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Race Past Rice Paddies when you Ride a Bullet Train across Japan
Not yet published by Lydia Schrandt
Country: Japan 
The Experience
With trains zipping across the countryside at speeds up to 300 kph, Japan has one of the best bullet train systems anywhere in the world. Unlike the metro systems of many large cities, the Japanese bullet trains are meant to cover long distances between cities in a short amount of time. This means you can base your trip in Osaka or Kyoto and make day trips to the surrounding cities, such as Kobe and Hiroshima.
As with most things in Japan, the experience of riding the bullet train can be summed up in two words: comfortable and efficient. Trains are punctual to the second, and because most of the lines are privately owned, corporations compete to have the most comfortable and well-maintained trains.
Our train breezes into the station at 10:00am on the dot. The sleek white exterior is immaculate. Within five minutes, everyone has boarded and the train is whisking us away. The polite and always bilingual staff seem to know exactly who has gotten on and off as they work their way down the aisle collected tickets. The whole system operates like a perfectly choreographed dance or a well-lubricated machine. It takes all the stress and frustration out of travel.
In the 45 minutes it takes to speed past the rice paddies of the Japanese countryside between Osaka and Kyoto, you'll feel as if you're gliding above the ground. The ride is smooth enough to take a quick snooze or read a book, but the scenery is usually worth watching. Talking on cell phones is prohibited on the trains, so you'll be assured a peaceful ride.
As with most things in Japan, the experience of riding the bullet train can be summed up in two words: comfortable and efficient. Trains are punctual to the second, and because most of the lines are privately owned, corporations compete to have the most comfortable and well-maintained trains.
Our train breezes into the station at 10:00am on the dot. The sleek white exterior is immaculate. Within five minutes, everyone has boarded and the train is whisking us away. The polite and always bilingual staff seem to know exactly who has gotten on and off as they work their way down the aisle collected tickets. The whole system operates like a perfectly choreographed dance or a well-lubricated machine. It takes all the stress and frustration out of travel.
In the 45 minutes it takes to speed past the rice paddies of the Japanese countryside between Osaka and Kyoto, you'll feel as if you're gliding above the ground. The ride is smooth enough to take a quick snooze or read a book, but the scenery is usually worth watching. Talking on cell phones is prohibited on the trains, so you'll be assured a peaceful ride.
When to Go
Thanks to the bullet trains, Japan is comfortable and accessible throughout the year. The best time to ride the bullet train if you want the best scenic views of the countryside is either in the spring when the cherry blossoms are blooming or the fall when leaves turn colors. Winter can get rather cold, and the trains will be crowded during the lunar new year celebrations. Summer is also a busy travel season in Japan, and rainy, hot, and humid weather can make travel uncomfortable.
Odds n' Ends
Riding Japan's bullet trains is expensive. If you plan on spending more than a week in the country or plan to do some traveling between cities, the cheapest option is purchasing a Japan Rail Pass, or JR Pass, before you get to Japan. The pass is only available to foreign visitors with a "Temporary Visitor" entry stamp or Japanese nationals living abroad, and the cost of an ordinary class ticket is 28,300 yen for one week.
Save yourself extra money and hassle by booking a hotel within walking distance of a JR line station.
Save yourself extra money and hassle by booking a hotel within walking distance of a JR line station.
Want a Guide?
- JRPass
- JRPass is a ticket agency that can help you book your Japan Rail Pass before you get to Japan.
Places to Eat
- Shinsaibashi Shopping Center
- Shinsaibashi is home to some of Osaka's best restaurants, including the famous drumming Kuidaore Clown.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Weekly Mansion Otemae
- Why book 2 or 3 compact hotel rooms when you can rent an expansive - and less expensive - 2 or 3 bedroom apartment instead at Weekly Mansion Osaka at Otemae?
More Experiences Nearby
- Get Locked into History at the Elmina Slave Castle
- As the door slammed shut, a wave of claustrophobia enveloped the thirty-two people crammed into a dingy cell at the Elmina Castle on the Ghanaian Gold Coast. The cells here are no bigger than an average closet, and the only light which can be seen from the inside is a small square of light at the door. Everything inside the cell was black and quiet except for the breathing of those people around me. A few moments later, the door swung open and my lungs breathed in fresh air with relief. The staggering moment came when our tour guide informed ...364 miles away.
- Catch a Bird's Eye View of the Rainforest in Kakum National Park
- My heart pounds as I look over the landscape. Taking the first step is key to one of the greatest experiences I'll have in Ghana, if I can just get over the height. One deep breathe in and I'm going for it. Stepping onto the first bridge feels like freedom in the sky. It's a shaky freedom for me but freedom nonetheless. Exploring Kakum National Park in central Ghana provides an exhilarating close look at African nature. At 40 meters high in some areas, taking a canopy tour over the Kakum rainforest feels like a walk in the clouds. North ...386 miles away.
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Japanese 
is one of the languages spoken in Japan. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
Discussion
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