Japan’s bullet train is known as the “Shinkansen” (新幹線), and is a source of national pride. It is innovative, dependable, and staffed with workers who display an incredible focus on hospitality. This makes getting from point A to point B a pleasurable experience.  

The first Shinkansen arrived in 1964, and traveled between Tokyo and Osaka, cutting the normal seven-hour travel time down to only four. Since then, these bullet trains have carried over 10 billion passengers all around Japan, and boast an exceptional record in safety and efficiency. 

I recently took a trip from Tokyo to Fukuoka and noticed a number of things that make Shinkansen travel so wonderful. 

Speed 

At present, the maximum operating speed of a Shinkansen is clocked at 320 km/h, making it among the fastest trains in the world. 

I marveled at how fast we were hurtling through the Japanese countryside. I tried to take a photo of a mountain in the distance, but the amount of motion blur I saw in the final result required me to boost my shutter speed to the max. 

The trains are also incredibly efficient in terms of scheduled arrival times. JR Central reported that the average arrival time was within six seconds of the scheduled time. As someone who is used to riding UK trains, this statistic sounded too good to be true. However, I can report that my journey was smooth, flawless, and finished exactly at the expected arrival time. 

Hospitality 

One aspect of my Shinkansen journey that I found very delightful was also very subtle. In fact, most people fail to notice it. When a staff member passes through the carriage and opens up the door to enter the next one, they’ll turn around and bow politely to the seated passengers before closing the door. It was a small gesture, but one that had a big effect on me. If the staff demonstrate this level of respect toward the passengers and the train, then I felt I should, too. 

Consequently, I made sure my area was clean at all times. If I dropped one crumb on my tray, I immediately picked it up. This officious and polite atmosphere seemed to affect all passengers, as throughout my journey, no one raised their voice and passengers are expected to turn their phones to silent mode in order to avoid disturbing others. As a result, there seemed to be a library-like atmosphere throughout my carriage. So much so that when I had a coughing fit, I expected I was going to be told off. 

Seating 

The seating layout in non-reserved and reserved train cars generally consists of 3x2 rows. The seats themselves are pretty spacious compared to economy seats on airlines. 

When you purchase your Shinkansen ticket, you’ll need to pay an additional fee to get a reserved seat (approximately 300 to 1000 yen), otherwise you’ll need to enter the non-reserved cars. However, it might be worth paying for a reserved ticket during holiday seasons such as Golden Week or Obon, as the trains are often completely packed with people which could result in you having to stand for the duration of your ride. This is highly unlikely outside of Golden Week, Obon, and the New Year period, though, as the train has over 1300 seats in total.

General seating conditions are great on the bullet train. One fantastic feature is that the seats can be flipped around, so you can gather a group of friends together and chat face-to-face throughout the journey. 

To upgrade, you need to book your seat in the ”Green Car” (グリーン車). Seats are wider and can recline to almost 40 degrees. The Green Car is also fitted with an integrated radio set. There’s also a lot more space between seats, so you can lie back with ease. You also receive an oshibori (hot towel) to wipe your hands. It’s the little things that count! 

Maintenance 

Shinkansen trains are generally spotless, and this is mainly due to the famously diligent cleaners. When a train pulls into a station, a team of cleaners on the platform will bow upon its arrival and greet each passenger getting off while opening a large plastic bag for passengers to deposit their waste.
The average stop time for a Shinkansen train at the end of its route is twelve minutes, and passengers normally take around five minutes to get off, leaving the team of cleaners a dizzying seven minutes to clean the entire train. One person is in charge of a single carriage, which normally contains 100 seats. The dedication to completing the task on time is of the utmost importance, and they can be seen running as they clean. Once finished, they line up outside the train to bow to boarding passengers. It’s almost like a theater show.  

Tickets 

Standard Shinkansen tickets are quite pricey, but if you are on the lookout for a good deal then it might be worth buying a Japan Rail Pass. These are only available for foreign tourists and offer unlimited use of JR trains (which include some Shinkansen trains) for a period of up to three weeks. It’s an absolute bargain when you consider how much a single Shinkansen tickets costs. You can buy two types of passes: an ordinary pass, or a ”Green Car“ (first class) pass. 

Food 

A journey on the Shinkansen can take several hours, so people naturally get hungry. As a result, people buy ekiben (駅弁), or “train station bento”, which are designed specifically for train travel. I found many ekiben boxes available in a wide variety of shops both in and outside of Tokyo Station, and was impressed with the neat packaging and various flavors on offer. 

Whenever I take a trip on the Shinkansen, I always take my time when selecting my ekiben. I enjoy admiring the wonderfully designed packaging, which somehow makes the food taste even better. The portions of these ekiben are also ideal for a long train journey. I never feel too full or underfed whenever I finish my ekiben. 

There’s something for everyone’s taste, and it makes traveling on the Shinkansen more of an occasion. 

There was also a food cart that came regularly during my journey and it served hot drinks and snacks. This is more than enough if you also bought an ekiben before getting on the train.  

Economy 

Unsurprisingly, this high-speed train has had a positive effect on the Japanese economy. It’s given people living in remote areas the opportunity to travel to Tokyo, Osaka, and other economic hubs. It’s also boosted tourism by giving people the chance to visit places in the far-flung corners of Japan. For example, I once took a day trip traveling to Hiroshima from Nagoya, and was able to return on the same day. It was a breeze! This would’ve been impossible without the Shinkansen. 

If you’ve never experienced the delights and technical marvels of the Shinkansen, I would urge you to grab a ticket. They don’t come cheap, but they are worth it for the astonishing high-speeds and world-class customer service alone. I’d also recommend seeing for yourself how incredibly efficiently the trains arrive at their scheduled destinations. If you were to arrive at your destination even one minute late, I’d be shocked.