beds. But it may be tight to put the bike bag. Please see youtube movie in the link below. You will find how big the cabin is.
https://youtu.be/ym1CYl7gnEM?t=70
Single Twin is smaller than Twin. I’m sure that Single Delux can accommodate extra things but you need two compartments.
At last, it is very hard to book Twin because of the limited number of compartments.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com