Shinkansen: the ultimate Japan bullet train guide
Everything you need to know about riding on Japan’s bullet trains
If you’re travelling to Japan and plan on visiting several cities, then you cannot miss out on a trip on the Shinkansen or bullet train. A trip will not only get you there quickly and in style, but the whole thing is an experience within itself. Here’s our comprehensive guide to the Japanese bullet train network, and some Shinkansen tips to make sure you don’t get lost like a true gaijin.
What does Shinkansen mean?
Shinkansen, literally ‘new main line’, is Japan’s high speed rail network linking Japan’s main cities and even crossing the waterways to link most of Japan’s main islands. Built in the 1950s and 60s to aid Japan’s recovery following the war, the then record-breaking speeds the trains reached gained them the moniker ‘bullet train’, a nickname that endures.
Now, the Shinkansen network is by far the easiest and fastest way to travel between Japan’s major cities and regions. Plus you can connect to local service from hub stations along each of the Shinkansen’s lines. However, using the Shinkansen does need a little patience and understanding with all of the Japanese quirks that often baffle tourists packed into every moment of the Shinkansen experience.
How fast are bullet trains?
Very fast. On certain stretches, Shinkansen trains can hit 320km/h / 200mph, about the same speed as a small aircraft. At ground level, this feels exceptionally fast with trees, tunnels and towns zipping past at a mind-bending pace.
In 2015, a new world speed record for a train of 603km/h was set using a new type of maglev train on a test track in central Japan. The plan is to use maglev technology on new lines that will make journey times even shorter.
Where does the Shinkansen go?
The Shinkansen network consists of several lines. The oldest and busiest is the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto - Osaka). All Shinkansen lines (except the Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen) run on tracks designed specifically for and used by Shinkansen trains. The Shinkansen network is complex and can seem complicated to visitors, but things have got a lot better with the introduction of English signs and departure boards.
An easy way to break down Japan’s rail network is to think of it in two sections. The first section goes south from Tokyo and is broken down into three further sections, the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines. The section that goes north.
Another semi-complicated factor is that the Shinkansen network is divided into different ‘companies’, all part of the wider JR group. In some countries, you’ll need a different ticket depending on who operates the train, but in Japan you’ll just need to visit the ticket machine or kiosk, or buy the right pass and you’ll automatically have the right ticket for your journey. What you will notice is that the name of the company changes depending on where you are. So on the Tokaido line, for example, you’ll be travelling on JR (Japan Railways) Central’s portion of the network.
Tokaido Shinkansen
The oldest of Japan’s bullet train lines is the busiest by far linking Japan’s largest cities. The line starts in Tokyo at Tokyo Station and ends in Osaka. It’s managed by JR Central.
Sanyo Shinkansen
The Sanyo Shinkansen connects Osaka with Hakata in the south-west of Japan. This is also a busy line with stops at Hiroshima, Okayama and Kokura. This stretch of railway has some excellent views across the bays and islands that line the south-western coast. The line is operated by JR West.
Kyushu Shinkansen
The Kyushu Shinkansen is the shortest stretch on the network and links the main island of Honshu with the island of Kyushua. The Kyushu line starts at Hakata and stops at Kumamoto before terminating at Kagoshima-Chuo. The line is operated by JR Kyushu.
Tohoku Shinkansen
This stretch of bullet train track is the longest and most complex. Beginning at Tokyo Station, the main line heads north and east to Shin-Aomori at the tip of Honshu Island. This part of the network needs extra attention, however, as it isn’t linear like the others. Multiple branches take travellers to different termini. The first branch heads north-west towards Nagano, and Niigata on a further pair of branches. Complicated if you aren’t paying attention! These sections are called the Nagano Shinkansen and the Joetsu Shinkansen.
Then, there are two further ‘mini Shinkansen’ branches; the Yamagata Shinkansen and the Akita Shinkansen. The Yamagata branch winds through the mountains terminating in Shinjo, and the Akita branch crosses from Morioka on the east coast to Akita on the west.
Shinkansen lines under development
Japan has recently invested serious capital into the network with upgrades to existing lines, as well as two major new lines currently under construction. One of these new lines will eventually link the city of Toyama on Japan’s northern coast with the Tokaido and Sanyo line. The other, the Hokkaido Shinkansen, will eventually connect the city of Sapporo with the rest of Japan using one of the world’s largest undersea tunnels. The tunnel has been completed and trains are able to continue to Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido, but the line that continues across the island’s interior and on to Sapporo is still under construction.
Another megatunnel running under the mountainous interior of Honshu will eventually carry the new Chuo Shinkansen, an ultra-high speed train line that could use maglev technology to ferry passengers between Tokyo and Osaka in around an hour. This project is currently planned, so you’ll have to make do with the already unbelievably fast original service for now.
Shinkansen train types
The Shinkansen network has several different types of bullet train that operate at different speeds and make different numbers of stops. Tickets are more expensive on the faster train types. If you plan on stopping off at smaller regional stations, then you may be limited to slower Shinkansen services (but they’re still pretty fast!).
Nozomi
The Nozomi is the fastest train on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. It only stops at the busiest stations between Tokyo and Hakata. The N700 series, the fastest Nozomi train, travels from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka in approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes at speeds of up to 270 km/h.
Mizuho
JR West and JR Kyushu's N700-7000 and N700-8000 series bullet trains operate between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo as part of the Mizuho network. These series have smaller 8 car trains and connect Osaka and Kagoshima in around 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Hikari
Hikari trains operate on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. This type of train stops more often than the Nozomi, but is still quicker than the Kodama and Sakura train types.
Kodama
Kodama means ‘echo’ in Japanese and is the slowest of all the Japanese bullet trains. Kodama trains stop at every station on the Tokaido/Sanyo lines.
Sakura
The Sakura Bullet Train is operated by JR Kyushu and travels between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo. The Sakura route is similar to the Hikari route in terms of number of stops with both trains stopping in Shin-Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura, Hakata, Kumamoto and Kagoshima among other places.
Hayabusa
The Hayabusa is the Tohoku Shinkansen's fastest train, serving the major stations between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. The Hayabusa is Japan's fastest train reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h. Some Hayabusa continue on the Hokkaido Shinkansen terminate at Hakodate.
Yamabiko
Yamabiko are the second fastest trains on the Tohoku Shinkansen, operating as far north as Morioka, though some terminate at Sendai. Between Tokyo and Fukushima, several Yamabiko trains are coupled with Tsubasa trains.
Nasuno
Stopping at all stations between Tokyo and Koriyama, The Nasuno is the slowest train category on the Tohoku Shinkansen. It primarily serves commuters from Fukushima and Tochigi Prefectures.
Hayate
Hayate trains were once plentiful but now only a few of them operate, mostly in the early morning or late evening hours. They can also be used to increase capacity during peak hours or to return carriages to depots for service and maintenance.
Mini-Shinkansen
These narrow-gauge bullet trains operate on the smaller Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen branch lines and call at every station on each route. They are naturally more compact but still come with the same excellent service and features you’ll find on standard gauge Shinkansen lines.
There are only two class types on these lines: the Tsubasa which runs on the Yamagata line, and the Komachi Shinkansen which runs on the Akita line.
Bullet train classes
Like many trains around the world, Shinkansen have two and, in some cases, three classes.
Ordinary class
Ordinary class, or standard class, is the cheapest class. The experience is still fantastic with comfortable seats and plenty of legroom, plus you’ll have access to Wi-Fi on many trains. The seats come in a 3 + 2 configuration.
Green class
Green class is the premium class on Japan’s bullet trains. These seats are much wider and there is more leg room, along with footrests and, sometimes, the option to recline or adjust the headrest. Green class tickets are more expensive, but you’ll get less crowded carriages and a much more comfortable journey.
Gran class
Gran class is a new class available on certain Shinkansen trains on the Tohoku, Hokuriku, Joetsu and Hokkaido lines. This class features even bigger seats and come with additional amenities and services like complimentary drinks, unlimited wi-fi and your own personal host who will welcome you onto the train (dependent on the line you travel on). The most insane perk in this class however is the additional carriage suspension that makes for an extremely comfortable ride.
Reserved and unreserved coaches
When you stand on the platform, you’ll see the layout of the carriages on the departure board above you. Here, you’ll see that there are reserved carriages where all the seats are reserved for travellers who have paid for or booked a seat and unreserved carriages where travellers without a seat reservation can sit.
Naturally, if you haven’t booked a seat, you won’t be able to travel in the reserved carriages. We’d recommend reserving a seat. If the train is especially busy, you could end up having to stand.
If you’re considering a Japan Rail Pass, then you’ll automatically be able to reserve seats at no extra cost - just visit the ticket desk and make your reservation before you’re due to travel.
Bullet train tickets
Buying Shinkansen tickets is either really straightforward or really complicated. If you’re buying tickets on the day, then you can turn up to the desk and buy them from a helpful advisor, or you work your way through one of the automated ticket machines. However, you’ll need to be prepared to pay a premium for same-day travel and you’ll need to budget additional time to figure out the ticket machine, queue at the desk or queue to make a seat reservation.
Buying at the desk is the best option for tourists who haven’t bought a Japan Rail Pass. You’ll be able to pay on credit card and, most times, the advisor will be able to point you in the right direction!
Bullet train ticket prices
Your fare is made of several mandatory and optional components that need some consideration:
Base fare
This is the cost of getting from A to B and varies depending on how far you travel.
Supplement for express trains
If you want to travel on a faster Nizomi or Hayabusa train that stops at fewer stations, you’ll need to pay a supplement. Getting there faster comes at additional cost!
Seat reservation fee
If you’d like to reserve a seat rather than taking your chances in the unreserved carriages, you’ll pay either 320, 520 or 720 yen in low season, regular season or high season respectively. If you buy an express train ticket, the additional fee can be included in the overall price.
Green or Gran class fee
If you want to upgrade to a larger, comfier seat, then Green class is the best choice. You’ll pay more the further you travel.
Buying bullet train tickets online
Currently, there is no single ‘official’ website available in English for buying or reserving train tickets. Even if you do manage to navigate your way through the complicated JR website, you may still need to pick up a physical ticket at the station depending on the route you’re taking which negates the benefit of buying online. We recommend avoiding buying online as you could end up having to buy twice if you get it wrong.
One type train ticket that we recommend buying online is the Japan Rail Pass. This provides unlimited train travel across the whole of Japan, plus you can make free seat reservations.
Buying bullet train tickets in the station
Buying tickets for the bullet train in any station isn’t too challenging. Most of the advisors speak English and the ticket machines can be used in a variety of languages. You will just need to make sure your ticket covers the train you want to take.
Japan Rail Pass
Without doubt, the easiest way for tourists to get unlimited Shinkansen travel during their trip is the Japan Rail Pass. This type of ticket can only be purchased outside Japan.
Japan Rail Pass users can travel on all bullet trains in Japan except for the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen, which operate on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. You can still make a free reservation for these two types of trains, but you’ll have to pay for a ticket at additional cost.
The Hikari, Kodama, and Sakura bullet trains are the fastest trains available with the Japan Rail Pass. They only make a few more stops than the express trains, so you’ll still get there in pretty good time.
How much luggage can you take on bullet trains?
Luggage is permitted on board at no additional cost to passengers. However, there is a limit of two pieces of luggage, each of which must have a maximum weight of 60kg and a total height, length, and width of 250 cm. There is a delivery service available.
Travellers with oversized bags (length, height, and depth dimensions greater than 160cm and up to a maximum of 250cm) must make a seat reservation in the train's last row, behind the locked luggage area.
Oversized luggage is not permitted in non-reserved cars. Passengers who have not reserved a seat must move their luggage to the designated area and pay a 1,000 yen surcharge.
Bullet train food and drinks
Every Shinkansen has the famous food and drinks trolley that makes its way through each carriage stocking green tea, chocolates and other snacks. Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, it all tastes amazing and you should definitely partake.
However, a much more popular option that Japanese travellers are big on are bento boxes. These fun little packed lunches are actually designed for the tables you find on the seat in front of you and are a must for even a short journey. In Tokyo Station, there are dozens of stores selling a massive variety of bento boxes, some more lavish (and expensive) than others.
Just remember to take your rubbish with you or hand it to the train cleaning staff if they’re collecting rubbish.
How frequent are bullet trains?
Shinkansens depart major stations like Tokyo, Shin-Osaka and Nagoya very regularly, sometimes minutes apart during peak times. If you are travelling to or from a smaller station then the frequency of trains is lower, and you may have to wait 30 minutes or an hour for a train.
Is there wi-fi on bullet trains in Japan?
In most cases, yes. Like the rest of Japan, Wi-Fi took a while to arrive on Shinkansen trains, but now it is pretty widespread. However, on some trains, like older Shinkansen models and some mini Shinkansen lines, Wi-Fi is still lacking.
One way to ensure you have Wi-Fi no matter on which train you travel is to pick up a Pocket Wi-Fi device which provides unlimited data and up to 5 device connections at once.
What happens if I miss my bullet train?
No biggy. Your ticket is good for the entire day, so hop on the next one but bear in mind you’ll lose your seat reservation if you made one. If travelling with a Japan Rail Pass, you don’t need to worry but again you won’t be able to sit in your reserved seat.
Shinkansen quirks
Japanese bullet trains are like no other train system on earth. The experience starts at the station which feels more like an airport if you’re in one of the bigger cities. After picking up your tickets and booking a seat (prepare to queue if you haven’t already booked), you’ll need to navigate what can feel like hundreds of platforms to get to the train you need. This is where it helps to know the name of the line you need to travel on rather than the end destination, as that’s what is shown on the screens above you.
Then there’s the whole Shinkansen etiquette. You shouldn’t run in the station even if you’re about to miss your train, and you absolutely need to pick up a bento box (packed with delicious sushi) which can be enjoyed once you’ve sat down on the train but not a moment before. Eating anything in the station or the platform is deeply frowned upon.
Then, there are the trains themselves, which again are closer to aircraft than trains. Trains, in general in Japan, are known for extreme punctuality and Shinkansen are no different, arriving and departing on the minute that is stated on the departure board. Lateness is so rare that train companies often issue letters that employees can download if they are late to work because of a train fault.
You’ll notice that all of the seats on the train face forwards, but did you know that many Shinkansen seats can be spun around 180 degrees? This creates a four-person pod, ideal for families or groups travelling together. Just pull up the handle and spin away but notice that the cleaners, who get on the train at each station, clean and get off before the train leaves, will always turn the seats to face forward - because that’s just how Japan works.
A fun thing to look out for are themed Shinkansen trains. For special occasions, many Shinkansen train seats gain a special livery. In the past, there have been Hello Kitty, Rugby World Cup and even Pokémon themed Shinkansen!
Read next: Weird and quirky things to do in Japan
Bullet train tips
Buy a Japan Rail Pass if you plan on multiple train journeys
Don’t attempt to buy online - visit the ticket office or use a machine if you’re feeling adventurous
Reserve a seat to avoid having to stand or wait for another train
Don’t take too much luggage on-board - use the delivery service if you have more than a couple of bags
Try to get a window seat on the right if you’re departing Tokyo and heading south for an amazing view of Mount Fuji (swap sides if you’re heading back to Tokyo!)
Upgrade to Green class or Gran class if you fancy travelling in style
Grab a bento box from the station for your mid-journey snack
Share with a friend
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