Shinkansen, Busiest days of the week?

Question

I was hoping to find an unreserved seat on a Shinkansen Osaka to Tokyo...are there any days of the week that are more/less busy than others?

Answer 1

I found one way to avoid busy Shinkansens is to find out  where the train starts from, if you try and get on one that has come from Hakata or Hiroshima, then it will already be quite busy once it gets to you at Osaka, it can be tricky to find out but if you get a train that originates from Shin Osaka you will have no problem getting a seat.

good luck!  

Answer 2

Good advice from other posters. You probably will get an unreserved seat if you avoid the peak times stated, but if you don't smoke I would strongly recommend reserving a non smoking carriage seat, otherwise you may end up having to use the unreserved smoking car if the train is busy.

Answer 3

Avoid, Monday morning, and Friday afternoon.

Many business people are taking Shinkansen.

Sunday evening, many people are moving back and forward.

Also 7am. to 10am, and 4pm to 7pm, everyday, are busy, generally speaking.

Around national holidays, you'd better have resevation.

Other than that days/hours, I think you can take unreserved seat.

Good Luck.