Shinkansen - Bullet Train

Posted on May 4, 2007 by Adam R.

My wife and I have decided to visit Tokyo as we have just landed in Osaka, on the way back from Australia. After weighing up costs, time spent and other factors she recommends the best way to get to Osaka fast is Shinkansen. There is no argument from me as I have been waiting to try out one of the Bullet Trains and today is the day it happens.

Unfortunately in our area being Tonami City in Toyama Prefecture, most trains are very slow and there is no Shinkansen service available so I will take this opportunity to see what it is like to travel close to 300kph. The cost of the tickets seem cost effective considering we will go from Osaka to Tokyo in around three hours via the Shinkansen and I am excited to say the least.

Here it comes and in the flesh, the Shinkansen is one sleek and dynamic looking train that suddenly has me thinking it a spaceship more than a train. On boarding I notice the interior is a bit more first class than local trains and before I know it we are moving off. Slowly at first moving out of the city then as we reach the outskirts, I am likening the acceleration to that of take on a jet on a runway. The speed of these trains are something you have to experience first hand and it is my recommendation as the premier way to travel on land in Japan.

Anything within approximately fifty meters of my window is an indistinguishable blur and the only drawback to the immense speed of a ride on the Shinkansen is that you have only a second to catch a glimpse of anything. It is best to keep your eyes on something at a distance is your get travel sickness easy.

Service and amenities on the Shinkansen are first class with food and drink cart service, toilets and smoking areas provided for passengers. The thought did cross my mind about what would happen to us at 300kph if an earthquake began but I decided to enjoy the trip and worry later. There are different classes of tickets available on the Shinkansen, some are for the reserved cars and cheaper ones are for budget general seating so depending what your budget is you can choose your level of comfort.

Arriving in Osaka the deceleration comes and it seems like a crawl for the last thirty minutes as the peak speed has well and truly passed. Disembarking the Shinkansen I have a huge smile on my face and am nodding in satisfaction, that is the best train ride I ever had.

The Shinkansen network is expanding slowly across Japan and you can find more information in English on the link below.

http://www.japanrail.com/JR_shinkansen.html