Which is Better? Plane or Bullet Train?

Japan is well known for its vast public transportation network, and among the most loved forms of transit is its shinkansen, or bullet train. The bullet train is known for its record-high speeds and comfortable riding experience (I particularly like the scenic views on your way to your destination). But, it also has its drawbacks, like the price tag. One round trip on the shinkansen is easily double a round-trip domestic flight in Japan. 

While a domestic flight is definitely cheaper and faster, you’ll miss out on things like comfort and scenery. Flying is around five times faster than riding the shinkansen, but you’ll have to deal with annoyances like checking your bags and airport security. 

However, the mode of transportation you choose will also depend on how far your destination is. If you’re going all the way from Aomori in northern Japan to Fukuoka in southern Japan, you’ll have a much longer shinkansen ride than going from Tokyo to Osaka, and you’ll probably have to change trains at least once. So, unless you have your heart set on seeing almost all of Japan’s scenery, and are okay with at least an 8-hour bullet train ride, you’ll probably want to fly if you’re going to be travelling far.

However, if your trip will only take a few hours on the shinkansen, then I think it’s totally worth taking, just to experience it once. You can sit back and feel the smooth train ride along with no bumps, and enjoy a delicious ekiben, which is a bento box made for shinkansen travel. Riding the bullet train really is a luxurious experience.

That being said, it does come with a price tag, and the process for buying a shinkansen ticket is more complicated than getting a regular train ticket. So, I don’t recommend it for every trip you’re going to take in Japan, but just for the ones where you want to sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

I hope I gave you some good information about the differences between the Japanese bullet train and good old air travel, so that you can choose for yourself which one you want to try during your time here. Until next time, I hope you have a wonderful trip to Japan!