The Bullet Train

Japan's main islands of Honshu and Kyushu are served by a network of high speed train lines that connect Tokyo with most of the country's major cities. Japan's high speed trains (bullet trains) are called shinkansen (新幹線) and are operated by Japan Railways (JR).  Running at speeds of up to 320 km/h, the shinkansen is known for punctuality (most trains depart on time to the second), comfort (relatively silent cars with spacious, always forward facing seats), safety (no fatal accidents in its history) and efficiency. Thanks to the Japan Rail Pass, the shinkansen can also be a very cost effective means of travel.  The shinkansen network consists of multiple lines, among which the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto - Osaka) is the oldest and most popular. All shinkansen lines (except the Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen) run on tracks that are exclusively built for and used by shinkansen trains. Most lines are served by multiple train categories, ranging from the fastest category that stops only at major stations to the slowest category that stops at every station along the way.

The shinkansen provides a very unique experience. Complete with facilities, the train offers a virtually short trip. Traveling across the country by car could take up to six or seven hours, but the shinkansen nearly cuts that time in half. When I was on the train, it felt like we weren't moving up to 320 km/h, but rather that times was just moving very quickly. It was as if we were just in a long, narrow room that was moving very quickly. Some seats were able to turn all the way around so a group of us could sit and play a card game with each other. I also found that the shinkansen was a great place to sleep and many utilize its wondrous stability while moving at fast speeds. A lot of tired men coming from their workplaces would be asleep or else drifting off. At each stop, as with any train in Japan, there would be an automated voice recording that would say where we were and it was always interesting to experience that bit of Japanese culture.

So, if you're looking for a comfortable way to cross the country of Japan without having to deal with a regular train's starts and stops, I would recommend the shinkansen because of its speed, facilities, and passenger accommodations.