More about: 4 Best Tokyo Bullet Train Experiences
The bullet train is one of the most comfortable and fastest ways to discover every corner of Japan from Tokyo. With an extensive rail network that includes nine lines and routes covering virtually the entire country, the Shinkansen, as the high-speed train is called, is one of the great sources of pride for the Japanese.
Among the things to see and do in Tokyo, there are some tours that include trips on the Shinkansen to optimise travel comfort and save time thanks to its speed of up to 320 kilometres per hour. Below, I will tell you about the excursions you can choose from and the cities you can visit with the high-speed train.
1. Bullet train excursion to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi from Tokyo
Among the bullet train tours departing from Tokyo, the most popular are the excursions to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi Fuji is the highest peak in Japan and a natural site that has been revered and considered sacred by the Japanese since ancient times.
It is currently one of the most visited attractions in the whole of Asia, and millions of people come to Tokyo every year to visit the mountain, which offers one of the best panoramic views in Japan and some of the most interesting hiking trails.
Due to Tokyo's proximity to the mountain and the convenience of being able to reach it by Shinkansen, many tour operators offer a full-day excursion from the Japanese capital to Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi at its foot, and other nearby destinations such as Mount Komagatake and the Owakudani volcanic valley.
Both Mount Fuji and the Shinkansen are symbols of Japan, and the photograph of the bullet train passing in front of the ubiquitous volcano is one of the most representative images of the country, combining tradition with technology.
If you decide to take this bullet train tour from Tokyo, you should take the Tokaido line to Mishima Station and, once there, take the bus to Fujinomiya, very close to the summit of Mount Fuji.
On organised tours, a meeting point is usually arranged with the local guide in Shinjuku, and from there you will be taken by private bus to Tokyo Station to begin the bullet train journey.
Useful information
- Price... These tours have an approximate starting price of €118, including transfers, an expert local guide and admission to attractions.
- Duration... The tour lasts approximately twelve hours from departure from Tokyo to return.
2. Day trip to Kyoto from Tokyo by bullet train
Kyoto is one of Japan's most important cities. It was the country's capital until the 19th century and the only one that was not destroyed by bombing during World War II, so it remains unchanged.
It is notable for its Buddhist temples, gardens and imperial palaces, as well as its exquisite culinary traditions, such as kaiseki meals. From Tokyo, you can visit Kyoto by bullet train on an organised tour.
On these excursions, you can visit the city's main attractions, such as the Sanjusangen-do Buddhist temple, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shinto shrine and the Kiyomizu-dera temple, which stands out for its complex architecture on top of a hill.
If you have decided to visit Tokyo in summer, you will be able to see Mount Fuji from the Shinkansen during the journey.
On this tour, once you meet your local guide and your group at Tokyo Station, you will take the Tokaido line, which is the busiest Shinkansen line because it connects the Japanese capital with Osaka and Yokohama, the three largest urban areas in Japan, and you will arrive in Kyoto from Tokyo in two hours.
Details of interest
- Price... These excursions have an approximate starting price of £85, including transfers, an expert local guide and admission to attractions. As Kyoto is one of Japan's most renowned gastronomic destinations, these excursions usually include lunch.
- Duration... The tour lasts approximately twelve hours from departure from Tokyo to return.
3. Bullet train excursion to Yokohama from Tokyo
Yokohama is Japan's second largest city and has many attractions that make it worth visiting. Famous for its financial district and shopping centres, it is also home to lush gardens and the Minato Mirai 21 coastal urban area with museums and an amusement park crowned by a Ferris wheel.
From Tokyo, it is possible to visit on a day trip by bullet train.
The star attraction of the futuristic city of Yokohama is the observation deck of the Landmark building, the second tallest in Japan, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the bay and Chinatown, home to the country's largest Chinese community.
Opposite Minato Mirai 21, on Shinko Island, you can visit the Ramen Museum, dedicated exclusively to Japanese noodles.
Other places of interest in the Yokohama area include Enoshima Shrine with its huge red-painted cedar torii gate and the Aquarium, although these attractions are not usually included in the tour itinerary.
Once you meet your local guide and your group at Tokyo Station, you will take the Tokaido Shinkansen line to the city of Yokohama for this tour.
Details of interest
- Price... These excursions have an approximate starting price of €85, including transfers, an expert local guide and admission to attractions.
- Duration... The tour lasts approximately ten hours from departure from Tokyo to return.
4. Bullet train tour to Osaka from Tokyo
Osaka is another of Japan's major cities, and a bullet train excursion from Tokyo will allow you to discover its best attractions, such as the Imperial Castle, the Dotonbori district, Shitenno-ji Temple and the Tsutenkaku Tower observation deck.
On a day trip, you will also have enough time to visit the Kuromon Ichiba market and Universal Studios.
Osaka also has a wide range of museums, such as the National Art Museum, the Science Museum and the History Museum, which mainly commemorates the events of the Second World War.
In any case, discovering this cosmopolitan city is an opportunity not to be missed, especially if you are travelling to Tokyo in the spring and decide to take one of the excursions to Osaka, which has large parks and gardens full of cherry trees where you can take the best photographs.
On this excursion, the local guide will meet you at Tokyo Station, and from there you will take the bullet train to Shin-Osaka, which is the final station on the Tokaido line, the most important and most used Shinkansen line.
From Tokyo, you can travel the nearly 500 kilometres that separate the Japanese capital from Osaka in less than two and a half hours.
Details of interest
- Price... These excursions have an approximate initial cost of £95, including transfers, an expert local guide and admission to attractions.
- Duration... The tour lasts approximately twelve hours from departure from Tokyo to return.
How to book a bullet train excursion from Tokyo?
You can book any of the bullet train excursions from Tokyo online or once you are in the city.
There are many day trips available from the Japanese capital, and the speed of the Shinkansen makes these trips even more appealing.
Excursions to the cities of Yokohama, Osaka and Kyoto are usually available , but tours to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi tend to sell out, especially if you visit Tokyo during October and November In these cases, I recommend that you secure your reservation in advance 10 Things to Do in Tokyo in November
How long does a bullet train excursion from Tokyo take?
It depends on the destination you choose, but excursions usually last between eight and twelve hours. All of them include return travel on the Shinkansen and start early in the morning, returning to Tokyo in the evening.
The longest excursions are to Kyoto and Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi. Please note that the duration of the excursions is always approximate, as inclement weather or the cancellation of services due to climatic variables could alter the proposed itinerary. My advice is that when it comes to tours that involve visits to natural sites, such as Mount Fuji, you should check the weather forecast for the day of the visit.
What will I see on this type of excursion?
Each of the excursions offers different itineraries. On the tours to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, you will discover the magic of one of the natural sites revered and considered sacred by the Japanese since ancient times.
You can also access the Mount Komagatake viewpoint and enjoy a panoramic view of the volcanic valleys and crater lake.
In Kyoto, you will discover what was once the ancient capital of Japan and one of the only cities that remains intact, as it was not hit by bombing during the Second World War.
A city of temples and hills, you can explore magical buildings and enjoy the local food, as it has one of the most exquisite cuisines in the country.
In Yokohama , you will discover the city of the future, with its enormous skyscrapers and viewpoints, as well as its unique museums, such as the Ramen Museum. In Osaka, you will visit lush parks and gardens, a wide variety of museums and some of the city's most distinctive neighbourhoods, such as the brightly lit Dotonbori.
Tips for a bullet train excursion from Tokyo
I recommend that you take into account the date of your trip to Tokyo and check the best time of year to visit the Japanese capital
In some months, especially from August to December, the number of visitors increases and excursions, especially those to Mount Fuji, can sell out. In any case, I advise you to book in advance to secure a place on the tour.
If you are travelling to Tokyo during the winter, I also recommend that you bring warm and waterproof clothing, as snowfall is common and persistent and temperatures drop significantly.
The excursions are organised and have a planned itinerary, but they all include rest periods during which visitors have time to do whatever they want, so I recommend that you plan an itinerary to make the most of these breaks.
If, after the bullet train excursion, you are interested in visiting other cities on your own and find the Shinkansen expensive per trip, you can opt for the JR Pass, which can be very convenient if you are travelling to Tokyo for seven days or more.
How much does a bullet train trip from Tokyo cost?
It depends on the destination you choose, but there are tours starting at £75, including return transfers from Tokyo and most attraction tickets.
Except for tours to Kyoto, these tours do not usually include any meals in the price.
In any case, a tour can be much cheaper than visiting on your own using the bullet train, as each Shinkansen ticket costs approximately £25 each way.
To reduce costs, you can opt for the JR Pass, which allows you unlimited travel on high-speed trains, but you will need to use it continuously to get your money's worth .
Why is it advisable to take a bullet train excursion from Tokyo?
The Shinkansen is one of the great experiences to have during your visit to Tokyo, and from the Japanese capital you can reach virtually any city in Japan by high-speed train.
In addition, there is a wide variety of tours that include bullet train transfers , so you are sure to find one that suits your interests, whether you want to explore a futuristic city like Yokohama or have a samurai experience
On the other hand, travelling at over 300 kilometres per hour through the mountainous roads of Japan can be mind-blowing and very effective in saving time if you are looking to explore the surroundings of Tokyo. And they are also very comfortable, even if you are travelling around Tokyo with children!
What are the advantages of taking a guided bullet train tour from Tokyo vs. visiting the cities on my own?
Tokyo has the largest metropolitan area in the world and can be overwhelming. To a lesser extent, this pattern is repeated in the cities on the outskirts of the Japanese capital, at least in the most visited ones such as Yokohama, Osaka and Kyoto, so organising the tour on your own can be exhausting and overwhelming.
In addition, the experience of travelling on the bullet train from Tokyo is highly recommended but not usually cheap, as each Shinkansen ticket per section costs approximately thirty euros, so adding the cost of attractions to the transfers can be very expensive.
Just as I recommend getting to know the Japanese capital through a guided city tour, opting for an organised excursion from Tokyo will solve all these problems and allow you to relax and enjoy the trip and the visit.
On the other hand, some places such as Mount Fuji or Lake Ashi are a little difficult to access by public transport, so an organised excursion will optimise your travel time and also allow you to discover some local secrets, such as the panoramic views from Mount Komagatake and the Owakudani volcanic valley.
You should also bear in mind that, due to the long distances involved, visiting some distant cities, such as Osaka or Kyoto, by car can be tiring and time-consuming.