Free tool · 2026
Shinkansen family fare calculator
Trains in Japan don't show a simple "family price". This tool applies the real JR kids'-fare rules so you can estimate the total before you book — and flags the big-suitcase reservation that trips families up.
Under-6s ride free on a lap in non-reserved cars, up to two per fare-paying adult. A reserved seat of their own (or a third+ infant) needs a child ticket.
The rules this uses (2026)
- Children 6–11 pay about half the adult fare (each part is halved and rounded down to the nearest ¥10; Green-car and sleeper tickets are full price). The exact amount is shown at purchase.
- Children under 6 ride free — up to two per fare-paying adult — when they don't occupy a reserved seat. Their own reserved seat, or a third infant, needs a child ticket. Source: JR-Central. Confirm on the official site.
- Big suitcases: on the Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu Shinkansen, baggage of 160–250 cm total (length + width + height) needs a free advance reservation for an "oversized baggage" seat. Over 250 cm isn't allowed. Reserve it when you book your seats.
JR rounds the basic fare and the limited-express charge down to ¥10 separately, so a real child ticket can differ from this estimate by a few tens of yen. Fares change and vary by route, season and seat type — this is an estimate based on the adult fare you enter. Always confirm the exact price on an official channel before you buy.
Once the train part is sorted
Two things families usually book next. These are affiliate links: we get a small commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you.
- Skip-the-line family tickets and day trips on Klook — useful for the days either side of a long train leg.
- A private airport transfer with car seats — the leg that is genuinely hard with tired small children and luggage.
Want the rules explained? Read how much the Shinkansen costs for a family — what changes the price, and the traps (free under-6s, oversized baggage).
Planning the rest of the trip? Try our free trip planner, or grab the Japan-with-kids checklist.
This tool uses AI-assisted, human-checked information and applies published JR fare rules. It never invents prices — you provide the adult fare. It can still make mistakes: always confirm times, availability and prices on official sites before you travel. Some links are affiliate links; if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.