The Complete Guide to Experiencing the Shinkansen High-Speed Trains in Japan

Japan’s iconic bullet trains, referred to as the Shinkansen, are world-famous—and for good cause. The Shinkansen high-speed trains are quick, futuristic, environment friendly, secure, and comfy, making them arguably probably the most well-known trains globally. Greater than only a technique of transport, the Shinkansen is a must-see vacationer attraction that has turn out to be synonymous with Japan.

Touring on a bullet prepare in Japan is a bucket-list expertise for a lot of guests, akin to visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York. It additionally presents the additional benefit of enabling you to succeed in locations throughout this spectacular nation.

In our full information to experiencing Japan’s Shinkansen high-speed trains, we’ll present all the pieces it’s worthwhile to learn about traveling by rail in Japan. From reserving seats to exploring probably the most cost-effective ticket choices with the JR Pass for limitless journey, the latest routes, enjoyable details, and far more—All aboard!

Overview:

What’s the Shinkansen Excessive-Velocity Practice?

The Japanese phrase for ‘bullet prepare,’ Shinkansen, interprets on to ‘new trunk line’. It additionally references the Japanese time period ‘dangan ressha’ (弾丸列車), in addition to the bullet-shaped nostril of the very first Shinkansen prepare collection. Though initially that means ‘new trunk line,’ the time period Shinkansen has been extra generally used for many years to consult with each the trains and the tracks they function on.

Operated by the Japan Railways (JR) Group, the nation’s Shinkansen trains join Japan’s important islands from Sapporo within the north to Kagoshima within the south. These unimaginable high-speed trains cease at practically all main Japanese cities—Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and plenty of others—throughout numerous interconnecting Shinkansen traces and prepare classes. With only a few exceptions, these traces are solely for Shinkansen trains, making nearly no metropolis off-limits, particularly when paired with a Japan Rail Pass. This particular ticket presents limitless journey on all the nationwide JR community, together with the high-speed Shinkansen traces.

The Tokaido Shinkansen, arguably the nation’s hottest line, travels from Tokyo by way of Kyoto to Osaka, servicing a number of main cities alongside a route of historic significance since feudal Japan, initially important for commerce. Immediately, the road options three classes of trains, every differing by way of pace and availability.

One other key line is the Sanyo Shinkansen, touring by way of Okayama and Hiroshima, and referred to as the ‘spine of the JR railways’. It presents 5 forms of trains, additionally various by pace and availability. The Nagasaki Shinkansen, formally the Nishi Kyushu or ‘West Kyushu’ Shinkansen, which started operations between 2022 and 2023, connects Nagasaki Metropolis to Fukuoka with a brand new high-speed prepare named ‘Kagome’, that means ‘seagull’.

Lastly, an extension to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, extending the road to Tsuruga, providing journeys to Fukui Prefecture.

The Evolution of Shinkansen

Ever since its launch, Japan’s Shinkansen has been celebrated for its record-breaking pace, effectivity, and security. The long-lasting design has regularly advanced for the reason that Nineteen Sixties, and extra just lately, it has been refined into numerous aerodynamic nostril shapes, together with a duck-billed design, to mitigate the noise challenge brought on by sonic booms when passing by way of tunnels.

One of many newest fashions is the N700S ‘Supreme’ Shinkansen, operated by JR Central on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen traces. This prepare boasts a formidable new high pace of 362 km/h (225 mph).

Suggestions For Touring on the Shinkansen Excessive-Velocity Trains in Japan

Should you’re visiting Japan for the primary time, navigating the nation’s distinctive rail community may appear daunting, however it’s a lot less complicated than it seems. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless essential to do your analysis earlier than your journey. We’re right here to help with a choice of the perfect basic Shinkansen journey ideas to make sure a clean expertise.

Listing of Shinkansen Strains

• Tokaido Shinkansen
• Sanyo Shinkansen
• Tohoku Shinkansen (plus Yamagata and Akita)
• Hokkaido Shinkansen
• Joetsu Shinkansen
• Hokuriku Shinkansen
• Kyushu Shinkansen
• Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen

Shinkansen Seat Lessons

Shinkansen trains provide three important seat lessons: Odd, Inexperienced Automotive, and Gran Class.

Odd seats are akin to economic system class, offering fundamental consolation. Inexperienced Automotive seats resemble enterprise class with added facilities and house, whereas Gran Class presents a luxurious expertise much like top quality. All seat lessons enable the seats to be rotated 180 levels to make sure passengers can at all times face the route of journey.

Moreover, seats may be adjusted to face one another, which is right for teams. Seat configurations usually are 2×2 in Inexperienced Automotive and Gran Class, with a 3×2 configuration extra widespread in Odd Class.

Tips on how to Reserve Seats on the Bullet Practice

Shinkansen trains provide each non-reserved and reserved seating in separate vehicles. Sure providers require reservations, and a few could change to completely reserved throughout nationwide holidays such because the New 12 months, Obon, or Golden Week, so it’s essential to verify earlier than you journey.

If you’re touring with a Japan Rail Move, one of many nice benefits is the power to make advance seat reservations at no further price. Seats may be reserved at Midori no Mado Guchi ticket places of work, that are identifiable by their inexperienced indicators, or at Journey Service Centres and JR-associated Journey Companies.

For a number of years, JR East has been the one service offering a web-based English language reservation system accessible from exterior Japan, whereas all different traces require reservations to be made in individual as soon as in Japan.

To order a seat, merely current your JR Move on the Midori no Mado Guchi, specify your prepare and desire for smoking or non-smoking, and you’ll obtain your reserved seat ticket. Simply present your Japan Rail Move on the ticket gate, proceed to your platform, and you should definitely hold maintain of your ticket as you would possibly must current each your JR Move and seat reservation to the ticket inspector.

Boarding the Shinkansen

Boarding a Shinkansen is simple: upon arriving on the station, cross by way of the common ticket gates, head to the Shinkansen platform, and cross by way of the Shinkansen ticket gates to your platform.

Your carriage quantity can be indicated in your ticket, with carriage numbers additionally marked on the bottom and on indicators overhead (non-reserve carriages are usually numbered 1-5). Line up behind the white line and wait on your prepare. Upon its arrival, enter and discover your seat (seat numbers are indicated above the home windows).

Should you’re in an unreserved carriage, chances are you’ll sit in any out there seat. As soon as settled, merely calm down and luxuriate in your journey!

What’s the Baggage Allowance on the Shinkansen?

When boarding the Shinkansen, passengers could convey as much as two items of luggage on board freed from cost. The mixed size, width, and top of every bag should not exceed 250 centimeters, with no particular person facet longer than two meters, and the load should not exceed 30 kilograms.

Luggage measuring lower than 160 cm (mixed dimensions) may be introduced on board with out prior reservation. For baggage between 160 cm and 250 cm, a previous reservation is required, which may be made for free of charge. Failure to order prematurely could end in a 1,000 yen nice, and the bags could also be relocated by the prepare conductor. Baggage exceeding 250 centimeters just isn’t permitted on the prepare and would require various transport preparations.

Reservations may be made by way of the Eki-Web App, at ticket machines, or in individual at ticket counters. If you’re utilizing a JR Move, it’s advisable to make each your seat and baggage reservations concurrently.

Basic Shinkansen Guidelines

Touring on the Shinkansen, like all public transportation, comes with its personal etiquette:

• Free Wi-Fi: Most Shinkansen trains provide free Wi-Fi entry (be taught extra about Wi-Fi access in Japan)
• Bento Bins: A choice of trains present boxed meals (bento) for buy.
• No-Smoking: Smoking is prohibited on all Shinkansen trains.
• Queueing: Passengers are anticipated to kind orderly traces to facilitate secure and environment friendly boarding.
• Telephones on Silent: Maintain cellphones on silent mode and keep away from taking calls within the seating space. Should you should take a name, use the designated spots between vehicles.
• Use of Headphones: To keep up a cushty atmosphere, passengers ought to use headphones when listening to music or watching movies.
• Baggage Necessities: Confer with the bags coverage detailed above for dimension and weight restrictions and verify the JR Group web site for updates.

How To Purchase Tickets to Journey on the Shinkansen Excessive-Velocity Practice

• Ticket Buy: You should buy common Shinkansen tickets at ticket counters, by way of ticket machines, and on-line.
• JR Move: The JR Move presents limitless journey on Japan’s home rail community and is on the market for buy on-line. It may be used on all Shinkansen prepare traces, though a supplemental price is required for the Nozomi and Mizuho trains. As famous earlier, JR Move holders additionally profit from complimentary seat reservations. The JR Pass can be purchased for 7, 14, or 21 days, relying on the period of your keep and your journey plans.

Buy your JR Pass directly with the operator

High 5 Shinkansen Information

Japan’s exceptional Shinkansen trains are celebrated for far more than their iconic look. Listed here are our high 5 details about Shinkansen:

1. Spectacular Passenger Numbers: In its debut 12 months, the Shinkansen transported 11 million passengers. Immediately, it carries over 150 million passengers yearly.
2. File-Breaking Velocity: Recognized for his or her pace, Shinkansen continues to interrupt information. The Alpha-X, one in all Japan’s quickest trains, can journey from Tokyo to Sapporo in simply three hours—a journey that beforehand took seven hours. This 10-car experimental bullet prepare, operated by JR-East on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, can attain speeds as much as 400 km/h.
3. Unmatched Security: Regardless of their pace, Shinkansen trains boast a formidable security report with no passenger fatalities in practically 50 years of operation. They’re geared up with superior security options, akin to automated air brakes for earthquakes, full energetic suspension, and a brand new ATC braking system in fashions just like the N700S Supreme Shinkansen. The Alpha-X additionally incorporates modern security applied sciences, together with air brakes on the roof and magnetic plates close to the rails.
4. Unbelievable Punctuality: Shinkansen trains are so environment friendly that the typical delay per prepare is simply 12 seconds.
5. Eco-Pleasant Journey: Shinkansen are considerably extra environmentally pleasant in comparison with airplanes, producing 92% much less carbon emissions per seat.

These details spotlight not solely the technological marvels of the Shinkansen but in addition their crucial function in Japan’s transportation infrastructure and environmental efforts.