The Shinkansen
the world's first high speed train
Since 1964
The Shinkansen,
also known as the High Speed Bullet Train, was the world's first high speed train service. It began operating in October 1964, just before the start of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The Tokaido Shinkansen was the first shinkansen line, connecting Tokyo and Osaka, significantly reducing travel time from 8 hours to 3 hours when it first opened and down further to 2 1/2 hrs (fastest trains) nowadays.
Growth
Since its inception in 1964,
the shinkansen network has expanded extensively. It now reaches northwards to Hakodate, Aomori, Akita and Yamagata; towards Niigata and Kanazawa; and extends all the way west and south to Fukuoka and Kagoshima. As a result of this expansion, there are currently ten shinkansen lines with a total network length of 3,100km.
Tomorrow...
A growing & constantly improving network...
And the shinkansen network is still growing. Since September 2022 194km of new line has been opened with a further 212km currently under construction. There is also another 200km of new route that is under consideration. The rail companies are also continually looking at how to improve the speed, operational efficiency and passenger comfort of trains.
The network has grown
to cover much of Japan,
and it has also become faster
and more comfortable
due to the integration of
new technologies into
train design,
infrastructure,
and control systems.
Lots to see for all interests....
Frequency and Safety as well as high speed...
The Tokaido Shinkansen is not only the first high speed train line in the world, it also has the highest frequency of trains and carries the most passengers, serving the major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. The Shinkansen also has an unenviable safety record. The blue lined white Tokaido shinkansen train has become an icon of Japan, although today it is not actually the fastest.
What is more...
the network is still growing...
In September 2022 the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen opened between Takeo Onsen and Nagasaki. This is the first 68km of a line that will eventually link up with the Kyushu Shinkansen at Shin Tosa. The extension of the Hokuriku extension between Kanazawa, Fukui and Tsuruga opened on 16th March 2024. The extension of this line as far as Kyoto and Osaka is still under consideration with a number of routes being considered. The extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo is planned to open in 2030-31.
The Maglev - Tokyo to Nagoya in 45 minutes...
JR Tokai is presently constructing the Chuo Shinkansen, a long-distance Linear Motor Maglev that will traverse the 360km Nagoya~Tokyo route in just 45 minutes. A fast way to travel when it opens (probably around 2030) but you will not see very much as it will go through tunnels under some of the most beautiful parts of Japan.
Travelling on the shinkansen a must on your Japan Rail Fan trip...
At TS Japan Rail, we believe in encouraging visitors and rail enthusiasts to explore Japan's conventional lines as well, in order to experience more of the country. However, there is no denying that the Shinkansen is incredibly convenient for traveling from A to B and traversing across the entire nation. For rail fans visiting Japan, it is a must to experience a journey on Japan's high-speed trains, and also do not limited to the Tokaido Shinkansen, to get the full experience!
Shinkansen Line
& Train Data
& Pictures
Shinkansen in West Japan
| Line | Tokaido Shinkansen | Sanyo Shinkansen | Kyushu Shinkansen | Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 JR Tokai N700S ("supreme") Tokaido Shinkansen Shin Yokohama |  The stylish JR west 500 series shinkansen |  JR Kyushu 800 series Kyushu Shinkansen Hakata |  JR Kyushu - Nishi Kyushu N700S |
|
| Date Opened | 1-Oct-1964 | 15-May-1972 | 13-Mar-2004 | 23-Sep-2023 |
| Route | Tokyo~Shin Osaka | Shin Osaka~Hakata (Fukuoka) | Hakata (Fukuoka)~Kagoshima Vhuo | Takeo Onsen~Nagasaki |
| Length | 515.4 km | 553.7km | 256.8km | 66km |
| Max Operating Speed | 285 km/h | 300km/h | 260km/h | 260km/h |
| Operator | JR Tokai | JR West | JR Kyushu | JR Kyushu |
| Train types | N700A/a/S | N700A/a/S/-7000/-8000; 500; 700 | N700-7000; N700-8000; 800 | N700S |
| Major Cities Served | Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka | Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima | Takeo Onsen, Omura, Nagasaki |
| Notes | Many trains run through to Tokaido Shinkansen~Sanyo Shinkansen | Many trains run through Sanyo Shinkansen~Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen~Kyushu Shinkansen | Many trains run through Sanyo Shinkansen~Kyushu Shinkansen | Currently gap between Takeo Onsen and Shin Tosu. Relay limited express operates between Hakata~Takeo Onsen |
Shinkansen in East Japan and Hokuriku
| Line | Tohoku Shinkansen | Joetsu Shinkansen | Hokuriku Shinkansen | Yamagata Shinkansen | Akita Shinkansen | Hokkaido Shinkansen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|
| Operator | JR East | JR East | JR East JR West | JR East | JR East | JR Hokkaido |
| Date Opened | 23-Jun-82 | 15-Nov-1982 | 1-Oct-1997 | 1-Jul-1992 | 22-Mar-1997 | 26-Nov 2016 |
| Route | Tokyo~Sendai~Morioka~Shin Aomori | Omiya~Takasaki~Niigata | Takasaki~Nagano~Kanazawa~Tsuruga | Fukushima~Yamagata~Shinjo (Ou Main Line Route) | Morioka~Akita | Shin Aomori~Shin Hakodate Hokoto |
| Length | 674.9km | 269.5km | 470.6km | 148.6km | 127.3km | 148.9km |
| Max Operating Speed | 320km/h | 275km/h | 260km/h | 130km/h | 130km/h | 260km/h |
| Train types | E2,E3,E5,E6,E8,H5 | E7 | E7 (E), W7 (W) | E3, E8 | E6 | E5 (E), H5 (H) |
| Major cities served | Tokyo, Omiya, Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka, Aomori | Tokyo, Omiya, Nagaoka, Sanjo, Niigata | Tokyo, Omiya, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Tsuruga | Fukushima, Yonezawa, Yamagata, Shinjo | Morioka, Daisen (Omagari) Akita | Aomori, Hokuto, Hakodata |
| Notes | Fastest high speed line in Japan | Trains run to / from Tokyo via Tohoku Main Line | Takasaki~Nagano opened as Nagano Shinkansen. Kanazawa to Tsuruga extension opened March 2024. Will eventually be extended to Kyoto and Osaka | So called Mini Shinkansen Line. tracks shared with Ou Main Line standard gauge trains | So called Mini Shinkansen Line. Shared with standard gauge trains on Tazawako Line. Some parts of Ou Main Line dual gauge or separated on reversible lines | Line is being extended to Sapporo (to open in 2030s) |
and look out for new shinkansen…
JR East debuted its new E8 shinkansen for the Yamagata Shinkansen route in March 2024. It is also has its experimental Alpha-X (E956 series) train which can reach top speeds of 360km/h
Additionally, JR East is experimenting
with the Alpha-X (E956 series) train, which can reach
top speeds of 360km/h.
This initiative aims to make the shinkansen more competitive
against flying when the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo
becomes operational,probably
in 2030-31.
Observing this train during testing, however, poses a challenge
as most trials are conducted
during nighttime hours.
Central & West Japan: JR Tokai,
JR West and JR Kyushu
| Train Type | Operator | Introduced | Max Operating Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500系 | JR West | 1996 | 285km/h | Originally operated on Tokaido & Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi services. Now reduced from 16 to 8 cars and used only on Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama services. To be withdrawn by 2026 |
| 700-7000系 | JR West | 1999 | 285km/h | Originally operated on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen (16 car) Now used on Sanyo Shinkansen "Railstar" services (8car) |
| N700S系 | JR Tokai / JR West | 2021 | 300km/h | Major changes, particularly under floor) from N700A. Have capability of 320km/h and can be fairly easily converted to 8 car units |
| N700A系/N700a系 | JR Tokai / JR West | 2005 | 300km/h | N700a (small A) were converted from N700 units to include new features on the (at the time) new N700A units |
| N700-7000系/N700-8000系 | JR West / JR Kyushu | 2008 | 300km/h | N700-7000系 are owned by JR West and N700-8000系 are owned by JR Kyushu; both are basically the same train for use on Sanyo Shinkansen~Kyushu Shinkansen through services (Kyushu shinkansen as many gradients requiring all cars to have motors. |
| 800系 | JR Kyushu | 2003 | 260km/h | Used only on the Kyushu Shinkansen. All cars have motors due to many gradients on the Kyushu Shinkansen |
| N700S-8000系 | JR Kyushu | 2022 | 260km/h | Modified version on JR Tokai's N700S |
East Japan; JR East, JR West,
JR Hokkaido
| Train Type | Operator | Line | Introduced | Max Operating Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E2系 | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen | 1995 | 275km/h | Used only on slower Yamabiko and Nasuno services. In the past also operated on Joetsu Shinkansen and also Nagano (now Hokuriku) Shinkansen in modified form |
| E3系 | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen~Yamagata Shinkansen | 1995 | 275km/h | Also operated on Akita Shinkansen uptown March 2013. On Yamagata Shinkansen will be replaced by E8系 |
| E5系/H5系 | JR East (E) / JR Hokkaido (H) | Tohoku Shinkansen ~ Hokkaido Shinkansen | 2009 (E) / 2016 (H) | 320km/h | |
| E6系 | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen~Akita Shinkansen | 2010 | 320km/h | |
| E7系/W7系 | JR East (E) / JR West (W) | Joetsu Shinkansen / Hokuriku Shinkansen | 2013 (E) / 2017 (W) | 260km/h | |
| E8系 | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen~Yamagata Shinkansen | 2024 | 300km/h | Will replace all Yamagata E3系. |
Former shinkansen types
| Train Type | Operator | Line | Introduced | Withdrwan | Max Speed | Notes | |
| 0系 |  Iconic Series 0 Shinkansen (JR West) | JNR / JR Tokai / JR West | Tokaido Shinkansen Sanyo Shinkansen | 1964 | 2008 | 220km/h | |
| 100系 |  Tokaido Shinkansen series 100 at Tokyo | JNR / JR Tokai / JR West | Tokaido Shinkansen Sanyo Shinkansen | 1985 | 2012 | 230km/h | 2 cars were double deckers. Some trains had restaurant car (double deck) or food / drink counter |
| 200系 |  JR East E2 and 200 series shinkansen at Tokyo | JNR / JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen Joetsu Shinkansen | 1982 | 2013 | 230km/h | some units had a double deck car |
| 300系 |  Tokaido Shinkansen 300 series at Tokyo | JR Tokai / JR West | Tohoku Shinkansen Joetsu Shinkansen | 1992 | 2012 | 285km/h | introduction led to the biggest increase in speed and the introduction of the Nozomi service |
| 400系 |  R East 400 series shinkansen Yamagata Shinkansen Yonezawa Feb 2008 | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen ~ Yamagata Shinkansen | 1992 | 2010 | 240km/h | The first "Mini Shinkansen". built to smaller loading gauge (particularly width) with 2+2 seating. |
| 700-0系 / 700-3000系 |  Tokaido Shinkansen 700 series at Tokyo | JR Tokai / JR West | Tokaido Shinkansen Sanyo Shinkansen | 1999 | 2020 | 285km/h | |
| N700系 |  Tokaido - Sanyo Shinkansen N700 series | JR Tokai / JR West | Tokaido Shinkansen Sanyo Shinkansen | 2007 | 2016 | 300km/h | Most N700 units were converted to N700a (small A) |
| E1系 (MAX) |  E1 Max (double deck) shinkansen at Tokyo (original livery) | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen Joetsu Shinkansen | 1994 | 2012 | 240km/h | Double deck trains originally designed for shorter "commuter" shinkansen services on Tohoku SHinkansen, however as commuting by shinkansen never caught on they were withdrawn from Tohoku Shinkansen services but continued to be used on slower services on the Joetsu Shinkansen. |
| E4系 (MAX) |  E4 Max (double deck) shinkansen at Tokyo (original livery) | JR East | Joetsu Shinkansen | 1997 | 2021 | 240km/h | Double deck train |
Inspection (Shinkansen) trains
| Train Type | Operator | Lines used on | Introduced | Max Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 923系 "Doctor Yellow" | JR Tokai JR West | Tokaido Shinkansen Sanyo Shinkansen | 2000 (JR Tokai) 2005 JR West | Tokaido Shinkansen 275km/h Sanyo Shinkansen 285km/h | Based on 700系. Due to be withdrawn. |
| E926系 ”East-i” | JR East (JR West on Hokuriku Shinkansen - JR West section) | All JR East shinkansen lines JR West section of Hokuriku Shinkansen | 2001 | 275km/h (130km/h on Yamagata & Akita Shinkansen | Based on E3系 |
Experimental Trains
| Train Type | Operator | Line | Introduced | Max Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E956 (Alpha-X | JR East | Tohoku Shinkansen Line | 2019 | Max speed achieved 400km/h Operational Speed 360km/h | Train has different front end nose designs on each end. |
| L0系 950番台 (Maglev) | JR Tokai | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line | 2018~2020 | Max operational speed 550km/h | Chuo Shinkansen expected to open in 2030s |
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