- Types of Trains
- Shinkansen, Japan Bullet Train
- Seat Classes
- Japan Rail Pass
- How to Buy and Use Japan Rail Pass
Shinkansen, Japan Bullet Train
Map of Shinkansen, Japan
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Three Types of Shinkansen Cars
Ordinary Car: Seats in an ordinary car are arranged in the model of 3 + 2 in each row with large foot space, thus generally, being comfortable. The price of ordinary seats is the lowest among the three.Green Car: In green cars, larger foot space is offered as 2 + 2 seats are arranged in each row.
Gran Car: Only new trains running along Tohoku, Hokuriku and Hokkaido offer gran class seats for their passengers. The gran class seats are similar to business class seats in an airplane, coming in rows of 2 + 1 seats and leaving more foot and elbow space for passengers. Surely, they are the most expensive.
Seats Reservation
Generally speaking, Shinkansen trains offer both non-reserved seats and reserved seats.Non-reserved seats: Most bullet trains have non-reserved carriages. The seats are first aboard, first got. There are always seats left on usual days. However, these carriages are likely to be crowed in peak seasons with no seats available.
Reserved Seats: All passengers need to reserve a seat if going to take Hayabusa, Hayate and Komachi trains on the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen and Kagayaki trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. In green cars, all the seats require advanced reservation.
Read more about Seat Classes
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Facilities of Japan Shinkansen
1. Luggage racks are above the seats on two sides of the cabin. In the area behind the last row of the seats, or in the linkage area of the two cabins, there is also space for putting luggage.
Note: Passengers travelling with the oversized luggage, whose overall dimensions (length + width + height) is over 160 cm, are required to reserve a seat with the oversized luggage area onto the Takaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansens. Without the reservation, a luggage fee of JPY 1,000 will be charged. The seat with an oversized luggage area is usually in the last row.
2. Food carts with snacks, drinks, meals and Ekiben which is Japanese railway boxed meal made of local specialties are provided onboard.3. Passengers can charge their electronic gadgets in the sockets installed below the window or in the last row.
4. Both western toilets and squat toilets are equipped onboard.
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10 Shinkansen High Speed Railways
Tokaido Shinkansen
Open date: October 1st, 1964Distance: 515 kilometers (320 miles)
Top speed: 285 km/h (175 mph)
Trains in service: Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama; N700 series and N700S series
Route: Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo, Nagoya, Gifu-Hashima, Maibara, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka
Attractions passing by: Tokyo Tower, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo Disneyland, Sensoji Temple, Minato Mirai 21, Hakone Yumoto Onsen, Mount Fuji, Nagoya Castle, LEGOLAND Japan
Tohoku Shinkansen
Open date: June 23th, 1982Distance: 674.9 kilometers (419 miles)
Top speed: 320 km/h (199 mph)
Trains in service: Komachi, Hayabusa, Hayate, Yamabiko, Nasuno; E2 series, E3 series, E5 series, E6 series
Route: Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Oyama, Utsunomiya, Nasu-Shiobara, Shin-Shirakawa, Koriyama, Fukushima, Shiroishi-Zao, Sendai, Furukawa, Kurikoma-Kogen, Ichinoseki, Mizusawa-Esashi, Kitakami, Shin-Hanamaki, Morioka, Iwate-Numakunai, Ninohe, Hachinohe, Shichinohe-Towada and Shin-Aomori
Attractions passing by: Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, White Cloud Mountain, Temples and gardens in Hirakawa, Aomori and Hirosaki Park
Hokuriku Shinkansen
Open date: October 1st, 1997
Distance: 454 kilometers (282 miles)
Top speed: 260 km/h (161 mph)Trains in service: E7 series and W7 series
Route: Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Kumagaya, Honjo-Waseda, Takasaki, Annaka-Haruna, Karuizawa, Sakudaira, Ueda, Nagano, I’iyama, Joetsu-Myoko, Itoigawa, Kurobe-Unazukionsen, Toyama, Shin-Takaoka, Kanazawa, Komatsu, Kaga-Onsen, Awara-Onsen, Fukui, Echizen-Takefu, Tsuruga
Attractions passing by: Jigokudani Onsen, Zenkoji Temple, Matsumoto Castle.
Joetsu Shinkansen
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Distance: 269 kilometers (167 miles)
Top speed: 275 km/h (171 mph)
Trains in service: E7 series
Route: Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Kumagaya, Honjo-Waseda, Takasaki, Jomo-Kogen, Echigo-Yuzawa, Urasa, Nagaoka, Tsubame-Sanjo and Niigata
Attractions passing by: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine, Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama and Stone Church, Sado Island
It is extended to Gala-Yuzawa from Echigo-Yuzawa during the ski season.
Hokkaido Shinkansen
Open date: March 26th, 2016Distance: 149 kilometers (93 miles)
Top speed: 260 km/h (161 mph)
Trains in service: E5 series and H5 series
Route: Shin-Aomori, Okutsugaru-Imabetsu, Kikonai and Shin Hakodate Hokuto
Attractions passing by: Furano Ski Resort, Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Otaru Canal Cruise and Hokkaido Shrine.
The section between Shin Hakodate Hokuto to Sapporo will be open around 2030.
Sanyo Shinkansen
Open date: March 15th, 1972Distance: 554 kilometers (344 miles)
Top speed: 300 km/h (186 mph)
Trains in service: 500 series, 700 series and N700 series
Route: Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Nishi-Akashi, Himeji, Aioi, Okayama, Shin-Kurashiki, Fukuyama, Shin-Onomichi, Mihara, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata
Attractions passing by: Himeji Castle, Itsukushima Shrine, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Tottori Sand Dunes and Korakuen Garden
Kyushu Shinkansen
Open date: March 13th, 2004Distance: 257 kilometers (160 miles)
Top speed: 260 km/h (161 mph)
Trains in service: 800 series and N700 series
Route: Hakata, Shin-Tosu, Kurume, Chikugo-Funagoya, Shin-Omuta, Shin-Tamana, Kumamoto, Shin-Yatsushiro, Shin-Minamata, Izumi, Sendai and Kagoshima-Chuo
Attractions passing by: Kumamoto Castle, Mountain Hell Hot Springs, Mount Aso, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Sengan-en Garden
Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen
Open date: September 23th, 2022Distance: 66 kilometers (41 miles)
Top speed: 260 km/h (161 mph)
Trains in service: N700S series
Route: Takeo-Onsen, Ureshino-Onsen, Shin-Omura, Isahaya and Nagasaki
Attractions passing by: Takeo Onsen, Ureshino Onsen, Glover Garden, Mt. Inasa, Oura Catholic Church
Akita Shinkansen
Open date: March 22, 1997Distance: 127 kilometers (79 miles)
Top speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
Trains in service: E6 series
Route: Morioka, Shizukuishi, Tazawako, Kakunodate, Omagari and Akita
Attractions passing by: Lake Tazawa, Dakigaeri Valley, Akita Museum of Art, Senshu Park, Hotel Grantia Akita Spa Resort, Godzilla Rock
Yamagata Shinkansen
Open date: July 1, 1992Distance: 149 kilometers (93 miles)
Top speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
Trains in service: E3-1000 series/ E3-2000 series
Route: Fukushima, Yonezawa, Takahata, Akayu, Kaminoyama-Onsen, Yamagata, Tendo, Sakurambo-Higashine, Mmurayama, Oishida and Shinjo
Attractions passing by: Yamagata Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Yamadera Temple, Dokkonuma Swamp, Hommaru Ichimonjimon and Jikakudaishi no Yasumi Ishi.
Read more about Types of Trains in Japan Is It Cheaper to Fly or Take the Train in Japan