I took Japan’s bullet train Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo and had a mostly smooth experience.
Amanda Adler
After riding the rails around the world, I was eager to try Japan’s bullet trains.
My trip from Osaka to Tokyo was smooth and comfy, but I felt motion sickness for the first time.
I couldn’t enjoy the scenery, but the efficiency of travel made it worth the downsides.
I love traveling by train because doing so often offers me a smooth and stress-free travel experience.
So, on a recent trip to Japan, I was excited to book a journey on the country’s famous Shinkansen, a bullet train that can reach top speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. My one-way ticket was about $81.
Although I felt a bit sick during my two-and-a-half-hour trip from Osaka to Tokyo, I would jump at the chance to ride the Shinkansen again. Here’s why.
Japan’s train system is famously reliable.
Many trains in Japan have a reputation for arriving on time.
Amanda Adler
Japan’s extensive train network is renowned for its on-time performance. It’s one of the most punctual train systems worldwide, with an average delay of just a few seconds.
Punctuality was important during my trip as I had planned a very packed schedule for my 10 days in Japan.
Whereas I would be nervous about scheduling a longer Amtrak train ride here in the US — where delays can be somewhat common — I had no such concerns in booking my 500-kilometer (311-mile) Shinkansen journey.
The atmosphere on the train was very peaceful.
The train felt quiet and peaceful.
Amanda Adler
While boarding our train car, I was struck by how tranquil it felt.
There were no loud phone calls, no seat-kicking toddlers — just the sounds of hushed talking and some scraping noises as we placed our carry-ons above our seats.
It felt very different from the experiences I’ve had on American trains, which are generally much noisier.
Each train car had designated spots for storing larger luggage, although these must be reserved in advance.
We didn’t reserve space for our larger luggage because we didn’t feel like lugging it around.
Amanda Adler
To avoid the hassle of hauling our larger luggage onto the train, my family chose to just bring onboard our small carry-on bags.
We used a luggage delivery service to transport our larger suitcases from our hotel in Osaka to our destination in Tokyo. This allowed us to have an easy, hassle-free travel experience.
If we’d wanted to bring our large bags, we would’ve had to reserve our car’s oversized-luggage spot ahead of time.
I enjoyed the legroom, which far exceeds what I’ve had while flying economy.
I had more legroom on the train than I ever have when flying economy.
Amanda Adler
I was surprised by how roomy the seats were, especially because I didn’t pay to upgrade to the more luxurious first-class train car.
My tween son even opted to keep his carry-on bag at his feet (instead of in the overhead storage area) and said he didn’t feel cramped.
Many travelers (including me) brought prepackaged bento boxes on board.
I wasn’t able to finish my bento box because I began to feel motion sickness.
Amanda Adler
Stores in the train station in Osaka were selling a large selection of bento boxes that travelers could enjoy during the journey.
I chose a beef option that effectively curbed my hunger. However, as the train sped up, I began to feel some motion sickness that left me unable to finish my meal.
I was disappointed by the views and found the train’s motion to be too fast to enjoy the scenery.
I found it hard to look out the window without feeling nauseous.
Amanda Adler
Before my trip, I had read lots of tips for seeing Mount Fuji from the Shinkansen. Unfortunately, the weather was overcast the day I traveled, limiting visibility.
My attempts at looking out the window only exasperated my already growing motion sickness. The scenery whizzed by at breakneck speeds, making it hard to take in what I was seeing.
I didn’t feel like I was missing much though, as most of what I did see looked rather industrial.
The efficiency with which I arrived in Tokyo negated the downsides of traveling via bullet train.
I felt like we got to Tokyo in record time.
Amanda Adler
This was not the most scenic train ride I’ve ever enjoyed, but the speed with which I arrived in Tokyo was unmatched. Taking a bus or car from Osaka to Tokyo would’ve taken around three times longer than this train ride.
However, this trip marked the first time I experienced motion sickness. I was sensitive to the high speeds and had trouble enjoying the views — which are normally my favorite part of a train journey — as the scenery whizzed by too fast.
Even so, my trip was comfortable, smooth, and relatively affordable.
I still prefer more leisurely rides, but I’d love to travel this way again, though maybe I’d pack something to help me deal with motion sickness.
