Japan's bullet train revolutionises travel

Sixty years after the world’s first high-speed train revolutionized travel, the Shinkansen remains a symbol of Japan’s commitment to innovation and efficiency. 

Standing on platform 19 at Tokyo Station, a vibrant hub for modern rail travel, it's hard to fathom that it has been 60 years since the first Shinkansen departed from here, heading to the port city of Osaka, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

With its distinctive, slanted nose and sleek aerodynamic design, the Shinkansen was the world’s first high-speed train, quickly earning its English nickname: the bullet train.

The high-speed line connecting Tokyo and Osaka—the Tokaido Shinkansen—became known to travelers as "The Golden Route," transporting passengers between two of Japan's major cities while passing the breathtaking Mount Fuji and the historic city of Kyoto in under two and a half hours.

Among the throngs of people boarding and disembarking from Shinkansen trains, renowned for their punctuality to the minute, I met Naoyuki Ueno, a former Shinkansen driver who now holds a senior executive position at Central Japan Railway Company. He shared with me that since its inception, the Shinkansen has transported an incredible 6.8 billion passengers across Japan.

"I'm proud of the Shinkansen," he said. "As a Japanese citizen, I'm proud of that."

Since the launch of the first route in 1964, the Shinkansen network has expanded significantly, making it far easier (and faster) for travelers to explore Japan’s stunning landscapes and remote cities. Today, there are nine Shinkansen lines operating across the islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu.

In March 2024, the latest extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line opened, connecting the route to Tsuruga. The Hokuriku line has been dubbed "The New Golden Route," and it served as the foundation for my journey from Tokyo to Osaka for the BBC series The World's Greatest Train Journeys. I relied on the Shinkansen as the main mode of transportation but also connected to various local services and lines. One of the great advantages of the bullet train is how quickly it can transport you out of a city, offering the freedom to explore Japan’s lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path regions.

By Naila Huseynova