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Learn about the Shinkansen bullet trains, the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan. Find out the different types of trains, the nine Shinkansen lines they cover, and how to use the Japan Rail Pass to travel on them.
The Shinkansen ( Japanese: 新幹線, [ɕiŋkaꜜɰ̃seɴ] ⓘ, lit. 'new main line'), colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development.
- Types of Shinkansen. There are three types of Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, namely, Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama. The Nozomi Shinkansen stops at fewer stations compared to the other two, and is your quickest route to the Kansai region of Kyoto , Osaka , Kobe and beyond.
- Types of seats. There are three types of seats: Non-reserved seats, Reserved seats, and Green Car seats For detailed information on all available routes and fares, click on the following links — JR East , JR West , JR Central , JR Hokkaido , JR Kyushu.
- Shinkansen Rail Passes. Taking a trip on the shinkansen will almost certainly be one of the highlights of a trip to Japan. The sleek trains snake through the country's mountainous regions—or sometimes straight through the mountains—to a wide range of destinations.
- Shinkansen Tickets. If you are planning to use the shinkansen to travel throughout Japan, doing some research into how to buy shinkansen tickets (JR East , JR West , JR Central , JR Hokkaido , JR Kyushu ) will make the process smoother.
Learn about the shinkansen, Japan's bullet trains that connect major cities with speed, comfort and efficiency. Find out how to plan your trip, choose your seat, make reservations and buy tickets.
- Carey Finn
- Why take the Shinkansen? This question needs to be rephrased. Why not? The shinkansen is one of the quickest, easiest ways of traveling between major cities in Japan.
- Single tickets or Japan Rail Pass? Assuming you’re on board with shinking your way around Japan, you need to look at whether single tickets or a JR Rail Pass (either countrywide or regional) will work out most economical.
- How to buy tickets and reserve seats. If you’re outside Japan*, the easiest way to get Shinkansen tickets is to buy a Japan Rail Pass online. Then, when you arrive, you can simply take the exchange order that you’ll have received to a major train station and get your pass.
- Luggage on the go: Future fines and charges. Following the recent increase in tourist levels, JR have decided to bring in limits for ‘extra large’ luggage on certain routes.
May 16, 2024 · Japanese bullet train. Japan's Shinkansen (bullet train) passing on a bridge, with Mount Fuji in the background. Shinkansen, pioneer high-speed passenger rail system of Japan, with lines on the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Hokkaido.
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Jan 31, 2024 · Learn everything about the Shinkansen, the world's first high-speed train, including its types, cars, seat classes, and how to book tickets. Find out how to use the Japan Rail Pass, a special pass for foreign tourists that allows unlimited travel on all JR trains.
