Copyright: Aske Munck
Train buffs or not, everybody agrees: No trip to Japan is complete without a ride on the famous Shinkansen, or Bullit Train as it is also called. It might sound as a tempest in a teacup, since a lot of countries have high-speed-trains, most notably France, China, and Tawian. But take our word for it: The Shinkansen is well worth the elevated price tag.
It’s a futuristic experience combining the ubiquitous Japanese cleanliness with the persistent penchant for transportation efficiency.
We enter Tokyo Station and become one with the steady flood of people, washing in and out of the gigantic underground patchwork of tunnels underneath Tokyo Station.
Passengers from all walks of society scatter towards the ticket booths and subsequently head for the conveniently located snack sellers to stock up on supplies for their trip.
Copyright: Aske Munck
In Japan, there is no such thing as a sandwich train lunch. The Japanese, however will willingly queue to get their hands on their favourite bento box – a small pre-packed lunch box that carries a neatly arranged assortment of fish, meat, veggies, rice, and chopsticks.
We do like the locals and afterwards head for the designated Shinkansen departure gate, where the train is being prepped by a small army of uniformed cleaners.
Copyright: Aske Munck
The front of the Shinkansen 700-train most of all looks a streamlined white Beluga whale, guarded by a platform railing. We are led inside the train by the smiling personnel, who point us to our seats with their white gloved hands. The train body is wide as an airplane with pleasant deeply reclining seats - even in second class.
The airplane mood is emphasized by our fellow passengers who now all simultaneously unpack their bento-boxes that have the unmistakable appearance of single serving in-flight snack trays.
Copyright: Aske Munck
And if somebody should have been so unlucky as to have forgotten to buy a bento-box, there is – of course – the train stewardess (well, actually one per train wagon), who whisk up and down the centre aisle with a small cart.
The ride is smooth, without the usual railway ‘kachong’ sound, and it feels as if we’re flying across the landscape in an extremely low flying passenger jet.
Although it may not ride at its top speed of over 300 kilometres per hour, the Shinkansen cruises at formidable speeds, and accelerates forcefully after the infrequent and stressfully short stops, where passengers line up in order to be ready to almost jump off the train.
Two hours and 22 minutes later we arrive, well rested, in Kyoto, about 400 kilometres from Tokyo.
Go further: Momondo goes trainspotting
