The Full Information to Experiencing the Shinkansen Excessive-Velocity Trains in Japan

Japan’s iconic bullet trains, referred to as the Shinkansen, are world-famous—and for good purpose. The Shinkansen high-speed trains are quick, futuristic, environment friendly, secure, and cozy, 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 into 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 provides 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 the whole lot it is advisable 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 info, and rather 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 sequence. Though initially that means ‘new trunk line,’ the time period Shinkansen has been extra generally used for many years to seek advice from each the trains and the tracks they function on.

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

The Tokaido Shinkansen, arguably the nation’s hottest line, travels from Tokyo via Kyoto to Osaka, servicing a number of main cities alongside a route of historic significance since feudal Japan, initially very important for commerce. As we speak, the road options three classes of trains, every differing when it comes to velocity and availability.

One other key line is the Sanyo Shinkansen, touring via Okayama and Hiroshima, and referred to as the ‘spine of the JR railways’. It provides 5 forms of trains, additionally various by velocity 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 velocity, effectivity, and security. The enduring design has frequently advanced for the reason that Sixties, and extra just lately, it has been refined into varied aerodynamic nostril shapes, together with a duck-billed design, to mitigate the noise subject brought on by sonic booms when passing via tunnels.

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

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

In case you’re visiting Japan for the primary time, navigating the nation’s distinctive rail community may appear daunting, however it’s a lot easier 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 most effective basic Shinkansen journey suggestions to make sure a easy 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 supply three fundamental seat courses: Odd, Inexperienced Automobile, and Gran Class.

Odd seats are akin to financial system class, offering primary consolation. Inexperienced Automobile seats resemble enterprise class with added facilities and area, whereas Gran Class provides a luxurious expertise much like top quality. All seat courses enable the seats to be rotated 180 levels to make sure passengers can at all times face the path of journey.

Moreover, seats could be adjusted to face one another, which is good for teams. Seat configurations usually are 2×2 in Inexperienced Automobile and Gran Class, with a 3×2 configuration extra frequent in Odd Class.

Reserve Seats on the Bullet Practice

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

In case you are touring with a Japan Rail Move, one of many nice benefits is the flexibility to make advance seat reservations at no further value. Seats could 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 an internet English language reservation system accessible from outdoors Japan, whereas all different strains require reservations to be made in particular person as soon as in Japan.

To order a seat, merely current your JR Move on the Midori no Mado Guchi, specify your prepare and choice 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 make sure to maintain 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 easy: upon arriving on the station, move via the common ticket gates, head to the Shinkansen platform, and move via the Shinkansen ticket gates to your platform.

Your carriage quantity might 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 to your prepare. Upon its arrival, enter and discover your seat (seat numbers are indicated above the home windows).

In case you’re in an unreserved carriage, you might sit in any obtainable seat. As soon as settled, merely loosen up 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 bags on board freed from cost. The mixed size, width, and peak of every bag should not exceed 250 centimeters, with no particular person aspect longer than two meters, and the burden should not exceed 30 kilograms.

Luggage measuring lower than 160 cm (mixed dimensions) could be introduced on board with out prior reservation. For baggage between 160 cm and 250 cm, a previous reservation is required, which could be made without charge. Failure to order prematurely could end in a 1,000 yen fantastic, and the baggage 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 could be made by way of the Eki-Web App, at ticket machines, or in particular person at ticket counters. In case you are 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 supply free Wi-Fi entry (be taught extra about Wi-Fi access in Japan)
• Bento Packing containers: A choice of trains present boxed meals (bento) for buy.
• No-Smoking: Smoking is prohibited on all Shinkansen trains.
• Queueing: Passengers are anticipated to type orderly strains to facilitate secure and environment friendly boarding.
• Telephones on Silent: Preserve cell phones on silent mode and keep away from taking calls within the seating space. In case you should take a name, use the designated spots between vehicles.
• Use of Headphones: To keep up a snug surroundings, passengers ought to use headphones when listening to music or watching movies.
• Baggage Necessities: Consult with the baggage coverage detailed above for measurement and weight restrictions and examine the JR Group web site for updates.

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

• Ticket Buy: You should purchase common Shinkansen tickets at ticket counters, by way of ticket machines, and on-line.
• JR Move: The JR Move provides 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 strains, 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

Prime 5 Shinkansen Information

Japan’s outstanding Shinkansen trains are celebrated for rather more than their iconic look. Listed below are our high 5 info about Shinkansen:

1. Spectacular Passenger Numbers: In its debut 12 months, the Shinkansen transported 11 million passengers. As we speak, it carries over 150 million passengers yearly.
2. Report-Breaking Velocity: Identified for his or her velocity, Shinkansen continues to interrupt information. The Alpha-X, certainly one of 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 velocity, Shinkansen trains boast a formidable security file with no passenger fatalities in practically 50 years of operation. They’re outfitted with superior security options, resembling automated air brakes for earthquakes, full lively 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. Unimaginable 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 info spotlight not solely the technological marvels of the Shinkansen but in addition their essential function in Japan’s transportation infrastructure and environmental efforts.