#Japan #Tokyo #Family Travel #Tokaido Shinkansen #family-friendly cars

Enhanced Family Travel Experience This Holiday Season

As the year-end and New Year holidays approach, the Tokaido Shinkansen has announced an exciting update for families traveling together. In response to the overwhelming popularity of the family-friendly cars introduced last holiday season, they will increase the number of these specially designated cars by 16, making it easier for more families to enjoy the train services this time around.

Overview of the Family-Friendly Cars

The initiative for family-friendly cars aims to provide a comfortable space for families traveling with children. This service allows families to travel without the usual worries about disturbing other passengers, making it ideal for family trips and homecomings during the busy holiday period.

Service Details

• - Travel Dates: From December 26, 2025 (Friday) to January 4, 2026 (Sunday)
• - Availability: Between 2 to 4 cars available each way daily, for a total of 64 cars over the 10-day period. (Last year, only 48 cars were available over the same duration.)
• - Train Specifics: Family-friendly cars will be available on the Nozomi trains, specifically in car number 12, traveling between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.
• - Seating Arrangements: The family-friendly areas will not include seats with large luggage space or dedicated luggage corners.

How to Reserve a Family-Friendly Car

Reservations for these exclusive family-friendly cars can be made in various convenient ways:

• - EX Services: Customers can reserve a family-friendly car easily through the EX Services portal, which includes options like 'Express Reservation,' 'Smart EX,' and 'LINE from EX.'
• - Purchasing Location: You can buy tickets at train stations, travel agency counters, or designated ticket machines.

Online Options

• - On the 'Express Reservation' and 'Smart EX', you can select your preferred seats from the seat map. However, through 'LINE from EX,' you can only choose your preference for window or aisle seating without specific seat selection.
• - For more information on joining the 'Express Reservation' or 'Smart EX' services, visit their respective homepages: Express Reservation and Smart EX.
• - Additional details about 'LINE from EX' can be found on their homepage: LINE from EX.

Important Notes:

• - While the family-friendly cars are primarily for families traveling with children, they may still accommodate general passengers who are not traveling with kids.
• - Reservations open at 10:00 AM, one month before travel dates. Although 'Express Reservation' and 'Smart EX' services allow for reservations up to a year in advance, family-friendly car reservations are an exception. Keep an eye on the updates via the official Twitter account, Parent and Child Travel - JR Central, for the latest information.

Conclusion

This thoughtful initiative to increase the number of family-friendly cars is set to enhance the travel experience for families on the Tokaido Shinkansen this holiday season. Make sure to mark your calendars, start planning your trips, and prepare for a delightful journey with the whole family!