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The diagram below shows the type and number of private rooms on the lower and upper levels of each car. Tap "View in 3D" to walk along the corridor at night and see the doors of the upper and lower rooms.

PRSunrise Express: where to book tickets and tours
e5489 (JR West)JR Odekake Net (official)	View official site
Eki-net (JR East)Eki-net (official)	View official site
Tours that ride the Sunrise ExpressClub Tourism (domestic tours)	View on Club Tourism

There are 5 ways to book the Sunrise Express: start with the big picture

Tickets for the SUNRISE-SETO and SUNRISE-IZUMO can be reserved and purchased in the following five ways. Each differs in the seat types you can book, when bookings open and how easy it is to use, so get the overall picture first and then choose the method that suits you.

• ① e5489 (JR West's online reservation service): JR West's online booking service. You can book both private rooms and Nobinobi seats
• ② JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) (the 10 a.m. booking request): Ask a staff member directly at a JR station counter. Strong for securing the most sought-after private rooms
• ③ Eki-net (JR East): JR East's online booking service. Nobinobi seats only
• ④ Travel agency tours: Kinki Nippon Tourist, Club Tourism and others. Can be arranged up to 6 months in advance
• ⑤ Midori-no-kenbaiki Plus (ticket machine with operator support): You can buy sleeper tickets from this "talking" ticket machine

The 5 booking methods compared

Use the comparison table below to see which method suits you best.

Conclusion: for a private room, the "two-pronged approach" of e5489 advance application plus the 10 a.m. booking request is the strongest

Of the five methods above, the one we recommend most is the "two-pronged approach": using e5489 advance application and the 10 a.m. booking request at a ticket office at the same time. e5489 advance application is the only method that lets you put in an application one week earlier than the regular sales start, and by also lining up the 10 a.m. booking request at the counter, you greatly increase your chances of securing even a popular private room. If a Nobinobi seat is all you need, Eki-net is also easy to use.

When can you book? Know the exact sales start rules

The most important thing when booking the Sunrise Express is knowing exactly when bookings open. Miss the moment sales start, and the popular seats fill up in no time.

Basic rule: sales open for everyone at 10:00 one month before the boarding date

As a rule, JR reserved seat and sleeper tickets go on sale for everyone at 10:00 one month before the boarding date. For example, for travel on June 15, sales start at 10:00 on May 15. This moment is the most competitive of all, so preparation is essential.

Only e5489 advance application opens "one week earlier"

The one exception is e5489's "advance application" feature. You can submit an application from 5:30 one week (the same day of the week) before the 1-month mark. The application is processed automatically at 10:00 one month before boarding, and the result is sent by email. Because it lets you put in an application one week earlier than any other method, it is your biggest weapon for getting a step ahead in the booking race.

[Most recommended] Step-by-step: the "two-pronged approach" of e5489 advance application plus the 10 a.m. booking request

Here we walk you through the recommended two-pronged approach in order, right up to your travel day. If you are set on a private room, simply follow this sequence.

STEP 1: 1 month and 1 week before boarding (same day of the week), from 5:30 | Submit an advance application on e5489

First, register as a member of e5489 (JR West's online booking service) and submit an advance application.

1. Complete the free membership registration for JR West's "J-WEST Net Service" in advance (JR Odekake Net)
2. Open the e5489 "SUNRISE-SETO / SUNRISE-IZUMO reservation page"
3. Select "Advance reception" in the "Date and time" field
4. Enter your boarding date, departure and arrival stations and preferred seat type, uncheck the "no transfers" and "use Shinkansen" boxes, then search
5. When the Sunrise Express train you want appears, click "Select (advance application)"
6. Specify the room type, smoking or non-smoking and room number, enter your payment details and complete the booking
7. The application is processed automatically at 10:00 one month before boarding, and the result is sent by email

STEP 2: 1 month before boarding, from 10:00 | Place the 10 a.m. booking request at a ticket office at the same time

In parallel with your e5489 advance application, ask for a reservation at a ticket office too. This is especially effective when aiming for highly competitive private rooms such as the Single Deluxe or Sunrise Twin.

1. On the day that is 1 month before boarding, go to the ticket office around 9:00 to 9:30, take a number ticket and wait
2. Tell the staff you would like "the 10 a.m. booking request" (whether it is accepted varies by office, so check in advance)
3. Staff can work more smoothly if you hand them a note with the boarding date, train name (SUNRISE-IZUMO or SUNRISE-SETO), section, preferred seat type, smoking or non-smoking and upper or lower berth preference
4. At exactly 10:00, the staff member enters your request into the system
5. If you get a booking, buy the tickets on the spot

STEP 3: After your booking is confirmed | Don't forget to collect your tickets

Whether your e5489 advance application succeeded or you secured your booking at a ticket office, the Sunrise Express does not support ticketless boarding, so you must collect paper tickets before boarding. If you find yourself unable to collect them just before departure, you will not be able to board, so leave plenty of time.

Other booking methods: steps and features

Here are the features and steps for the booking methods other than the two-pronged approach. Combine them as your situation requires.

How to book on Eki-net (JR East)

On Eki-net, only Nobinobi seats can be booked; private rooms (sleeper berths) are not available. It is a convenient option for people who often travel in the JR East area or who already have an Eki-net account. Bookings open at 10:00 one month before boarding. Here too, you need to collect your tickets separately at a ticket office or similar.

Booking through a travel agency tour

Kinki Nippon Tourist, Club Tourism and others offer tours that include a ride on the Sunrise Express. Travel agencies sometimes have seat allocations set aside for tours, so there are cases where you can secure a popular private room that is hard to get through an individual booking. Many plans are combined with sightseeing at Izumo Taisha or in Shikoku, and some are sold up to 6 months ahead, making them a good fit if you want to fix your itinerary early.

Booking at a Midori-no-kenbaiki Plus (operator-assisted)

Also known as the "talking reserved-seat ticket machine," the Midori-no-kenbaiki Plus is a terminal you operate while speaking directly with an operator on screen. When an operator is available, you can also buy sleeper tickets. It is a useful alternative when the ticket office is closed or when there is no ticket office nearby.

Is it available now? How to check seat availability in real time

A great many people give up, assuming the train is full, without ever finding out how much is actually available. Anyone can check availability themselves. Here is how.

On e5489 you can check availability without registering

There is a dedicated booking page for the Sunrise Express. With the steps below, you can check whether anything is available without going through the booking procedure.

1. Open SUNRISE-SETO / SUNRISE-IZUMO: Reserve a train
2. Choose "Book without logging in as a member" (you can get this far without registering)
3. Specify the departure date and time
4. Select "SUNRISE-SETO" or "SUNRISE-IZUMO" from the train names
5. Select the departure and arrival stations
6. Choose the facility you want and search

Always check each facility type one at a time

This is the key point. Availability on the Sunrise Express is completely different for each facility type. It is not unusual for the Single rooms to be fully booked while Nobinobi seats or Solo rooms still have space.

Even if a combined search shows "Full," don't take it at face value. Search again one by one: Single, Solo, Single Twin and Nobinobi seat. Giving up at this point is the biggest missed opportunity.

You can also check on Eki-net

You can also search availability on JR East's Eki-net. Membership registration is required, but many people are already used to it for checking Outbound (from Tokyo) trains.

3 times when seats tend to open up

• A few days after booking opens: People who reserved just in case finalize their itineraries and cancel bookings they don't need
• Around one week before boarding: Allocations held by travel agencies are sometimes released
• On the day of travel: Last-minute cancellations come up

6 booking tips and tricks to try before you give up

Even if you tried the moment bookings opened and still missed out, combining the tricks below may change things.

Tip 1: Adding smoking rooms to your options makes booking easier

Because most people want non-smoking rooms, smoking rooms tend to have relatively more availability. Many actual passengers say they "barely noticed the smell of tobacco," so adding them to your options without worrying too much about the smell greatly raises your chances of a successful booking.

Tip 2: Inbound trains (from Takamatsu / Izumoshi) have relatively more space

Demand tends to concentrate on the Outbound (from Tokyo) trains, while the Inbound (to Tokyo) trains from Takamatsu and Izumoshi tend to have more seats available. Simply planning to take the Sunrise Express on the way home makes booking easier.

Tip 3: Catch cancellations from one week before to the day before

Even if the train looks full, cancellations can come up as the travel date approaches. Check e5489 and Eki-net frequently from one week before to the day before your travel date, and you may catch an unexpected cancellation.

Tip 4: Choose the lower level or a middle car

Popular upper-level rooms tend to fill first, so Single and Solo rooms on the lower level are relatively more likely to remain. e5489 also lets you specify a room number, so it is effective to check the seat map beforehand and be specific.

Tip 5: Using a "Single Twin" on your own

You can also use the two-person Single Twin by yourself (approx. 25,110 yen between Tokyo and Izumoshi). It works well as an alternative when the Sunrise Twin is fully booked, and you get a spacious room all to yourself.

Tip 6: Give the ticket office a note with your second and third choices

When you place the 10 a.m. booking request at a ticket office, hand over a note listing up to three choices, such as "Single Deluxe; if not available, Single non-smoking; if not available, Single smoking", and the staff can decide instantly and act. Not narrowing your wishes down to just one is a big key to improving your chances.

Check before you book and board: common mistakes and cautions

Booking the Sunrise Express involves its own rules that differ from the Shinkansen and ordinary limited express trains. Not knowing them in advance can cause trouble, so check them carefully.

Watch out for the date change: how to specify the correct boarding date

If you board at Tokyo at dep. 21:26 on June 4 (Wednesday), buy your ticket with the boarding date "June 4." If you board at a stop after midnight, such as Hamamatsu (passes at 1:12 a.m.), you buy a ticket for "June 5." Always check the date at your boarding station before booking.

It's fine to buy the basic fare ticket separately from the limited express and sleeper tickets

You do not necessarily have to buy the limited express and sleeper tickets at the same time as the basic fare ticket. It is fine to secure the popular limited express and sleeper tickets first and buy the basic fare ticket later.

Steps for a round-trip booking

1. 10:00 one month before the outbound trip: Book and secure the outbound "limited express and sleeper tickets"
2. 10:00 one month before the return trip: Book and secure the return "limited express and sleeper tickets"
3. Once you have both, buy the basic fare tickets together

Frequently asked questions about booking and boarding

Q. Can I pay by credit card?

e5489 accepts credit card payment. You may need to present the card you used for payment when collecting your tickets. Credit cards can also be used at most ticket offices.

Q. How much is the child fare?

Elementary school children (ages 6 to 11) pay roughly half the adult fare. Preschool children ride free, up to two per adult or child, but a child fare applies if a preschool child uses a private room or Nobinobi seat on their own.

Q. Can I use the shower? Do I need to book it?

The shower rooms are first come, first served, with no booking required. Buy a 330 yen shower card from the vending machines in Car 3 and Car 10. However, at busy times and on weekends they can sell out right after departure. Single Deluxe passengers receive a dedicated shower card.

Q. How much is the cancellation fee?

Up to the day before departure, you can cancel by paying only the cancellation fee. On the day of departure, a refund fee of 30% applies to the basic fare ticket and 50% to reserved seat and sleeper tickets. Note that, as a rule, no refund is given if you miss the train.

How much does the Sunrise Express cost? Fares by type and section at a glance

The fare for the SUNRISE-SETO and SUNRISE-IZUMO is the total of (1) the basic fare ticket, (2) the limited express charge and (3) the sleeper charge. Only the Nobinobi seat has no sleeper charge, and the limited express charge varies by a few hundred yen depending on the season (200 yen less in the off-peak season, 200 yen more in the peak season and 400 yen more in the busiest season).

Fares by main section and type (one way, one adult, regular season)

The following are approximate fares for purchases on or after March 14, 2026 (source: Jalan News, "SUNRISE-SETO / SUNRISE-IZUMO Guide").

Timetable (after the March 14, 2026 timetable revision)

The main departure and arrival times are as follows (source: Jalan News, "SUNRISE-SETO / SUNRISE-IZUMO Guide").

Stops and departure/arrival times (all sections)

Refer to this if you are boarding at an intermediate station or planning what to do after arrival. The SUNRISE-SETO and SUNRISE-IZUMO run coupled as a single train between Tokyo and Okayama and are separated at Okayama ("‖" marks sections the train does not run through).

Outbound (from Tokyo)

On days when the train is extended to Kotohira, it continues through to Kotohira, departing Takamatsu at 8:02 after arriving at 7:27.

Inbound (to Tokyo)

*Information as of September 14, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest timetable. Sources: SUNRISE-IZUMO / SUNRISE-SETO Outbound (from Tokyo) / Inbound (to Tokyo) (JR Odekake Net)

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Frequently asked questions about booking the Sunrise Express

Here are answers, based on official information, to questions people often search for.

Q. How far in advance can I book the Sunrise Express?

A. From 10:00 one month before the boarding date. If you use e5489's advance application, you can apply from 5:30 one week before that.

Q. Can I make an advance reservation?

A. e5489's "advance application" is the closest equivalent. Applications are accepted from 5:30 one week before the sales start date until 7:59 on the sales date itself. However, it does not guarantee a seat.

Q. Are there any booking tricks?

A. There is no magic method, but there are ways to improve your chances: combining advance application with the 10 a.m. booking request, searching each facility type separately, searching by shorter sections, keeping at it until just before departure, and trying the separate allocations of travel agency tours.

Q. Can I buy a ticket on the day if seats are available?

A. Yes. On e5489 you can book "up to 6 minutes before the train's departure time shown in the timetable on the day of travel." You may be able to pick up a last-minute cancellation.

Q. Can I complete everything online?

A. No. Even if you book on e5489, you need to collect your tickets before boarding at a ticket office, Midori-no-kenbaiki (ticket machine), Midori-no-uketoriki (ticket pickup machine) or similar. If you board at Osaka, Sannomiya or Himeji, the station ticket offices close before the train departs, so collect your tickets early.

Q. What should I do if I want to book both ways?

A. The outbound and return trips are separate bookings. Their sales dates are also separate (one month before each boarding date), so you book them in two separate steps.

Summary: booking the Sunrise Express is 90% "choosing the method" and "preparing in advance"!

There are five ways to book the SUNRISE-SETO and SUNRISE-IZUMO: (1) e5489, (2) the ticket office (the 10 a.m. booking request), (3) Eki-net, (4) travel agency tours and (5) Midori-no-kenbaiki Plus. The most reliable is the two-pronged approach of "e5489 advance application (from 5:30 one week earlier) plus the 10 a.m. booking request at a ticket office", and simply putting this into practice greatly increases your chances of getting a private room. Combine it with tricks such as smoking rooms, inbound trains and catching cancellations, and make your dream sleeper train journey come true!