Japan is all about those trains, and the mack daddy of trains in Japan is the Shinkansen (also known by those of us down with the lingo as the Shin or bullet train). And bullet is right. This sucker can move. With speeds upward of 320 kph (that’s almost 200 mph) and the fact that ticketing is completely foreign, the bullet train can be intimidating for timid travelers.
Our friends over at Live Iwakuni are breaking down Shinkansen travel. From ticket costs, where to buy them, and how to read them to actually getting yourself on the Shin, Live Iwakuni is making it look easy. You’ll be zipping all over Japan before you know it.
Thanks, Live Iwakuni, for making 320 kph seem like a breeze.
The truth is that public transportation, especially in Japan where it’s more punctual and precise than the U.S. military itself, can be intimidating to the beginner. But, mastering the Shin is worth your time.
Still skeptical? Let this sink in: The Nozomi Line can get you from Tokyo to Shin Osaka in under two and a half hours. That’s the same amount of time you’d spend if you flew between these hubs (if you count check-in and security) with none of the headache. You can walk right up, step aboard without worry of delay, and enjoy your quiet ride, sipping on a something fancy from the konbini store with leg room that rivals first class on a plane.
FOLLOW Live Iwakuni
Photo Credits: Kristi Stolzenberg
