JAPAN'S PRIDE
We raced across Japan in its iconic bullet train
In the minds of international travellers, nothing symbolises Japan better than its culture of high technology. at said, Japan’s legendary bullet train — Shinkansen — has been etched in the world’s collective consciousness as one of the best symbols of Japan. Growing up, I had seen countless cliché images of the Shinkansen cutting through the Japanese countryside, at breakneck speed, with Mt. Fuji in the background. But during a recent trip to Japan, I enjoyed the Shinkansen experience between Shin-Osaka station and Tokyo Shinagawa station. e Shinkansen, as I learnt, has a vast network of di erent lines connecting the major Japanese cities. I am on the Tokaido Shinkansen, which operates between Osaka and Tokyo, and happens to be one of the most signi cant lines
in terms of passenger tra c. is line was also the rst Shinkansen line to have been built in Japan in 1964. It operates a distance of 552.6 km in about two hours at a maximum speed of 285 kmph and carries 466,000 passengers daily.
As the train approaches the station, it looks like something straight out of a futuristic movie — its unmistakable pointed nose and aerodynamic design, as well as its smooth, gliding movement.
Once inside, there is ample place to stow luggage before you can proceed to your seats. My pre-assigned seat was in the ordinary cabin, the equivalent of an economy class cabin. With ample legroom, a comfortable seat and a drop-down table, this cabin makes for a very comfortable ride. is cabin is con gured in a 2-3 format. In addition, I walked through the compartments to check out the Green car or rst class, with plush, wider seats, more legroom and a generous 2-2 con guration.
Once on board, the cabin is extremely silent, and you watch the landscape race by so e ortlessly. Most people catch up on emails, reading or watch shows on their personal devices. At most Japanese stations, you can pick up bento box meals, which you can consume on the train. ere are designated zones, outside the cabin, for washrooms and where you can use your phone, to avoid disturbing the peace and quiet of the cabin.
During the journey, I caught up on some TV shows on my iPad. In just over two hours, and a er whizzing past the magni cent Mount Fuji, my Shinkansen began to slow down and pulled into Tokyo’s Shinagawa station. From there, it was an easy hop to the Narita Express train that connects the city to the airport.