Category Archives: Shinkansen

Mt Fuji in 2012 as seen mainly from the Shinkansen

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san
Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

Mt Fuji   富士山 ふじさん fuji-san

JR700 Even more wow!

Comfort and convenience on wheels

Inside the carriage above the doors the display shows the next stations where the train will stop. It will be in Japanese, as well as in English. The display will run in time for passengers to get themselves ready should they need to leave the train. The announcer will also explain the stop in Japanese as well as in English.

































The Nozomi Super Express to Himeji, 
where you could visit Japan’s most beautiful castle.













The Super Express to Hakata (= Fukuoka)
Train will stop at stations: Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe,
(The word Shin here means Shin-kansen station)

Maglev train

リニアモーターカー

りにあもーたーかー

This is the prototype of the Maglev Train, or Linear Motor Car that is being developed to initially run between Tokyo and Osaka. The train has no wheels, but works on the principle of magnetic levitation. It can achieve incredible speeds. However, one of the problems the designers have to overcome is the fact that between Tokyo and Osaka there are many hills, mountains and cities – Mt Fuji for one and that is a volcano. The cost is phenominal, but obviously worth it. It should be noted that China has now got a slower version of this Maglev train. Nevertheless, Japan is still the front runner for this type of super-speed transportation.

いちばん はやい the fastest



いちばん たかい  the most expensive



いちばん きれい the most beautiful



いちばん ながい  the longest


 
電車 でんしゃ
Train


未来の電車 みらい の でんしゃ
Train of the future


リニアモーターカー
Linear Motorcar

Tunnels トンネル とんねる

Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru




A little bit of clever science:



This principle also applies to Japanese trains, and as there are so many tunnels in Japan and the trains travel so fast, the trains and the tunnels need to be designed very cleverly. By the way, the most famous tunnel is not the Chunnel Tunnel. Surely the Seikan is much more amazing – but it isn’t between Britain and France. Sorry.


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru


Tunnels    トンネル とんねる  tonneru

Bullet Trains 新幹線 しんかんせん

新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん


This is your seat ticket travelling from Nagoya to Kyōto, Tokyo to Nagaoka etc. on the Shinkansen, or Bullet Train.



For tourists from outside Japan there is a much cheaper option to travel longer distances. This is easier if you buy a so-called Japan Rail Pass outside Japan first. You can exchange the voucher for a pass, which would entitle you to unlimited travel on JR for one or two or three weeks.  Remember though that the Rail Pass can only be bought OUTSIDE Japan.  Here is the link to more information on this subject.  




It is an important piece of information to know that all Shinkansen (Bullet Train) stations are quite separate from ordinary stations. The Shinkansen stations tend to be “upstairs” and you need your tickets before you can get in. In order to separate the two stations, the Shinkansen stations are talked about as “Shin Osaka”, or “Shin Yokohama”, or Shin Kōbe “; that way no one is confused.


On the platform the space where the train doors will be opening, with their numbers, has already been marked.




新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん


First class Green Seat Compartment




博多 はかた Hakata
 
is the old name for
 
福岡 ふくおか Fukuoka
 
 and it is still used by the railways

(for the western line, it is the end of the line)



The lady with the trolley will travel up and down the train for passengers who would like to buy some food or drinks and who do not wish to make use of the dearer option in the dining car. You could of course bring your own prepared food with you, as long as you do not impose on other travelling guests. 


A little commercial break

Here is an important Japanese word; Japanese HATE it, they LOATH it;
it is sooooo un-Japanese:


迷惑 めいわく imposition  meiwaku 


bother, nuisance, trouble

bubble-crushers, loud-mouthsmess-makers, whingers


To bother other people, to impose on them, to make someone else responsible for your issues, to waste other people’s time, to burden them with your problems, to not know your limitations, to play it out in public, to cause a scene, to intrude into someone else’s bubble, to bore other people, to leave your mess for someone else, to be loud and overbearing, to forget that you are a guest, to forget that life is not about you, to seek attention unnecessarily. Do these sound familiar to you? If this is your way of getting by in life, then Japan is sooo not your place to visit! 

“But what if…” – stop whingeing! Deal with it! It is your issue, not the world’s. Get help, if you need it; they’ll gladly give it to you, you can get help everywhere and anywhere and anytime, but then MOVE ON!  As a nation, the Japanese are perhaps the most helpful people in the world, but DO MOVE ON! They all have a train to catch somewhere and it is a fast train and it isn’t in your direction. Get the idea?

迷惑 めいわく imposition  meiwaku 


Now back to the Bullet Train again:



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



Don’t worry:
they also have western-style toilets on the train.


新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



“oh, dear, is that the price of petrol?”


新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



Look! There’s your “Shin” reference!


and here’s your real “Shin”! Oh, what fun!


The dearer option, but very pleasant indeed…


新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん



upstairs downstairs


Enjoy your trip!
新幹線
shinkansen
しんかんせん