Trains & Transportation

When you think of Japan, what comes to mind? You may think of the busy streets and flashing lights of Tokyo. However, travel from Tokyo along the Akita Shinkansen Line can introduce you to many other faces of Japan.

Akita City serves as the capital of the Akita Prefecture, located in the northern portion of Japan’s Tohoku Region. Its most famous attraction is the Kanto Matsuri festival held each August. This festival produces stunning visuals as attendees take to the streets, balancing long bamboo poles laden with dozens of glowing paper lanterns. Other points of interest include the Akita Museum of Art, the panoramic views of the Port Tower Selion, and the Akita Omoriyama Zoo.

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“Pikachu, I choose you!”

If those words are still ringing in your ears from your favorite childhood anime cartoon, JR East’s POKÉMON with YOU train may be the perfect day trip during your next visit to Japan.

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Imagine a day of skiing or snowboarding on fresh, white powder, followed by a relaxing soak in a natural hot spring. In Japan, Yamagata’s Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a prime location for a winter wonderland get away. But how do you get there?

The Yamagata Shinkansen is the answer. The Yamagata Line begins in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo and offers easy access to Yamagata Prefecture. Much international travel to Japan involves a trip to Tokyo, either by air or by land. Why not branch out into Yamagata during your next visit to the Neon City?

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The Joetsu Shinkansen connects Tokyo and Niigata, providing access to the ski resorts and hot springs (onsen) of the region.

The line opened in 1982 after a proposal from Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei, who wanted to connect his hometown of Niigata to the capital, Tokyo. Part of the line also follows the Tohoku Shinkansen route to Omiya.

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The haunting whistle of a vintage train is so ingrained upon our collective consciousness that even the youngest of children often recognize the sound. Before the advent of the bullet train and the modern railway system, the steam locomotive, or SL train, was the fastest way to get around.

Japan has preserved many of these trains, some dating back to the nineteenth century. You, too, can experience the nostalgic thrill of the steam locomotive. Grab your Japan Rail Pass, and have fun exploring the following SL trains.

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If you’re exploring western Japan, chances are you’ll find yourself on the Sanyo Shinkansen. This is the fastest and most convenient way to travel between major cities like Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.

Opened in 1975 as the country’s second bullet train line and an extension of the Tokaido Shinkansen, it revolutionized long-distance travel with speeds of up to 300 km/h (185 mph).

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