Ask many people about the one country that they would like to visit most in the world and a great number of them may say Japan. Its tantalising appeal lies in the fact that it's a place that seems both well known to us in the west, but one which holds many mysteries too. We also imagine a society that is hyper-modern while also being steeped in ancient traditions and practices. And this is indeed what visitors find when they visit the legendary "Land of the Rising Sun".
One of the best ways to explore this intriguing country is by train. Indeed, it's somewhere that is famous for its rail network including the iconic bullet train, so-called for its 200 mph speeds. Also legendary is the efficiency and reliability of the network where trains are considered late if they're more than 30 seconds overdue.
We offer two main rail tours of Japan. Each of them gives you plenty of time to explore this fascinating country and experience its many contrasts and differences. The 13-day Discover Japan takes in all of the main cities on the island of Hoshu including Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka as well as many other places of interest including Mount Fuji and Hiroshima. Then there's the 16-day Grand Tour of Japan that also includes visits to Sapporo and Hakodate on the country's northern-most island of Hokkaido before heading south to the main island of Honshu.
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Shinkansen refers to the dedicated high-speed Japanese rail network that provides a link to most major cities on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. The name 'Shinkansen' is also used to refer to the trains that run on the network - which are perhaps better known as 'Bullet Trains'. Renowned for their punctuality, comfort and safety, the trains are frequent and fast, regularly running at speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h). The trains offer comfortable reclining seats and large windows and there are usually refreshment trolleys selling snacks and beverages.
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With the Japanese Rugby World Cup and Joanna Lumley bursting onto our television screens recently, we’ve been lapping up all things Japan.
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27/03/2019 · By Katie Shaw
From its futuristic bullet trains to spiritual Kyoto and neon-lit Toyko, join Tony Robinson as he discovers the quirks of Japan, on part five of his adventures around the world by train.
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While it’s well known that here at Great Rail Journeys we are passionate about rail travel, it just so happens that we believe aviation is something to be celebrated, too!
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