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The Tokaido Shinkansen Celebrates 60 Years of Awesome
Learn more about the bullet train’s history and how it revolutionized travel in Japan.
By Marin Akasaka
The Tokaido Shinkansen marked its 60th anniversary on October 1st. Serving as Japan’s most prominent mode of transportation during its period of rapid economic growth, the Shinkansen bullet train has carried a cumulative total of seven billion passengers over the years.
Upon its inauguration in 1964, the Shinkansen was hailed as the ‘dream super-express,’ reducing travel time between Tokyo and Osaka by 2.5 hours to just 4 hours. Alongside events such as the Tokyo Olympics that same year, it became a powerful symbol of Japan’s burgeoning economic prowess.
Reflecting back on 60 years- The birth of the Shinkansen
The Shinkansen, or “bullet train,” was inaugurated on October 1, 1964, connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. It was Japan’s first Shinkansen and the world’s first high-speed railway, achieving a maximum speed of 210 km per hour.
The idea for the Shinkansen came in response to the severe transportation capacity shortages…
