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.

Dark shoyu broth ramen from Shinpuku Saikan @ Nagano, Japan

This ramen is the largest portion of ramen I ever seen. I didn't expect the ramen to be such huge bowl with all the ingredients. Shinpuku Saikan ramen originated in Kyoto have an outlet in Nagano. Since this is the first time I tried dark shoyu broth ramen, I was surprised by the dark color of their soup. After simmering chicken and pork bones thoroughly, their secret special rich sauce made from Kyoto-made soy sauce is added. Though the dark colour of the soup makes the soup looks very strong, the taste is surprisingly light. The ramen bowl that I have consist of straight noodles, slices of roast pork, plenty of chopped green onions, bean sprouts, two eggs (one raw and ajitama egg), bamboo shoots and the soup create a perfect match. Surprisingly this bowl contains 8 pieces of roast pork!

Taste:8/10(Good. Shinpuku Saikan ramen seems to be a healthier option of ramen as it contains balanced amount of vegetables and meat. The roasted pork or char siu is good with tender noodles. Ajitama egg were perfectly done and taste good. My only comment were the bamboo shoots are a bit crunchy. Would be better if softer).
Price:7/10(Moderate. This bowl of ramen is a good deal if you are big eater. Priced at 1,100 Yen, you get 8 pieces of roast pork, plenty of bamboo shoots and two eggs. The noodles portion is huge and you can drink the soup as well if you don't mind the saltiness of the soup).


Shinpuku Saikan ramen. Contains all the ingredient that a bowl of ramen should have.

Lovely dinner.

Ramen noodles. Slightly different type of noodles.

Ajitama egg.

The cook busy preparing ramen. You can sit at the counter or individual table. Its open kitchen concept. You can watch all the ramen preparation process if you sit at the counter.

Environment inside the restaurant.

Visit this ramen restaurant in Nagano if you looking for budget eat.

GPS/Coordinate: 36.645297, 138.187291
Address: Nagano-ken, Nagano-shi, Minaminagano, Kitaishidōchō, Japan.
Opening hours: 7.30am until 10.00pm.
Public transport: 10 minutes walk from Nagano station.
Website: Shinpuku Saikan (Japanese)

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route - Murodo - Part 3 of 3

Finally reached the main attraction of Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. The place is covered with thick snow although its already middle of the year.


Highest point in Murodo at 2450 metres above sea level.

Walking to snow wall.


Slowly approaching snow wall. Raining and cold.

Thick snow covered the area.




Wow, snow wall. At this point, the wall is probably 6 metres.

Selfie with snow wall.

Touch the snow wall.


Looking toward Tateyama hotel.

Otani point.

Snow wall from Otani point.


Nice snow covered mountain but its raining.

Many people still bracing thru the rain to visit Murodo.

GPS/Coordinate: 36.577258, 137.594797
Ticket price: 9,050 Yen from Ogizawa to Murodo.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route - Kurobe Dam to Daikanbo - Part 2 of 3

Map showing the way to view Kurobe Dam.

Climbing the stairs to see Kurobe Dam.

Beautiful view of Japanese Alps.


Kurobe Dam. At 1,500 metres above sea level, this dam is the highest arch dam in Japan. The dam is 186 metres tall with 10 cubic metres of water pass thru the dam every second. During summer, the water is discharged from the lake creating a nice view from the dam observation deck.

Not favorable weather when I visited Alpine Route. The stairs are narrow, so be careful. However, the scenery around the dam is beautiful.

Kurobe lake.

Mount Tateyama with snow cap peak on sight.

View of water flow from Kurobe Dam from top of the dam.

Walking path on top of Kurobe Dam to Kurobeko. It is a 15 minutes walk.

A few more steps before reaching Kurobeko station to continue journey via Kurobe cable car.

Kurobe cable car to Kurobedaira.

Unique cable car with stairs inside.

Reached Kurobedaira.

Mountain view of Kurobedaira.

My lens were wet due to heavy rain. Continuing journey via Tateyama Ropeway to Daikanbo.


View of Mount Tateyama covered with snow during the journey via Tateyama Ropeway.

View from Daikanbo.

Flavuored glutinous rice ball from one of the stall in Daikanbo.

Long queue to board Tateyama tunnel trolley bus to Murodo.

Boarding trolley bus to Murodo.

Bright orange trolley bus. The bus running on track with cable attached.

Finally reached Murodo. Read my next last post on Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route about Murodo.