For me one of the highlights of travelling on the Shinkansen aka the bullet train in Japan was buying food from the carts that come around.

Sure, I could – and did – buy snacks and bentos before I got to the station or from the kiosks that dot the platforms. Still…

From October 2023, this cultural experience became a thing of the past.

Now look for shops with the words 駅弁 (ekiben) to grab your choice of a bento.

You can still order food in the Green Car (“First Class”). Just not from the roaming carts and smiling vendors. Another faceless mobile app interaction.

The Green Car offers reserved seating that is more spacious. Travelling long distances, such as from Tokyo to Kyoto? Get a seat in the Green Car.