A transportation IC card works only after a purchased Shinkansen e-ticket has been linked; IC stored value alone is not valid for Kagayaki.
Hokuriku Shinkansen
Kagayaki: ticket, seat and baggage rules
Tokyo · Nagano · Toyama · Kanazawa · Tsuruga
30-second answer
What you need before boarding Kagayaki
Both the basic fare and Shinkansen limited-express portion are required; the JR East Shinkansen e-ticket includes them.
Kagayaki operates with reserved seats only.
Reservations for luggage storage are not required on the Hokuriku Shinkansen; storage is first-come, first-served.
No Nozomi-style baggage booking
Kagayaki does not use the 160–250 cm advance-reservation system. Its fitted luggage area cannot be reserved and is first-come, first-served.
Baggage storage
Where your bag can go
Overhead rack, foot space or a designated luggage storage area when fitted to the train.
Dedicated space cannot be reserved separately and is first-come, first-served; use foot space if no suitable space is available.
Carry-on boundary: JR East carry-on limit: up to 250 cm total dimensions, up to 2 m long and up to 30 kg per item.
Do not want to carry it?
Check storage at your station
If the bag is impractical to take onboard, use the separate station guide to check lockers and verified luggage-storage alternatives.
In one paragraph
Kagayaki rule summary
Kagayaki requires a purchased Shinkansen ticket; an IC card becomes the gate key only after the e-ticket is linked. The service is reserved-only, so use the seat in the booking. Hokuriku Shinkansen luggage space does not require a separate reservation and is first-come, first-served. Store bags on an overhead rack, at your feet or in a fitted luggage area, noting that facilities can vary by train.
Special items: Sports equipment and musical instruments may exceed the length limit if they can be stored upright in a dedicated bag or case.