Shinkansen Japan’s bullet trains
December 11, 2016 by David Herd
Explore Japan in comfort
Shinkansen Japan’s bullet trains
Shinkansen Japan’s bullet trains are the perfect way to see this wonderful country. Rather than arrive at an airport 2 hours before your flight simply travel to the centre of one city to centre of the next.
Tokyo was the start of my trip
My good friend Kayo came to Tokyo Station to help me sort of all the tickets for my trip to six cities I had never seen before.
Currently a Japanese rail pass can only be purchased outside the country however from March 8th 2017 selected Japanese stations will sell them at a more expensive price.
Shinkansen Japan’s bullet trains
As of January 2017 $100 usd = 11,695 Yen.
Tokyo to Kanazawa 4 hours
One thing to keep in mind, I stay in budget hotels which are usually near the station. In many cities you can’t check in until 3 or 4 pm. Often I would just leave my luggage and head off to the nearest attraction.
My hotel was great value in a perfect location with free WiFi, book through THIS LINK for an excellent discount.
How about the edible gold leaf?
Kanazawa’s history with gold leaf began 400 years ago. Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) used to make gold leaf, Kanazawa now is the only remaining production hub of the coveted craft.
Shinkansen Japan’s bullet trains Kanazawa to Hiroshima 5 hours
Hiroshima was an emotional experience that I’ll never forget. Seventy one years ago at 8.15 am on August 6th 1945 U.S. pilots dropped an atomic bomb which instantly killed 140,000 people.
As if that was not shocking enough 3 days later they killed 70,000 in Nagasaki.
For a super room rate in a great location with free WiFi just book through THIS LINK.
Cenotaph & park
A memorial is held here every year on August 6th.
Hiroshima to Kumamoto 2 hours 40 minutes
I was on my my to Kagoshima so I thought I would stop for one night to see the damage done to the castle by the recent earthquake.
My budget hotel was in an excellent location, good rooms with free WiFi, for a great rate just book using THIS LINK.
Three years to repair wall
The city hopes to repair the main keep within three years, while the rest of the grounds are expected to require about 20 years to be fully repaired.
Kumamoto to Kagoshima 2 hours
Well worth a visit, the city lies opposite an active volcano.
Wonderful smiling faces
Some things in Japan you can be sure of, happy smiling faces, they love to be in a photograph, & people are just so nice & polite.
My hotel was only 10 minutes walk to lots of restaurants & the ferry terminal, a great location with free Wi Fi and a great room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
Kagoshima to Nagasaki 2 hours
I had heard a lot aout Nagasaki so I was eagerly looking forward to visiting this seaside city, in particular the atom bomb site & Battleship Island.
My favourite Nagasaki sign
It’s on billboards, the side of trains & trams, wonderful Japanese humour. 🙂
My hotel was only a three minute walk to the station. Rated highly by AGODA, book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate with free WiFi.
Nagasaki to Fukuoka 2.5 hours
The final leg of my Shinkansen rail trip through Japan.
I would certainly recommend the hotel Ascent, for a very good discount just book through THIS LINK.
Craving a change of cuisine
As much as I love Japanese food after 2 weeks I was craving a change. The fabulous pizza is a speciality at Gorm’s, part of a Danish restaurant chain, opened 2014 in Nagasaki & shortly after in Fukuoka.
Fukuoka was anther surprise packet, lots of things to see and do. Think about flying into Tokyo & out of Fukuoka as I did, travel by bullet train in between these 2 cities.
On the way to Osaka in October 2015 with my friend Hamish
Hamish of course is world famous for the number of selfies he takes. 🙁 Look closely and you can see me in the background. 🙂
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Pattaya Hilton
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
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