Seat reservation - Golden Week - April 2026

Hi there,

You are correct to be mindful of Golden Week, as it is one of the busiest travel periods in Japan.

Here is our recommendation: As soon as you arrive in Japan and activate your JR Pass on 16 April, go straight to a JR Ticket Office or a ticket machine to book your 29 April journey. Booking 14 days in advance should be sufficient, provided you do it the moment you arrive. If the mid-day trains are full, seats are often still available for very early morning or late evening departures.

I hope this helps!

Kind Regards,

Mariko