Transportation in Japan Part III
In the previous entry titled "Transportation", I have written that many people in Japan use trains as
main transportation. Some people use to go to school,some people use to
go to work,some people use for general transportation to get to
destination.
Japanese bullet train "Shinkansen"..
For business trips,vacation, job hunting/interviews etc., many people use unique fast train called "Shinkansen". It is very slender body, and it runs 300km/h (186 mi/h). Very very fast.
From Aichi prefecture (right in the middle of main island of Japan) to Tokyo, it takes just 2.5 hours. If you take plane from Aichi prefecture to Tokyo,it will be about 1 hour flight. Some people use this as cheaper alternative to flight. You can read more on shinkansen here.
Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to north runs up to 270km/h, but from Tokyo to west,it runs up to 300km/h. The best station where you see passing Shinkansen with 300km/h max speed is at Himeji station. I am sure you would go "Wow.." as the train passes the station.
Himeji is famous for castle called "Himeji castle". It is very big area and you would walk a lot there. Scenery is beautiful too.
Himeji castle..
I came across youtube video of Shinkansen. You can watch how fast the shinkansen passes by.
Inside the shinkansen, you will find vending machine,bathroom, telephone, and just like flight attendant for airplane, Shinkansen has their own snack/refreshment/lunch box service lady on board. Now and then, Shinkansen conductor would walk passes by asking to have a look at your tickets.
Some shinkansen cars are non smoking, and some are smoking permitted.
When Shinkansen comes near to the station they are to stop at, they will make an announcement both in Japanese and English. Also, you can see the written announcement at the front top area.
Good thing about Shinkansen is that they runs on schedule on time most of the time unless severe weather interrupt their schedule. Also, these trains run very smoothly and quiet.
Seats in Shinkansen is spacious and very comfortable and, I like using them for trips. Seats are just like seats in the Airplane, it can be reclined.
You may find it unique to know that the all seats in Shinkansen can turn 180 degree,and they will rotate 180 degree depending on direction the cars are to move to.
Shinkansen (Bullet train)..
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Where to buy a ticket for Shinkansen..
Some Shinkansen offer only reserved seat (Shitei-seki in Japanese), but some also offer non reserved seat (jiyuu-seki) as well.
You can purchase tickets for Shinkansen at ticket office called "mi-do-ri no ma-do-gu-chi" at major JR stations (Japan Railway stations) or travel agencies in person.
Also, you can find vending machine for Shinkansen tickets at JR stations.
You can also book the Shinkansen reservation online by visiting Japanese Railway website here.
You can book the reservation from 1 month before the trip for Shinkansen tickets.
If you purchase reserved seats, look for the car with green colored logo on it. The car is called "Gurin-sha" (Green car). Reserved and non reserved seats are separated by cars.
Passengers for Shinkansen receives 2 pieces of tickets.One ticket is base fee ticket (Jyo-sha ken in Japanese), and limited express fee ticket (Tokkyu ken in Japanese).
Generally, reservation is recommended if you travel during busy time such as ..
** Golden week (end of April through May 5th); you can read more on Golden week and Children's Day in Japan in the previous entry titled "Golden week,Children's Day" here.
** Obon (mid August); you can read more on "Obon" in the previous entry titled "summer events in Japan;Tanabata festival,summer festival,and bon festival" here.
** Sho-gatsu (New Year); you can read more on New Year in Japan in the previous entry titled "A Happy New Year Part I" here and "New Years in Japan Part II" here.
At the JR station, you can often find kiosk that sells lunch boxes, magazines, newspapers, drinks,sweets/food that the area is known for.
For example, you may find buckwheat noodle made with green tea powder in kyoto prefecture area, you may find Unagi pie (snack) in Shizuoka prefecture area...
You maybe have seen the word "Unagi" when you go to Japanese restaurant, and might be familiar with the word but Unagi is freshwater eel in Japanese, and Shizuoka prefecture area is famous for it.
Unagi pie is long oval shaped sweet,light,buttery biscuits made with powdered eel. It is very tasty believe it or not. When I say it is made with eel, you may imagine it might be fishy taste,but it really not fishy taste at all.
You can see the picture of Unagi pie at the blog written by Tanya who lives in Japan for more than 30 years here.
I like Unagi (eel), but it is not easy to find Japanese restaurants in the states that offer eel dish. Often times,I find it easy to find Anago (saltwater eel) as sushi topping.
Eel supposedly give you stamina during hot summer days and there is a day called "Do- yo-u no u-shi no hi" (midsummer day of the Ox)" in Japan. It is usually falls on mid summer day in July or August and we enjoy eel dishes.
Do-yo-u means "end of the season" in Japanese. U-shi no hi means "day of the Ox".
Japanese bullet train "Shinkansen"..
For business trips,vacation, job hunting/interviews etc., many people use unique fast train called "Shinkansen". It is very slender body, and it runs 300km/h (186 mi/h). Very very fast.
From Aichi prefecture (right in the middle of main island of Japan) to Tokyo, it takes just 2.5 hours. If you take plane from Aichi prefecture to Tokyo,it will be about 1 hour flight. Some people use this as cheaper alternative to flight. You can read more on shinkansen here.
Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to north runs up to 270km/h, but from Tokyo to west,it runs up to 300km/h. The best station where you see passing Shinkansen with 300km/h max speed is at Himeji station. I am sure you would go "Wow.." as the train passes the station.
Himeji is famous for castle called "Himeji castle". It is very big area and you would walk a lot there. Scenery is beautiful too.
Himeji castle..
I came across youtube video of Shinkansen. You can watch how fast the shinkansen passes by.
Inside the shinkansen, you will find vending machine,bathroom, telephone, and just like flight attendant for airplane, Shinkansen has their own snack/refreshment/lunch box service lady on board. Now and then, Shinkansen conductor would walk passes by asking to have a look at your tickets.
Some shinkansen cars are non smoking, and some are smoking permitted.
When Shinkansen comes near to the station they are to stop at, they will make an announcement both in Japanese and English. Also, you can see the written announcement at the front top area.
Good thing about Shinkansen is that they runs on schedule on time most of the time unless severe weather interrupt their schedule. Also, these trains run very smoothly and quiet.
Seats in Shinkansen is spacious and very comfortable and, I like using them for trips. Seats are just like seats in the Airplane, it can be reclined.
You may find it unique to know that the all seats in Shinkansen can turn 180 degree,and they will rotate 180 degree depending on direction the cars are to move to.
Shinkansen (Bullet train)..
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Where to buy a ticket for Shinkansen..
Some Shinkansen offer only reserved seat (Shitei-seki in Japanese), but some also offer non reserved seat (jiyuu-seki) as well.
You can purchase tickets for Shinkansen at ticket office called "mi-do-ri no ma-do-gu-chi" at major JR stations (Japan Railway stations) or travel agencies in person.
Also, you can find vending machine for Shinkansen tickets at JR stations.
You can also book the Shinkansen reservation online by visiting Japanese Railway website here.
You can book the reservation from 1 month before the trip for Shinkansen tickets.
If you purchase reserved seats, look for the car with green colored logo on it. The car is called "Gurin-sha" (Green car). Reserved and non reserved seats are separated by cars.
Passengers for Shinkansen receives 2 pieces of tickets.One ticket is base fee ticket (Jyo-sha ken in Japanese), and limited express fee ticket (Tokkyu ken in Japanese).
Generally, reservation is recommended if you travel during busy time such as ..
** Golden week (end of April through May 5th); you can read more on Golden week and Children's Day in Japan in the previous entry titled "Golden week,Children's Day" here.
** Obon (mid August); you can read more on "Obon" in the previous entry titled "summer events in Japan;Tanabata festival,summer festival,and bon festival" here.
** Sho-gatsu (New Year); you can read more on New Year in Japan in the previous entry titled "A Happy New Year Part I" here and "New Years in Japan Part II" here.
At the JR station, you can often find kiosk that sells lunch boxes, magazines, newspapers, drinks,sweets/food that the area is known for.
For example, you may find buckwheat noodle made with green tea powder in kyoto prefecture area, you may find Unagi pie (snack) in Shizuoka prefecture area...
You maybe have seen the word "Unagi" when you go to Japanese restaurant, and might be familiar with the word but Unagi is freshwater eel in Japanese, and Shizuoka prefecture area is famous for it.
Unagi pie is long oval shaped sweet,light,buttery biscuits made with powdered eel. It is very tasty believe it or not. When I say it is made with eel, you may imagine it might be fishy taste,but it really not fishy taste at all.
You can see the picture of Unagi pie at the blog written by Tanya who lives in Japan for more than 30 years here.
I like Unagi (eel), but it is not easy to find Japanese restaurants in the states that offer eel dish. Often times,I find it easy to find Anago (saltwater eel) as sushi topping.
Eel supposedly give you stamina during hot summer days and there is a day called "Do- yo-u no u-shi no hi" (midsummer day of the Ox)" in Japan. It is usually falls on mid summer day in July or August and we enjoy eel dishes.
Do-yo-u means "end of the season" in Japanese. U-shi no hi means "day of the Ox".
Comments