On October 14, 1872, Japan’s first railway opened, connecting Shimbashi, Tokyo and Yokohama. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism designated the day an official holiday in in 1994. Today, Japan is home to one of the most advanced (and punctual) rail systems on Earth. It moves 10 billion passengers a year over 19,000 miles, and the average delay per year is under a minute.
In a normal year there would be celebrations held at train stations across Japan, but due to the unique circumstances of 2020 those events have been canceled. So, if you want to mark the occasion at home, watch a video about the most famous Japanese train of them all, the Shinkansen.
I’m not a railway fan at all, but lead image, with vintage Shinkansen in front of Mt. Fuji is plain awesome.
When taking the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Nagoya, seeing Mt Fuji from the train window is a truly amazing sight. It simply towers over everything!
Japan’s national rail system, much less the Shinkansen system is an amazing feat to this day. For some reason, no other country designs their trains like Japan. I think they’re the best looking by far. My favorite is the older 500 series. A little bit smaller, no longer the fastest, but still visually striking, the design was a collaboration with the German designer Alexander Neumeister,
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/JRW-500_V2_inHimeji.jpg
When all this mess subsides, I really suggest a trek to the Railway Museum on the outskirts of Tokyo. It’s a must see.
https://www.railway-museum.jp/e/
I’d also recommend the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya. Wonderful place.
https://museum.jr-central.co.jp/en/
I’ll have to put that on the list for the next trip, whenever that is…
It’s brutal right now. We’re prohibited from leaving the hotel room… for up to 72 hours.
At least you were able to enter the country!
The MAGLEV site also posts the days when they will be test running the cars. Worth a trip.
I remember when the JNR Railway Museum was in Tokyo at the East end of the Shimbashi bridge. Land values sky rocketed, so it had to be moved.
500 series is the best looking IMO.
Shinkansen 0 series. Coolest train ever.
I visited the Kyoto Railway Museum in 2016, an astonishing museum almost worthy of a trip to Japan in itself! And seeing not just men and boys but also women and girls engaged in the multitude of hands on displays reminded me how loved trains are in Japan.
Also rode on a W7 Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano and then from Nagano to Kanazawa. The perfect way to travel, wish we had them here in Australia!
Here is the photo of the W7 at Tokyo station, feel free to browse my flickr account for more Japan train photos.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/map009/47604795661/
Feel free to share your Japanese train photos too.
I love Japan’s train system!!! I’ve made it part of my goals to go on different trains just for the experience!
I started google mapping my train trips.
2016 – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/leopardess-in-japan-2016/
May 2017 – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/wlp-trains/
August 2017- https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/wlc-train-experience/
October 2017 – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/wls-train-experience/
2018 – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/wandering-leopard-saga-continues-train-experience/
2019 – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/wandering-leopard-2019-train-experience/
2020 – Need to write up.
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I felt that part of my experience in Japan is to use their public transportation (I do everywhere just for experience like Sky Train in Vancouver BC).
Some of the experiences I’ve had were just to enjoy:
Kumamoto streetcar – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/kumamoto-streetcars/
Nagasaki streetcars – https://www.f31club.com/ourtravels/nagasaki-nights/
I also took the last night train in Japan. I couldn’t buy the ticket ahead of time, but my friend Kuze-san did.
Sunrise Seto – https://www.f31club.com/2017/09/29/sunrise-express-and-meeting-kuze-and-kubo-san/
I also made one trip about getting on as many Monorails I could.
Some trains look pretty cool. When I went to Lake Suwa, I took the Super Azusa express
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpvBI9DgvRK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
RAP:IT
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx1F7HQFNtb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link