Japan bullet train (Shinkansen) experience

Japan’s high speed bullet trains, also known as Shinkansen trains give visitors an experience to reach to their destination on time with speeds reaching up to 320 kilometre per hour. The main Shinkansen lines with bullet trains include Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu. Most popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Nagano with high frequency departures and punctual. Lets follow me below to discover my experience of boarding bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano.


Check your train departure on the electronic board to determine the platform to board the bullet train.

If you are hungry, you can quickly purchase one of these bento box to have it on the train.

There is also bento box which comes in the Shinkansen train form. After the meal you can keep the lunch box as a souvenir. Brilliant!

Very busy Tokyo station. Heading to the train platform.

The bullet train is very long indeed.

Boarding Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano. The Hokuriku Shinkansen began service in 1997 as preparation for Nagano Winter Olympics.

Selfie with the train at Tokyo main station. Only here you can see many types of Japan bullet train as here is the beginning of all bullet train in Japan. The bullet trains here will go to Osaka, Nagoya and Toyama. All the trains look new and clean.

Inside the bullet train. Its a long distance travel. So its normal for the passenger to carry large luggage on board.

Spacious and comfortable seating.

You can purchase hot drink, soft drink or even alcoholic drink on the train.

Push cart in the train. Look, you can even purchase Hello Kitty toy, snacks and heavy meal such as lunch in a form of bento box.

Purchasing bento box on board the train as I haven't had my lunch yet.

Neat chopstick packaging.


Wow the meal is so nicely prepared. It's nutritious as well. With this meal, it covers my lunch needs for vegetables, meat, dessert and seafood. The rice were slightly sour with sour plum and glutinous rice wrapped with lotus leaf. Surprisingly, the price of the bento set is quite reasonable with same price as at the station. There meal were tasty and I can rate it 8/10. My only complaint is the bento box is a bit cold. Maybe the meal prepared much earlier as its already late afternoon.

Fried mackerel, tempura and spicy vegetables.

View from the train which route from Tokyo to Nagano.

Almost reaching Nagano with nice mountain view.


Reached Nagano station.

While waiting for train, you can have your hot meal on train platform.

Nagano station.

Nagano was host to 1998 Winter Olympics.