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It really is amazing! Like being in a wind tunnel almost. Got to go on the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo and back. Expensive but wouldn't have been a visit to
by benbristow 6y ago
It really is amazing! Like being in a wind tunnel almost. Got to go on the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo and back. Expensive but wouldn't have been a visit to Japan without it as a train fan.
- nereye 6y agoIt’s expensive if you reside in Japan. If you’re visiting you can get all-you-can eat rail travel (including Shinkansen, though only a limited choice) for relatively little money, e.g. one week for less than $300 and two weeks for less than $450), see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Rail_Pass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Rail_Pass.
- benbristow 6y agoUnfortunately it wasn’t planned so I bought it on the spot. Cost £200 or around 28k yen.
- ericd 6y agoIt’s great, but make sure to order it before you get there.
- awslattery 6y agoAnd there are calculators online to tell you if it is worth it for your itinerary.
- mlindner 6y agoThe Japan Rail Pass doesn't let you ride the fastest Shikansen variants (namely the ones that stop at the fewest stations), FYI.
- kinow 6y agoSame for me, going from Tokyo to Osaka was an amazing experience. It only saddened me when I returned (New Zealand) and realized how much better tourism would be here if we had a similar way to travel from Auckland to Wellington/ChCh/Matamata/Rotorua. I would definitely save just to travel within New Zealand (roads are narrow/hilly/curvy, buses take a long time, ferry not available everywhere, air travel expensive and limited too).
- tjpnz 6y agoJapan has initiatives like these because there's cross party consensus that they're a public good. I can't see it happening in NZ with three year election terms and the policies of the National Party (et el) heavily favouring road over rail.
- indemnity 6y agoNot to mention, you know, the cost of high speed rail in a country of 5 million.