The Shinkansen known, colloquially in as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed rail lines in Japan. It was initially built to connect distant regions of the capital, Tokyo, in order to support the economic growth and development of the country. It is operated by five companies of the Japan Railways Group.
Shinkansen high-speed trains are the fastest way to see Japan. They reach a speed of 320 km / h (199 mph). The Japan Railways (JR) network, accessible via the Japan Rail Pass, covers virtually the entire country, with the addition of the new Hokkaido Shinkansen and the popular Tokaido Shinkansen.
Destinations
The nine Shinkansen lines go in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south, run the line Tokaido Shinkansen, which connects Tokyo with Osaka. The line Sanyo shinkansen connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the line Kyushu Shinkansen it crosses the island of Kyushu from north to south. The other six lines move north or inland from Tokyo. These are the lines Akita, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Tohoku, Yamagata Shinkansen. And the Hokkaido line leads north to the island of Hokkaido.
Tokyo – Osaka in the bullet tern
Tokyo and Osaka are connected to each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen through Shinagawa (Tokyo) and Shin (Osaka) stations.
Three types of Shinkansen can be boarded. The trains “Nozomi”They make the journey in approximately 155 minutes between the Shin-Osaka stations, from Tokyo. The trains “Hikari“They do it in about three hours and the trains”Kodama ”in about four hours.
The regular one-way fare is 13,620 yen per seat, unreserved, on any train and about 14,200 yen per seat, reserved, on the Hikari or Kodama trains, and about 14,500 yen per reserved seat on the Nozomi.
JR pass
The seven (7) day Japan Rail Pass costs approximately the same as regular round trip tickets. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on Hikari and Kodama trains, but not on Nozomi trains.
What class is on the bullet train?
Most of the Shinkansen trains in Japan offer two classes of seats, and they are generally in separate carriages: Ordinary: As the name implies, ordinary seats are the normal seats found on all Shinkansen trains, although the size and footwell of ordinary seats vary between these trains.
Common seats on Shinkansen are generally comfortable with plenty of room for your feet. They almost always come in rows of 3 + 2 seats.
Tourist class First class
Once you have calculated how much you have to pay, tap the box on the screen and follow the instructions (insert your money). You can also select how many people you are shopping for by clicking the buttons on the left side with the ‘people’ icon. The price of children’s tickets is lower, so you can adjust it too. You can also purchase each ticket separately. Green Cars: Compared to business class, on airplanes, Green Cars have larger and more comfortable seats than regular ones and with more room for the feet. Seats are arranged in rows of 2 + 2. Green Cars tend to be less crowded than regular ones.
Approximate Shinkansen Fares from Tokyo Station (One Way):
