Travelling the Tokaido Shinkansen with small children this winter: a free play area at Tokyo Station, luggage delivery next to it, and a record 140 'family cars' over New Year
東海道新幹線 お子さま連れ向けサービス（あそび場・お子さま連れ車両 2026年冬）
JR Central is expanding its services for families. From 17 to 23 December a free play area for 0–6-year-olds opens near the Yaesu Central exit of Tokyo Station with a Yamato luggage-delivery counter beside it, and over New Year (25 Dec – 5 Jan) car 12 of 140 Nozomi trains is set aside for families with children.
When17 Dec – 23 Dec 2026
WhereTokyo Station, near the Yaesu Central exit
JR Central announced on 12 November 2026 that it is expanding its services for families travelling with small children on the Tokaido Shinkansen, starting this winter, and has opened a page that collects them all (Japanese).
From 17 to 23 December, a free play area run with the toy and playground company Bornelund opens in the space near Tokyo Station's Yaesu Central exit, for Tokaido Shinkansen passengers with children aged about 0 to 6. It's open 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–18:00; you get in by answering a short survey via a QR code on site, and play leaders help out. Next to it, Yamato Transport runs a luggage-delivery counter for the same dates, so you can send suitcases and souvenirs on to your hotel or home and walk to the train hands-free.
Over the New Year period, from 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, car 12 of 140 Nozomi trains between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is designated a 'family car' — JR Central's largest number yet for that period. Car 12 is close to the toilets with baby-changing facilities and the multipurpose room. Seats go on sale at 10:00 one month before the travel date on JR Central's EX services (including Smart EX), at stations, ticket machines and travel agents. Other passengers may also be seated in the car, and there are no 'seats with oversized baggage area' in it. JR Central also sells Bornelund toys at Tokyo Station shops from 15 December to 11 January, and offers a free browser game for children.
For visitors
- On Smart EX you can choose your seat from the seat map, so you can pick car 12 when you book a family-car Nozomi (LINE de EX only lets you choose window or aisle).
- Nozomi is all-reserved over New Year (25 Dec – 5 Jan), and JAPAN RAIL PASS holders need the extra Nozomi ticket — see our Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi guide.
- No oversized-baggage seats in the family car: travelling with big suitcases, send them ahead from the counter at Tokyo Station (17–23 Dec) or with a hotel luggage service.
Sources
- JR Central — Making the Tokaido Shinkansen friendlier for families with children (12 Nov 2026, PDF) (official, Japanese)
- JR Central — Oyako tabi: services for families (Japanese) (official, Japanese)
Summarised in our own words from the sources above; last checked 13 Nov 2026. Plans can change — confirm with the operator before you travel.