Is There Meals on the Shinkansen?

For a few years—many many years—it was potential to purchase foods and drinks from carts operating down the aisles of the Tokaido Shinkansen, which runs between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. This led to October 2023, at the very least for passengers not seated within the Inexperienced Automotive.

The dangerous information? Until you wish to shell out rather more cash for a touch higher seat, you’ll be able to’t satiate your starvation or thirst whereas already on board Japan’s hottest bullet practice. The excellent news? In the event you’re conscious of this modification, you’ll be able to take motion to blunt the worst impacts of it.

So, is there meals on the Shinkansen? Generally, there’s—typically, there isn’t.

Why You Can No Longer Purchase Meals on the Tokaido Shinkansen

The dialogue of meals on the Shinkansen (at the very least the Tokaido Shinkansen, Japan’s busiest bullet practice) is each easy and sophisticated. On one hand, onboard meals purchases have been declining, even earlier than covid-19. The hysteria that overtook Japan throughout the pandemic locked out foreigners for over two years, but in addition triggered fewer Japanese to journey domestically, additional compounding issues. The income wasn’t there—after which it actually wasn’t there.

Alternatively, it’s debatable that it wasn’t simply lack of money move that impressed JR Central to cease promoting foods and drinks on the Shinkansen. In any case, many bullet practice routes in Japan have both by no means bought meals, or suspended these gross sales years or many years in the past. You possibly can very simply make the case that using the practice is extra nice with out service carts clogging up the aisles. And, frankly, with out so many individuals noisily consuming and consuming.

 

Methods to Eat When You Journey by Bullet Practice

Purchase an Ekiben lunch field

Probably the most environment friendly solution to feed your self on a Shinkansen is to reach to your departure station a couple of minutes early, and proceed to one of many retailers with the phrase Ekiben (駅弁 in Japanese) written on it. Right here, you’ll be able to select from a number of (in some circumstances dozens) of lunch packing containers (ben-to) ready particularly for buy inside a practice station (eki).

Convey comfort retailer grub

An alternative choice for meals on Shinkansen is solely to go to a traditional comfort retailer, corresponding to 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson or NewDays. Whereas the bento bought right here aren’t essentially as contemporary or nutritious as these you purchase at Ekiben retailers, you’ve gotten at the very least as broad a spread. Certainly, you can too buy a wide array of snacks and drinks, together with alcohol.

Eat earlier than you set off

In the event you aren’t in a rush or have merely deliberate your day nicely, another choice is to take a seat down for lunch earlier than you allow. That is particularly simple when departing from main practice stations in Tokyo or one other giant Japanese metropolis, the place there are typically many eating places. The one problem for this feature is that it might be cumbersome to convey your baggage right into a restaurant (or, alternatively, to place them in a coin locker). 

(Or on a “layover”)

No meals on the bullet practice? No downside! In style Shinkansen station for layovers, together with Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, have eating places inside the ticketed areas. Whereas these are typically quick meals institutions promoting soba and udon, you’ll be able to typically eat one thing extra substantial. You probably have quarter-hour or longer between trains, this may be essentially the most wise choice.

Journey within the Inexperienced Automotive

Meals will nonetheless be accessible within the Shinkansen Inexperienced Automotive after October 1, 2023—nicely, at the very least technically. Whereas carts will now not journey up and down the alleys, it is possible for you to to order à la carte foods and drinks through a cellular web site. In fact, this is probably not sufficient by itself to justify the larger expense of touring within the Inexperienced Automotive, which (in my view) shouldn’t be considerably extra luxurious than peculiar Shinkansen automobiles.

The Reality In regards to the Shinkansen’s Former Meals Service

Whereas I all the time appreciated having the chance to purchase an iced espresso or highball onboard the Shinkansen once I’d forgotten (or just been too rushed) to take action earlier than departing, the fact is that the meals wasn’t all that. Many trains didn’t promote precise bento; in lots of circumstances, the one meals you possibly can purchase was packaged snacks that have been neither very healthful or nourishing.

The meals on bullet practice, if I’m being sincere, wasn’t even pretty much as good as what you get on a airplane. If you mix this with the truth that Japanese railway stations are dwelling to many eating places (in addition to ekiben retailers and, after all, konbini), there’s actually no argument to be made that the elimination of meals service onboard the bullet practice is any main loss.

 

Different FAQ About Meals on the Shinkansen

What meals is served on the Japanese bullet practice?

Traditionally, Japanese bullet trains have provided cart service with snacks and drinks, and in some circumstances bento lunch packing containers on the market. Over time, nevertheless, these companies are being faraway from trains, leaving the onus on passengers to buy foods and drinks earlier than departure in the event that they wish to eat onboard the practice.

Is it OK to eat on bullet practice?

Consuming on the bullet practice is totally advantageous, though it is best to achieve this mindfully. Don’t use your neighbor’s tray or any of their private area whereas consuming, and attempt to be as quiet and unobtrusive as potential. In the event you drink alcohol, make a degree of not consuming to extra, in order to not annoy these round you.

Do they serve drinks on Shinkansen?

Whereas sure Shinkansen trains nonetheless serve drinks onboard, the Tokaido Shinkansen stopped drink service for peculiar class passengers on October 1, 2023. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to all the time purchase drinks at a comfort retailer earlier than departure and eat them onboard throughout the practice journey.

The Backside Line

Is there meals on the Shinkansen? Whereas peculiar class passengers can now not order foods and drinks onboard the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, it’s nonetheless potential to satiate your self on sure bullet practice journeys inside Japan. Furthermore, you’ll be able to all the time purchase an ekiben earlier than boarding, or cease at a konbini to buy any variety of meals or drink gadgets—all hope shouldn’t be misplaced. Want customized serving to planning out your journey alongside Japan’s rails? Whether or not within the broader sense (i.e. do you want a Japan Rail Go?) or hammering out the day-to-day particulars, I encourage you to take into account commissioning a customized Japan itinerary.