The Shinkansen, also known as the “bullet train,” is a network of fast trains that runs throughout Japan. Just before Tokyo was slated to hold the 1964 Olympics, on October 1, 1964, the first bullet train started offering passenger service.
The first line that connected Tokyo and Osaka took about 4 hours to complete the journey, as opposed to the 7 hours taken by earlier trains. This incident is frequently seen as the turning point in Japan’s post-World War II reconstruction efforts.
Currently, the 1,717.8-mile Shinkansen train system travels at a top speed of 150 to 200 miles per hour. This public transit system has a reputation for being spotless, secure, and on time.
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Why We Need Shinkansen
Japan needed a lot of rehabilitation and rebuilding work after World War II. As the economy changed and industrialized, cities saw most factory and industrial jobs growth. As a result, many people moved from rural to urban areas.
The need for real estate options expanded as these people got older and started having kids. Many families sought out residences outside of cities due to the high cost of real estate. The size of the city has increased along with the inhabitants. Commute times have significantly increased, and many who commute to work spend hours on trains.
The Shinkansen’s Impact on the Economy
Thanks to the Shinkansen bullet train, people can now get to work in two hours or less each day, even if they reside outside of the city. According to several experts, just 20% of Japan’s land area is inhabited, and most of those places are suburbs. This accessibility to transportation and travel has also enabled businesses to concentrate their efforts on more critical tasks, essentially centralizing the economy.
The Shinkansen train provides individuals access to more economical options and boosts tourism in many locations. Access to tourist sites is one of the most frequent barriers to the growth of the tourism business. Japan’s bullet trains allow visitors to travel across the nation and get to more places. The country’s previously unreachable areas benefit from the increasing tourist activity by receiving much-needed funds.
The Shinkansen’s Impact on Japanese Cities
In addition, the Shinkansen significantly affected where people resided across Japan. This greater interconnection has also impacted the form and outward look of cities. For instance, rather than in a circular motion typical of most cities worldwide, suburbanization and urban sprawl have happened along the bullet train lines. According to census data, the Tokyo Corridor, which is the area between Tokyo and Osaka, has a population of nearly 83 million. This figure roughly corresponds to 70% of Japan’s total population.
The Shinkansen bullet train has not only transformed cities and urban sprawl into linear, as opposed to circular, patterns but has also changed the appearance of Tokyo’s inner districts. There are few transfer sites because local train lines often do not link to Shinkansen trains.
The answer has been to increase the number of transfer locations steadily. Tokyo has expanded vertically rather than horizontally as a result. The administration has responded by boosting the number of underground boarding platforms as more people come into the city daily.
Deeper underground layers of the city have been used for building to accomplish this. An illustration of this is the 2027 completion date of the maglev construction project, which will link Nagoya and Tokyo. It will run at a typical depth of around 131 feet below earth when complete.
The Shinkansen’s Impact on Specific Businesses
The Shinkansen has dramatically impacted the ability of businesses and organizations to conduct business. A study of little under one million enterprises examined the interaction between companies and their suppliers.
The findings of this study suggest that the bullet train has also changed the relationship between companies and their suppliers.
Japan has about 20 kilometers between a company and its supplier. To negotiate the best deals, including lower prices and better supply, only the largest firms in a given location are typically able to invest in studying and comparing potential suppliers over a wide area.
These businesses are typically the most well-established and successful. The Shinkansen train, however, has made this advantage more available to smaller, less successful businesses as well. The bullet train system has linked far suppliers to companies, just as it has linked distant workers to jobs in big cities.
The Shinkansen’s Future
Japan is always seeking to enhance its public transportation system because of the enormous influence of the Shinkansen on its citizens, communities, and economy. The government wants to make the system speedier as one of its goals for improvement.
For instance, maglev trains on the line connecting Tokyo and Nagoya are anticipated to travel up to 375 miles per hour. This line will connect the two cities in just over an hour, with an average operating speed of 314 miles per hour.
According to the Japanese public transit agency, additional maglev trains will be added nationwide. The Chuo Shinkansen, which will link Tokyo and Osaka, is one of these lines. When finished, it should reduce travel time from two hours and 19 minutes to one hour and 47 minutes.
The Japanese government also intends to increase the distances that existing lines can travel by extending them. The Hokuriku line now only extends to Kanazawa and has one line extension plan. But after more tracks and trains are put in, the service will come to Tsuruga, and eventually, the route will reach Osaka. By 2023, the project’s initial phase should be completed. But the second phase won’t start until 2030.
Types of Shinkansen Tickets
There are three main options when it comes to Shinkansen ticket types:
1. Standard One-Way Ticket
This includes a base fare + limited express (shinkansen) surcharge. You can choose between:
- Non-reserved seat
- Reserved seat
- Green Car (first class)
Prices vary depending on the route and seat type. For example, Tokyo to Kyoto costs around:
- ¥13,080 for a reserved seat
- ¥14,500 for Green Car
2. Japan Rail Pass
A fantastic value for tourists, this pass offers unlimited travel on most JR lines, including Shinkansen (excluding Nozomi and Mizuho trains). Passes available:
- 7, 14, or 21 days
- Prices: From ¥50,000 (~$330) for 7-day ordinary pass
Ideal for travelers planning to visit multiple cities.
3. Regional Rail Passes
These include passes like:
- JR East Pass
- JR Kansai Wide Area Pass
- JR Kyushu Rail Pass
They offer unlimited Shinkansen and local JR train rides in a specific area—cheaper and more flexible for regional travelers.