Shinkansen | Summary, Bullet Train, & Facts

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<div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinkansen">Shinkansen</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinkansen/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Shinkansen">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinkansen/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/129096-050-99F5852B/Shinkansen-Japan-bridge-Fuji-River-Shizuoka-prefecture.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/125848" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/129096-004-555764A5/Shinkansen-Japan-bridge-Fuji-River-Shizuoka-prefecture.jpg" alt="Japanese bullet train" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/239621-050-67CC64A9/Shinkansen-Tokyo-c1967.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/275363" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/239621-004-65149EEE/Shinkansen-Tokyo-c1967.jpg" alt="Shinkansen" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/129097-050-2A010CD6/Shinkansen-Yonezawa-Honshu-Japan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/125872" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/129097-004-2DB53EFF/Shinkansen-Yonezawa-Honshu-Japan.jpg" alt="bullet train near Yonezawa" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/129095-050-CBEEB5E8/train-Shinkansen-Kobe-New-Tokaido-Line-Honshu.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/125903" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/129095-004-FDD0987D/train-Shinkansen-Kobe-New-Tokaido-Line-Honshu.jpg" alt="Shinkansen" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/146597-050-1B1246E4/train-Shinkansen-New-Tokaido-Line-Japan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/151257" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/146597-004-347F2F76/train-Shinkansen-New-Tokaido-Line-Japan.jpg" alt="New Tōkaidō Line" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal 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position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/540806/125848"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/129096-050-99F5852B/Shinkansen-Japan-bridge-Fuji-River-Shizuoka-prefecture.jpg?w=300"> <img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/129096-050-99F5852B/Shinkansen-Japan-bridge-Fuji-River-Shizuoka-prefecture.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop" alt="Japanese bullet train" loading="eager" /> </picture> <button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"> <em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </button> </a> </div> <figcaption class="card-body"> <div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"> <span> <a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/129096-050-99F5852B/Shinkansen-Japan-bridge-Fuji-River-Shizuoka-prefecture.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/125848">Japanese bullet train</a> <span><span>Japan's Shinkansen (bullet train) passing on a bridge, with Mount Fuji in the background.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Shinkansen</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">railway, Japan</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-block 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://doyouknowjapan.com/shinkansen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Encyclopedia of Japan - Shinkansen</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.academia.edu/30514745/Japanese_Bullet_Train_Shinkansen_docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Academia - Japanese Bullet Train-Shinkansen.docx</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/shinkansen-bullet-trains-japan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">CNN - How Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains changed the world of rail travel</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi/2014/autumn2014/the_shinkansen_japans_high-speed_rail.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Japan GOV - The Shinkansen, Japan’s High-Speed Rail, is Full of Miracles</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: New Trunk Line, bullet train</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/Kenneth-Pletcher/6746" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Kenneth Pletcher</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Ken Pletcher was Senior Editor, Geography and History for Encyclopædia Britannica. He holds an M.A. in Japanese studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As part of his master's program,...</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Kenneth Pletcher</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-12T00:00:00CST" >Feb 12, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinkansen/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Japanese: </dt> <dd>“New Trunk Line”</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Byname: </dt> <dd>bullet train</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Shinkansen"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/heavy-snow-in-japan-affects-shinkansen-services-causing-suspensions-and-delays" rel="nofollow">Heavy snow in Japan affects Shinkansen services, causing suspensions and delays</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 8, 2025, 2:05 AM ET (Straits Times) </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref291681"></span>Shinkansen</strong>, pioneer <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/high-speed-rail" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">high-speed passenger rail</a> system of <span id="ref291682"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a>, with lines on the islands of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Honshu" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Honshu</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kyushu-island-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kyushu</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hokkaido" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hokkaido</a>. It was originally built and operated by the government-owned Japanese National Railways and has been part of the private <span id="ref894114"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Japan-Railways-Group" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan Railways Group</a> since 1987.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="275363" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/239621-050-67CC64A9/Shinkansen-Tokyo-c1967.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/540806/275363"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/239621-050-67CC64A9/Shinkansen-Tokyo-c1967.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/239621-050-67CC64A9/Shinkansen-Tokyo-c1967.jpg?w=300" alt="Shinkansen" data-width="1600" data-height="1131" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/239621-050-67CC64A9/Shinkansen-Tokyo-c1967.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/275363">Shinkansen</a><span>Shinkansen train crossing a bridge in Tokyo, c. 1967. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The first section of the original line, a 320-mile (515-km) stretch between <span id="ref894112"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tokyo</a> and <span id="ref894115"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Osaka-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ōsaka</a>, was opened in 1964. Known as the <span id="ref291683"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Tokaido-Line" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Tōkaidō Line</a>, it generally follows and is named for the historic and celebrated <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tokaido" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tōkaidō</a> (“Eastern Sea Road”) highway that was used especially during the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokugawa-period" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Edo (Tokugawa) period</a> (1603–1867). Inauguration of the line, just before the start of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-1964-Olympic-Games" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games</a>, was greeted by widespread international acclaim, and the Shinkansen was quickly dubbed the “bullet train” for the great speed the trains obtained and for the aerodynamic bullet shape of their noses. Many <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="innovations" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innovations" data-type="MW">innovations</a>, such as the use of prestressed <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/concrete-building-material" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">concrete</a> ties and mile-long welded sections of track, were introduced in the line’s construction. A 100-mile (160-km) extension of that line westward from Ōsaka to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Okayama-prefecture-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Okayama</a> was completed in 1972, and its final segment, a 244-mile (393-km) stretch between Okayama and the Hakata station in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Fukuoka-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Fukuoka</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Kyushu" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">northern Kyushu</a>, opened in 1975.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="125872" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/129097-050-2A010CD6/Shinkansen-Yonezawa-Honshu-Japan.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/540806/125872"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/129097-050-2A010CD6/Shinkansen-Yonezawa-Honshu-Japan.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/129097-050-2A010CD6/Shinkansen-Yonezawa-Honshu-Japan.jpg?w=300" alt="bullet train near Yonezawa" data-width="800" data-height="461" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/129097-050-2A010CD6/Shinkansen-Yonezawa-Honshu-Japan.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/125872">bullet train near Yonezawa</a><span>Shinkansen (bullet train) near Yonezawa, northeastern Honshu, Japan.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph"> Other lines radiating northward from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo-metropolis" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Tokyo</a> were completed in 1982 to the cities of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Niigata-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Niigata</a> (the Jōetsu line) and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Morioka" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Morioka</a> (the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tohoku" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tōhoku</a> line), the Tōhoku line subsequently being extended northward to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hachinohe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hachinohe</a> in 2002. Work to build a link to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Aomori-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Aomori</a>, northwest of Hachinohe, began in the late 1990s. When that segment opened in 2010, the Shinkansen was essentially complete for the entire length of Honshu. However, plans had long been in place to connect all three main Japanese islands by Shinkansen with a line northward into <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hokkaido" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hokkaido</a> (via the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Seikan-Tunnel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Seikan Tunnel</a> under <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tsugaru-Strait" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tsugaru Strait</a>). Construction on the Hokkaido line began in 2005 on the segment between Aomori and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hakodate" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hakodate</a> in southern Hokkaido, the ultimate goal being to extend the line to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sapporo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sapporo</a>. The line between Aomori and Hakodate opened in 2016. Construction on the section from Hakodate to Sapporo was begun in 2012 and expected to be completed in 2031.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="125903" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/129095-050-CBEEB5E8/train-Shinkansen-Kobe-New-Tokaido-Line-Honshu.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/540806/125903"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/129095-050-CBEEB5E8/train-Shinkansen-Kobe-New-Tokaido-Line-Honshu.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/129095-050-CBEEB5E8/train-Shinkansen-Kobe-New-Tokaido-Line-Honshu.jpg?w=300" alt="Shinkansen" data-width="800" data-height="600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/129095-050-CBEEB5E8/train-Shinkansen-Kobe-New-Tokaido-Line-Honshu.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540806/125903">Shinkansen</a><span>Shinkansen train on the New Tōkaidō Line at Kōbe, west-central Honshu, Japan.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Branches from the Tōhoku line to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yamagata-prefecture-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yamagata</a> opened in 1992 (extended north to Shinjo in 1999) and to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Akita-prefecture-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Akita</a> in 1997; a branch from the Jōetsu line to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nagano-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nagano</a> also opened in 1997. Segments of a further <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="extension" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/extension" data-type="EB">extension</a> of the Nagano branch westward to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Toyama-prefecture-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Toyama</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kanazawa" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kanazawa</a> opened in 2015. In addition, a line was completed between <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yatsushiro" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yatsushiro</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kagoshima-prefecture-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kagoshima</a> in southwestern Kyushu in 2004. In the late 1990s work commenced to extend that line northward from Yatsushiro to Hakata, and the opening of the segment in 2011 completed the full north-south route of the Shinkansen on Kyushu. Work began in 2008 on a branch from the Kyushu line southwestward to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nagasaki-Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nagasaki</a>, and it opened in 2022.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Much of the system’s track runs through <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/tunnel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">tunnels</a>, including one under <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shimonoseki" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Shimonoseki</a> Strait between Honshu and Kyushu, another on the Tokyo-Niigata line that is 14 miles (23 km) long, and another near Aomori with a record length (for a double-tracked inland tunnel) of 16.5 miles (26.5 km) when the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="bore" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/bore" data-type="EB">bore</a> was finished in 2005. Several hundred trains operate daily on the Shinkansen system. The most-frequent service is between Tokyo and Ōsaka, especially during the morning and evening rush hours, when trains depart at intervals of 10 minutes or less. The fastest trains can make the trip from Tokyo to Hakata in about five hours, and the quickest from Tokyo to Aomori take about three hours.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The electric multiple-unit trains, which can seat 1,000 passengers or more, derive their power from an overhead wire system. Trains originally reached top speeds of 130 miles (210 km) per hour, but improvements in track, train cars, and other components have made possible maximum speeds of between 150 and 185 miles (240 and 300 km) per hour. In early 2013 some trains began operating at up to 200 miles (320 km) per hour. Such high speeds made it necessary to develop <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="elaborate" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/elaborate" data-type="EB">elaborate</a> safety features. Each car, for example, is equipped with brakes consisting of cast-iron discs and metallic pad linings specially designed not to distort under emergency braking. Moreover, all movements of the trains are monitored and controlled by a central computerized facility in Tokyo.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/Kenneth-Pletcher/6746">Kenneth Pletcher</a></span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":540806,"pageLength":705,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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