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Speed, Scenery, and Serenity - The Bullet Train Experience in Japan
3/31/2025The Shinkansen is a crown jewel of modern Japanese technology, symbolizing innovation, speed, and national pride. By connecting distant areas to urban hubs, these trains played a significant role in shaping Japan's sprawling mega-cities like Tokyo and Osaka. The term "Shinkansen" translates as "bullet train" thanks to the train's sleek, bullet-like design that has become an iconic symbol of Japanese engineering. The Shinkansen's launch in 1964 marked a significant milestone that showcased Japan's remarkable post-war recovery. Do you want to take a ride?
Despite the global decline in rail travel due to rising car ownership and air travel in the late 1950s, Japan embarked on the ambitious high-speed rail project. Following the first test run in 1962, the inaugural Shinkansen train made its historic debut on October 1, 1964, just days before the Tokyo Olympics. Reaching record-breaking speeds of 210 km/h (130 mph), this "bullet train" quickly gained fame both in Japan and overseas. By mid-1967, an impressive milestone was achieved: over 100 million passengers had taken the Shinkansen.
In 2024, the Shinkansen celebrated its 60th anniversary. As the system looks to the future, its prospects appear brighter than ever. Although other countries, such as China, France and Spain, have developed similar high-speed rail systems capable of reaching even greater speeds (up to 350 km/h / 217 mph), Japan still remains at the forefront of rail technology and continues to set the standard for efficiency, reliability, and innovation.
Japan Railways is currently constructing the Chūō Shinkansen, a revolutionary maglev Shinkansen line that will connect Tokyo and Nagoya in 2034 and then extend to Osaka as early as 2037. This groundbreaking project promises to redefine the nation's transportation landscape.
According to Wikipedia, the Chūō Shinkansen is expected to drastically reduce travel times, linking Tokyo and Nagoya in just 40 minutes and, eventually, Tokyo and Osaka in 67 minutes. Reaching remarkable speeds of up to 505 km/h (314 mph), 90% of its 286-kilometer (178 mi) route to Nagoya will be in tunnels! I don’t know about you, but I admire Japanese rail ambitions and spotless execution.
Japan's extensive Shinkansen network spans the entire country, also linking the second largest island, Hokkaido, through the remarkable 54 km (33 mi) Seikan Tunnel, an engineering marvel that traverses the Tsugaru Strait.
Japan's rugged, mountainous terrain presents a significant challenge to building high-speed rail lines, yet the country has successfully constructed an extensive network of tunnels and tracks that crisscross its landscape.
One good example of Japanese innovation is the work of Eiji Nakatsu, a talented engineer and avid birdwatcher. Nakatsu's legacy is the iconic "bullet nose" of the Shinkansen train that was inspired by the kingfisher bird. Its sleek, pointed beak allows it to dive into the water without any noise or effort. Nakatsu applied this principle to the train’s design and successfully eliminated the loud boom that occurred when the train entered tunnels at high speed.
Another innovation is that the trains are designed to tilt subtly on curved sections of track to minimize the G-force experienced by passengers. The Shinkansen ride is incredibly smooth. I have seen some videos showing a coin standing upright on its edge while the train is in motion.
The latest bullet trains would protect people in case of an earthquake: a battery-powered motor enables the train to safely navigate to a nearby tunnel even in the event of a power outage. I don’t think there is another high-speed train system on Earth that can brag that there have been no accidents involving death or injuries since its opening.
The Tokaido line, connecting Tokyo and Osaka, is Japan's oldest and busiest corridor. Trains run with impressive frequency, departing every 10-15 minutes, more frequent than in some US subway systems. The Nozomi, the fastest train on this route, makes only a few stops, covering the distance of over 500 km / 310 miles between Tokyo and Kyoto in just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Note that this type of service is not available to Japan Rail Pass holders.
Despite the frequent departures, trains are often booked up. On our return trip to Tokyo, passengers boarding in Nagoya struggled to find seats.
According to the 2020 annual report released by Japan Railways, the average delay time for the Tokaido Shinkansen in 2019 was just 12 seconds.
Shinkansen trains feature four types of cars: non-reservable, reservable regular, reservable Green, and reservable “executive”. While seat reservations come at a slight premium, they guarantee a spot. Non-reservable cars, on the other hand, operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The Green cars offer spacious seating, while the executive cars have even more luxurious and expansive seats.
Before each departure, a team of female cleaning attendants, two per car, meticulously prepare the train. Their tasks include cleaning the car, reorienting seats to face the direction of travel, and replacing garbage bags – regardless of how full they may be.
One distinctive aspect of the Shinkansen experience is the high-pitched sound as the train reaches the maximum operating speeds.
While the breathtaking speed of the Shinkansen makes sightseeing a challenge, the trade-off is well worth it: passengers enjoy unparalleled comfort and efficiency.
Like many things in Japan, the Shinkansen experience has its own traditions and cultural nuances. One of the rituals is the polite bow by train crew staff as they pass through the sliding doors at the end of each car. This simple yet meaningful gesture speaks volumes about Japan's values of respect and courtesy.
Another beloved tradition of Japanese people is to buy a bento box and eat it onboard a train. These boxed meals often feature local specialties. Interestingly, some foodies are willing to travel long distances to remote areas of Japan to sample the diverse offerings from various bento boxes.
And in case you're wondering - yes, I wanted to take a picture of a bullet train set against the breathtaking backdrop of Mount Fuji. I even researched the exact location where most pictures are taken.
To do that, my wife and I decided to make a stop at the Mishima station on our trip from Tokyo to Kyoto. However, upon arriving at the station, we found the mountain was, unfortunately, covered in thick clouds, while the rest of the sky remained bright blue. We later learned that Mount Fuji's high elevation, combined with the surrounding paper mills' smog emissions, often contributes to the cloud cover. But guess what - we'll have to try again another time!
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