Japan has one of the best high-speed practice community—one of the best practice community, writ-large—on this planet, and it’s not significantly shut. However opposite to common perception, you possibly can’t experience the Shinkansen “all over the place” in Japan.
The truth is, there are some big holes within the bullet practice route community. And whereas Native and Tokkyu (Restricted Categorical) trains fill most of them, there are occasions when you need to take a bus and even hire a automobile (which isn’t practically as scary in Japan as you would possibly suppose it’s).
However that’s a subject for an additional publish. At the moment, I’m right here to reply a extra elementary query: The place does the Shinkansen go? (And, importantly, the place doesn’t the Shinkansen go?)
Locations in Japan You Can’t Attain by Shinkansen
By no means heard of the Narita Airport Shinkansen? It’s not a coincidence. Whereas such a line was as soon as in growth, you possibly can’t attain Narita (or any Japanese airport) by bullet practice. Fortunately, after all, nearly each airport in Japan is accessible by way of categorical bus and/or practice companies. However no Shinkansen—not a single one, to any airport in Japan.
Likewise, many different main locations in Japan are inaccessible by Shinkansen. These embrace the Mt. Fuji, which is accessible by way of Restricted Categorical practice from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station, and by freeway bus from Mishima Station, which is a Shinkansen hub. Likewise, the large Hokkaido metropolis of Sapporo lacks a Shinkansen Station, and can till no less than someday within the 2030s.
Breaking Down Japan’s Shinkansen Routes
Tokaido-Sanyo-Kyushu Shinkansen
That is the “principal” Shinkansen Line, which runs from Tokyo Station all the best way to Kagoshima-chuo Station, albeit circuitously. You both want to vary trains at Shin-Osaka Station (the western terminus of the Tokaido Shinkansen) or at Fukuoka‘s Hakata Station, the final station alongside the Sanyo Shinkansen route, and the furthest west you possibly can go from Tokyo with out a switch.
Hokuriku Shinkansen
Previously referred to as the Nagano Shinkansen, this bullet practice route journey first by means of the Japanese Alps (by way of, not surprisingly, Nagano Station) after which as much as the Sea of Japan, with the busiest stations being Toyama Station and Kanazawa Station, i.e. the hubs of the Hokuriku area. In March 2024, this route was prolonged into Fukui prefecture, all the best way to Tsuruga Station.
Joetsu Shinkansen
Though it does cross by means of the town of Joetsu, I generally really feel like it could be extra applicable to name this route the Niigata Shinkansen, since Niigata Station is the place most vacationers round certain for. This line additionally passes by means of the mountains of Nagano prefecture, making Niigata-ken a handy subsequent cease from there. Persevering with up the coast, in the meantime, necessitates transferring to conventional trains.
Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen
The dangerous information? You may’t (but) experience the Shinkansen to Sapporo. The excellent news? The Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen will take you nearly all the best way there. Particularly, it takes round 4 hours to achieve Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, the one Shinkansen station in Hokkaido, by way of Tohoku area hubs like Sendai, Fukushima and Morioka. From there, it’s ~3 hours on a Tokkyu (Restricted Categorical) practice.
Mini-Shinkansen (Akita and Yamagata)
The Akita Shinkansen and Yamagata Shinkansen are known as mini-Shinkansen routes for 2 causes. First, as a result of they’re department traces, from Morioka and Fukushima Stations, respectively. Secondly, as a result of they journey rather more slowly than the principle Tohoku Shinkansen. Nonetheless, they’re helpful for reaching locations together with Ginzan Onsen and the Kakunodate Samurai district.
Future Shinkansen Extensions
The Shinkansen nonetheless doesn’t go all over the place in Japan—and realistically, it by no means will. Nonetheless, it would broaden notably within the coming a long time:
- Hokkaido Shinkansen: Though the unique goal date of 2030 has been moved, it shouldn’t be longer than one other decade earlier than you possibly can journey by bullet practice to Otaru and Sapporo.
- Chuo Shinkansen: This Maglev Shinkansen (which is able to join Tokyo to Nagoya in lower than an hour—and, in some unspecified time in the future, to Osaka and Kyoto in a bit longer than that) has additionally been delayed.
- Hokuriku Shinkansen: In some unspecified time in the future, the Sea of Japan Shinkansen Line will join Tsuruga and Fukui to Kyoto and Osaka, but it surely’s trying like this can solely occur within the 2040s.
- Shikoku and San’in Shinkansen: Sadly, it’s unlikely that bullet trains will ever journey onto Shikoku island, or to northwestern Honshu cities like Tottori, Matsue or Izumo.
As as to whether the Maglev Shinkansen will finally transcend Kyoto and Osaka? Nicely, my crystal ball is somewhat fuzzy.
Different FAQ About The place the Shinkansen Goes (and Doesn’t Go)
What cities does the Shinkansen go to?
The Shinkansen travels from Tokyo to most main cities in Japan, together with common vacationer locations like Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, in addition to to locations within the Tohoku area, corresponding to Sendai, Morioka, Yamagata and Akita. It additionally technically reaches Hokkaido island (particularly, the southern metropolis of Hakodate), although it doesn’t go all the best way to Sapporo.
What’s the longest Shinkansen route?
The Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen route is the longest Shinkansen route, touring from Tokyo Station all the best way to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station on Hokkaido island, a distance of over 800 km. This route can be the place the Shinkansen hits its highest velocity of greater than 300 km/hr.
What’s the hottest Shinkansen route?
The preferred Shinkansen route, by far, is the Tokaido Shinkansen, which travels from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station, by way of Nagoya and Kyoto. That is additionally the unique Shinkansen, which first opened in 1964 to world fanfare.
The Backside Line
The place does the Shinkansen go? The quick reply is that it goes to most main vacationer locations in Japan, and all over the place alongside the “Golden Route” from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. The dangerous information is that there are some comparatively main holes within the bullet practice’s route map—it doesn’t go to any airport, nor to Mt. Fuji, nor onto the islands of Shikoku or Hokkaido (effectively, past Hakodate, the southernmost metropolis of Japan’s northernmost island). Want personalised help with the logistics of your subsequent Japan journey? Rent me to plan it!