What love about the Shinkansen, at least Tokyo <-> Osaka is that it leaves every 5-10 minutes so I never make reservations. I just casually go when I feel like

What love about the Shinkansen, at least Tokyo <-> Osaka is that it leaves every 5-10 minutes so I never make reservations. I just casually go when I feel like it, shop outside for a snack, then go in and get a ticket at a machine and hop on the next train. This is something I can't do with planes as well as you have to book in advance, get there early, check in, get inspected, line up to board. Filling plane seems to take 15 to 30 minutes. Filling the train takes 2-3 mins. And of course the train drops me off in the center of town, not 30 to 90 minutes outside of town like most airports. There's a couple of seasons where getting a seat or getting 2 seats together might take more planning but most of the time taking the Shinkansen feels no different than taking any local train or subway in terms of prep which makes it super easy to use. It's a little expensive, $240-$350 round trip (free seating->reserved seating->1st class) but I've still made impulse trips for various events deciding on the same day that, yea, ok, let's go! I will say China's bullet trains are amazing as well but booking/tickets are not nearly as smooth.