Going all the way to Japan and skipping a ride on the Shinkansen -- the nation's stellar bullet train system -- would be kind of like going to New York City and avoiding the Statue of Liberty or to St. Louis and never seeing the Gateway Arch.

In many ways, the Shinkansen, which celebrated a half century in business October 2014, is just as much a part of Japan as the oldest temples and grandest white-walled castles.

First unveiled in 1964 with the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Shinkansen is a high-speed railway network that races riders at speeds of 150-200 miles per hour up and down the archipelago. The train system's technology has since been exported to other countries, but the Shinkansen remains distinctively Japanese.

As of 2014, you can ride all the way from southern Kagoshima on Kyushu island to northern Shin-Aomori in about 11 hours and only switch Shinkansen trains a few times. Work is underway to lengthen tracks through the northern regions of Hokkaido, letting riders go up and down much of mainland Japan.

Driving great design

You've likely seen photos of the peculiar looking Shinkansen – the train's outside looks something like a spaceship combined with a train that has a robot-duck beak on the front.

But the inside is what matters. Riding on the Shinkansen feels smooth and almost like you're in the first-class section of a jet. The cars are immaculately clean, handsomely designed, spacious and comfortable.

Even the restrooms are pleasant. For the few U.S. visitors who've ridden on trains before, you should know the Shinkansen easily puts even Amtrak's pricey Acela to shame.

In fact, riding on the Shinkansen, which always arrives and leaves precisely on time, is so relaxing and enjoyable, it's really a destination itself – especially when you look out the window and watch panoramic views of Japan's farm-rich countryside and its backdrop of picturesque mountains.

 

The big 4, the big cost

There is no one Shinkansen. The system is run by several Japan Rail companies that operate trains that cross through the country and includes the Tohoku, Sanyo, Tokaido and Kyushu Shinkansen. Smaller lines include the Akita, Yamagata, and Joetsu Shinkansen.

And for all the futuristic efficiency of the trains, you will pay a price. It can easily cost a couple hundred dollars to travel on the Shinkansen (which is still competitive with Acela's rates), so you should look into getting a Japan Rail Pass before you to head to Japan. Anyone with a “temporary visitor” stamp on their passport is eligible to purchase a Japan Rail Pass, or JR Pass, which offers heavy discounts if you will be traveling by train a lot. With the JR pass, you pay a flat rate for a set number of days of rail use. Click here, for current prices, but as of 2014, an adult can get a 7-day pass for an “ordinary” train car for 37,800 yen, about $380. This includes express and limited-stop Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, as well as some JR-affiliated ferries and the Tokyo Monorail. But not all Shinkansen rides are included, so check before you go. Also, remember, passes must be purchased outside of Japan.

 

Plan your trip

For details on specific Shinkansen offerings, routes and other information, see the links below:

Tohoku Shinkansen: Tokyo to the northern area of Aomori

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/tohokushinkansen.html

 

Tokaido Shinkansen: Tokyo to the southwestern area of Osaka

http://english.jr-central.co.jp/about/index.html

 

Sanyo Shinkansen: The southwestern area of Kansai to the southern area of Kyushu

http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/sanyo-kyushu-shinkansen/the-new-shinkansen/

 

Kyushu Shinkansen: Covers the southern area of Kyushu

http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/index.html

 

Akita Shinkansen: Tokyo to the northern area of Akita

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/akitashinkansen.html

 

Yamagata Shinkansen: Tokyo to the northern area of Shinjo

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/yamagatashinkansen.html

 

Joetsu Shinkansen: Connects Pacific side of Honshu with the Sea of Japan side

https://www.jreast.co.jp/e//routemaps/joetsushinkansen.html