UK
Australia
The Shinkansen bullet train
Travelling in comfort at speeds of up to 320 km/h; train travel doesn't get better than this!
Since it first opened in 1964, the Shinkansen has become just as synonymous with Japan as Mount Fuji, sumo and sushi. With currently 2,400 kilometres of track, the bullet train line acts as the back bone of the country linking the northern tip of the main island, Honshu, to the southern reaches of Kyushu Island.
On the platform you will join an orderly queue at marker points and wait for the sleek nose of the train to glide into the station, stopping within centimetres of the markers. Even standard class seats are spacious, comfortable and have plenty of room. Before you know it, you will be shooting across the country at speeds between 240 and 320 km/h but the ride is so smooth and noise levels are so low that the only clue to how fast you are travelling is the scenery darting past the windows.
The Shinkansen is a great place to people watch: smartly dressed business men; ladies going for a shopping trip to the big cities; pensioners enjoying retirement and travelling the country; school sports teams on their way to tournaments and families with excited kids travelling on the bullet train for the first time. The conductors politely bow as they enter and exit each carriage and a refreshment trolley passes through with beautifully presented bento lunch boxes as well as chilled cans of Japanese beer.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: 303 952 0379
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
The Shinkansen bullet train
Available throughout Japan
Interested in this Experience? It is included in this tour:
-
Discover the highlights of rural Tohoku in this week-long add-on itinerary - samurai towns, hot spring villages, and sacred mountains.
Rural Tohoku Trail
Journey north into lesser-known Tohoku to discover the highlights this area has to offer. From samurai towns to temple lodgings on sacred mountains, to soaking in hot springs and tucking into local cuisine at izakaya restaurants, this itinerary makes a perfect add-on to any of our Japan trips.
Tour Gallery
Other Transport experiences
View more >
Taxis
Like hailing a yellow cab in NYC or hanging on for dear life in the back of a Thai tuk tuk, taking a taxi in Japan is a memorable travel experience.
Hozugawa boat ride
Take a trip down the Hozu River in Kyoto's stunning Arashiyama district.
Kyushu Seven Stars
Move over Orient Express - this luxury sleepr train combines beautiful, wood-clad carriages, luxurious cabins and French-Japanese fusion cuisine.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Enjoy stunning vistas while traversing the Japanese Alps via a series of trains, cable cars, trolley buses, ropeways, tunnels and hiking routes.
Arashiyama rickshaw
There is no better way to see Kyoto's Arashiyama district than from the seat of a jinrikusha rickshaw.
Inside Japan UK office
Inside Japan US office
Inside Japan Australia office
Inside Japan - Japan office
