The famous bullet train is the ultimate way to explore Japan’s many delights

 

It’s hard to imagine a Brad Pitt blockbuster called, say, The 0950 Greater Anglia Service to Hertford East. But it speaks volumes to the fame, glamour and sheer cinematic sexiness of Japan’s “bullet train” that it lends its name to this week’s big cinema release. Not every rail trip in Japan is as action-packed the one Pitt takes in Bullet Train (he plays a nice-guy criminal tasked with retrieving some precious luggage from the Tokyo-Kyoto express while a dozen or so competing assassins attempt to do the same). But no journey on the 200mph rocket is ever boring, either. And it’s a fantastic way to take a holiday in one of the world’s most fascinating countries… 

 

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What do visitors need to know about the bullet train? 

 

Also called the Shinkansen, it has been whizzing round Japan for nearly 60 years, and serves all the country’s major cities. Tests have seen it reach speeds of 375mph (with a little help from magnetic levitation), but for now it runs at “just” 200mph – fast enough to get from Tokyo to Kyoto in about two hours and 40 minutes. (That’s 320 miles, the same distance as Plymouth to Leeds, which takes five hours and 35 minutes.) It’s safe (no passenger injuries due to accidents – ever), comfortable and incredibly reliable (the network officially reports its annual delay statistics in seconds). 

 

 

Is travelling by rail a good way to see Japan? 

 

 

The Land of the Rising Sun’s a big place, but the extensive, efficient railway network makes it a breeze to join up all Japan’s key tourist destinations in one seamless trip. Almost everywhere is served by a station, even on the archipelago’s smaller islands. Train travel isn’t cheap (Tokyo-Kyoto costs in the region of £80 one way, with no discount for early booking), but a Japan Rail Pass makes it more affordable: a seven-day pass costs around £195 for almost unlimited journeys (jrailpass.com). 

 

 

 

OK, where should I go? 

 

If you’ve only got a week or two at your disposal, you’ll want to take in the coruscating capital, Tokyo; beautifully contrasting Kyoto with its tranquil temples and enigmatic Gion geisha district; Hiroshima and its haunting museum and Peace Memorial Park; and Himeji for its pictureperfect castle and serene gardens. Then Nagasaki, whose rich history and exotic past as pretty much the only gateway between Japan and the outside world, make it a fascinating place. Visit those cities in that order – but with Nagasaki and Himeji on the way back to Tokyo from Nagasaki – and you won’t end up doing too much travelling in one go. 

 

 

And how do I go about it?

 

Japan’s much easier for holidaymakers to negotiate than it used to be: while English is still not that widely spoken, you’ll find locals are keen to help, and most of the tourist maps and signage (including on the rail network) are now written in English as well as Japanese. Much of the food will be unfamiliar, and the same is true of some accommodation options: you may not have a great night’s sleep on a tatami mat or in the confines of a pod hotel, but you’ll never forget them. You can plan a trip on your own (maybe after browsing the expert rail-travel advice at seat61.com), or use specialist tour operators like railbookers.co.uk or Inside Japan (insidejapantours.com). Don’t worry about assassins: in real life, everyone on the bullet train will be too busy gazing out of the window at Mount Fuji and the rest. 

 

ED GRENBY