Sunrise Seto and Izumo Ultimate Guide

How to get tickets, what it is like, and essential tips to enjoy the ride.

Sunrise is the only overnight train that runs on a regular schedule in Japan. The train comes with several types of sleeper cars and runs from Tokyo to two destinations Izumo and Takamatsu, as Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto. The 2 trains disconnect at Okayama station the next morning and head to each direction. It adds a unique experience to your itinerary in Japan.

Where It Goes

The Sunrise Express takes you to two destinations. Seto goes to Takamatsu city in Shikoku island which is perfect to start Setouchi trip. Izumo takes you to Yonago, Matsue and Izumo city in San’in region, on Sea of Japan side. Both are great destinations to continue off the beaten path travel after your arrival.

Why Do This

It might not be about saving time or cost of hotels. The overnight train experience that you leave Tokyo and wake up in the different part of Japan is something to do at least once in a life. And we don’t know how long this train remains.

That being said, the night train is not for everyone. If you need a good night’s sleep and have difficulty in physical condition, I think it might be better to take the Shinkansen or airplane and stay at the hotel. 

Pricing

The price would be the total of “fare” to your destination and sleeper car room charge (including limited express charge).

Fare per one person (as of May 2026, in Japanese Yen)

Tokyo ↔︎ Okayama	Tokyo ↔︎ Takamatsu	Tokyo ↔︎ Yonago	Tokyo ↔︎ Izumoshi
10,780	11,760	11,990	12,320

Sleeper car room charge (including 3300 Yen limited express charge)

Single Deluxe	17,280
Sunrise Twin (2 passangers only)	22,000 (price for 2)
Single Twin (Single use)	12,900
Single Twin (use with 2 passangers)	21,700 (price for 2)
Single	11,000
Solo	9,900
Nobi-Nobi Seat	3,830

• For example, Tokyo to Takamatsu by Single is 11,760 + 11,000 = 22,760 Yen.
• Tokyo to Takamatsu by Sunrise Twin is (11,760 x 2) + 22,000= 45,520 Yen for 2 passangers total.

*Price may change ±200-400 Yen from here depends on the season.

How to Reserve

You can get reservations on JR West Reservation. Reservation starts a month before the travel date at 10am Japan time. That is 9pm the previous day in the east coast of the US during summer time. The site is a little confusing to use, and it is difficult to get the room. It sells out quickly from expensive rooms. But sometimes it pops up. The price varies depending on the seat. 

JR West Reservation: https://www.westjr.co.jp/travel-information/en/tickets-passes/route-search/

How to Reserve Sunrise on JR West Online Reservation

1. You can choose the train and sleeper name from pulldown. If you like Single room, you need to choose Sunrise Seto Single. It shows up “no vacancy” if you choose other category of Sunrise Seto.
2. Choose date and time. Awkward considering there is only one train a day, but you can choose any time in the day and it works. Let’s say 10:00.
3. Choose smoking or non-smoking room. Usually non-somoking room sells out first.
4. Type your name and ID No. But it’s not your passport info. It’s random 4 dizit number you choose which you need later to receive your paper ticket.
5. Choose if they choose your room or you choose. Let’s choose “Select on Seating Table”
6. You choose “One-way basic fare ticket” or “No basic fare ticket”. If you have any rail passes, this part should be ” no basic fare ticket” and you can have it carriculated and pay at the JR counter later in Japan.
7. You can choose your room from the car map.

You need to receive the ticket when you make a reservation online. You can receive either at the counter with a person, or use the machine. Make sure to remember the 4 dizit number and which credit card you used as you need them later.

Types of Rooms

View from the window of “Single” upper floor. 

Car No.1 to 7 is Sunrise Seto, and Car No.8 to 14 is Sunrise Izumo. They uncouple at Okayama station, and head to each destination.

Both train consists of 6 different types of sleeper cars. Single Deluxe, Sunrise Twin – these are categorized as “A” which is the high class one. Also Single, Single Twin and Solo which is “B”. In addition to these 5 private rooms or pods, there is one car with seats called the Nobi-Noni seat, which is a big space with light separation in between personal spaces. 

Category A (comes with shower card and amenities)

• Single Deluxe: Private room for 1 person. Located on the upper floor and has the largest space for the solo traveler.
• Sunrise Twin: A great choice for 2 people. Located on the lower floor is the con of this room. 

Category B

• Single Twin : A room located at the edge of some cars. Two beds on the lower and upper in the room, like the old fashioned sleeper car. You can book for 1 person too, that allows you to sit on the 1st floor and sleep on the upper bed. 
• Single: basic private room located either upper or lower floor. This category occupies the majority of the cars. 
• Solo: a little smaller room than the “single”. It can be very tight when you have suitcases or a large luggage.

• Nobi-nobi seat: A whole car is an open space with many sleeping pods. Not much privacy from other passengers. You can be on this without any additional surcharge if you have a Japan Rail Pass. 

Formation of Sunrise Seto / Sunrise Izumo

The formatoin of cars are very complicated, that each car is made different.

For Nobi-nobi seat, CD is upper floor, and AB is lower floor.

What to Know

No food is sold on the train

The train doesn’t have a dining car or any sales of food. Make sure to bring plenty of food and drinks on board, especially if you are going to Izumo-shi station which takes longer. 

Seto or Izumo?

Major destinations for Seto:  You can explore Takamatsu and further. Kotohira, Naoshima by ferry, Matsuyama and other parts of Shikoku. 

For Izumo: It stops Yonago (Tottori area), Matsue (capital of Shimane) and Izumo-shi known for Izumo Taisha shrine. 

If you just like to experience the train, Seto is easier to get back to the Golden route. From both destinations, you can fly back to Tokyo too. 

Which side is better?

Leaving from Tokyo, most probably left side is better. In early morning, you see Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi on the left side from both Izumo and Seto trains. After uncoupled in Okayama, Seto has nicer view on the left side as you see sunrise over the ocean. For Izumo, you have better view of mountain sceneries on the left side, but it is said right side has better view after Yonago as you see lakes.

No room comes with its own shower

There are two shower rooms on the train. One for deluxe rooms categorized A, and each passenger gets a shower card that lets you take a shower. Another shower room is for other passengers. You need to purchase a shower card at the vending machine located near the shower. But the tricky part is, the number of shower cards is limited. It is said about 20 per train or so. So you have to go get it soon as you get on the train. 

The shower card is 360 Yen. The water runs for 6 minutes with one shower card. This shower and shower card vending machine is located on Car No. 3 for Seto, and Car No.10 for Izumo. But there is an unknown rule about it that you have to enter from the door next to it. 

Please see my vlog on YouTube for the scene where I’m trying to get a shower card and take shower on Sunrise Seto. If this is too stressful for you, it might be better to take a shower or bath at a public bath or Internet cafe and head to Tokyo station. 🙂

The Ride

This is the actual blog of my travel on Single room on April 2026.

Obtaining a Shower Card

Going to the station to be on the night train is quite exciting. But it was a little different this day. The reason I arrived at Tokyo station 1 hour before the train entered the platform (at 21:05 every night) was to obtain a shower card. I need to find out the mysterious unspoken rule of Sunrise Train’s shower. 

There was already one person in line, which was very helpful as I didn’t know what to do if I was in the front. It is said there are about 20 cards available per night per train, Seto and Izumo. The line got long around 20:45. 

Timeline : 

• 20:05 I arrived at Tokyo Station platform No.9. One person in front of me. 
• 20:45 Around this time, the line got long suddenly. Probably around 20 people.
• 21:05 Sunrise Izumo and Seto entered platform No.9
• 21:26 Left Tokyo station 

Thanks to the gentleman in front of me, he moved quickly and I was able to get a card. The unspoken rule here is, the shower room and card vending machine is on the Car No.3 on Seto, but you have to be in the line for Car No.4 as its door is closer to the machine. While I purchase the card, other passenger came in from the other side of the train, but I’m not sure if the long line behind me could let them in to purchase considering the people at the end of the line.

Taking a Shower on Sunrise

I entered the shower room before arriving Yokohama. It seemed nobody has used it yet.

1. You enter the room. Lock the door.
2. Insert your shower card to the machine. Never unlock the door after this. Your card will be terminated.
3. The shower runs for 6 minutes. You can pause it when you don’t need the water.
4. Push the cleaning button for the next person.
5. Towel is not equipped. You need to bring your own towel. I got one at Newdays on the platform.
6. Shampoo and body soap is in the shower room.

Sleeping on the train

Sunrise is not about showering. I’m not sure if I would do this again. Maybe I will.

It’s your private pod. Let’s enjoy the ride and lights passing by. I was up until Shizuoka station around midnight.

Next morning, I woke up with the sound of rain near Kyoto. The part I clearly got up was near Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi bridge. You can see the beautiful coastal scenery and the bridge, connecting Honshu and Awajishima island.

After Okayama, my Sunrise Seto head to south and go across Seto Ohashi Bridge. If possible, I recommend you to get the upper floor on the left side which allows you to see the ocean closer.

I started to see the shining surface of Seto Inland Sea. I belive the name of the train “Sunrise” is exactly for this.

The train goes higher to go across the bridge. Excited to see the Seto Ohashi bridge ahead.

The bridge goes over 5 small islands on the sea, before reaching Shikoku island. There is no train station in the middle of the bridge. It was only about 10 minutes that train goes over the bridge. My face was pasted on the window whole time to see the view. You can also see this view from Marine Liner connecting Okayama and Takamatsu.

Train arrived at Takamatsu 30 minutes delayed, at 8 am on April 21, 2026.

It was an amazing trip and I’d love to do this again. Hopefully in Sunrise Twin or Single Deluxe room. During the trip, the day after the night trip was the most tiring day that I fell asleep on the ferry I was on. It could affect how I feel about the place I visited. Please plan well and enjoy the trip.

Please see the video for the beautiful scenery from the train.

Now let’s start the trip in Takamatsu.