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Shinkansen - Japanese Bullet Trains

Japan Train Travel

By Shizuko Mishima, About.com

Shinkansen Asama

Shinkansen - Bullet Train

Photo by Shizuko Mishima
Japan has some of the best train networks in the world. Especially, the quiet and fast shinkansen trains link the major cities in Japan efficiently. The average speed is about 170 miles an hour which allows us to travel from Tokyo to Osaka in less than 3 hours.

Shinkansen Lines:
Shinkansen Lines / JR-East Shinkansen Fares

  • Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen: Nozomi / Hikari / Kodama
    (Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto - Shin-Osaka - Hiroshima - Hakata)
  • Tohoku Shinkansen: Hayate / Yamabiko / Nasuno
    (Tokyo - Koriyama - Fukushima - Sendai - Morioka - Hachinohe)
  • Akita Shinkansen: Komachi
    (Tokyo - Morioka - Tazawako - Kakunodate - Akita)
  • Yamagata Shinkansen: Tsubasa
    (Tokyo - Fukushima - Yamagata - Shinjo)
  • Joetsu Shinkansen: Toki / Tanigawa
    (Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa - Gala-Yuzawa - Niigata)
  • Nagano Shinkansen: Asama
    (Tokyo - Takasaki - Nagano)
  • Kyushu Shinkansen: Tsubame
    (Shin-Yatsushiro - Kagoshima)

    The Traffic Guide by Jordan is useful for finding out how to get to one place from another. To use shinkansen trains, reserved/unreserved limited express fare tickets are necessary in addition to basic fare tickets. JR East opens the JR East Shinkansen Reservation site from March 25, 2008. It allows customers to make seat reservations for shinkansen trains operated by JR-East from overseas.

    To save your traveling expenses, the Japan Rail Pass is available. All shinkansen trains are covered by the pass except Nozomi.
    Before You Buy a Japan Rail Pass

    While you are traveling by shinkansen, eating bento (lunch box) called ekiben on the train is fun. You can buy ekiben at train stations or inside shinkansen trains. In different regions, many special ekiben are available. You will be amazed by the various ekiben sold in all over Japan. Enjoy traveling by rail in Japan.

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