Shinkansen

Last couple of days in Japan have been amazing. It also has been very extensive, so we are pretty much tired.
Everything in Japan is done in a high pace manner. Everything in Japan is super punctual. Also, everything functions as the best, well oiled machine.

I don`t have to mention it, but my japanese in-laws operate in the same space continuum. I must say that I miss my euro-north american slacking days :)

As a kid I heard a lot about Shinkansen, it was almost a myth, to read stories about the fastest trains in the world. And, perhaps there are similar fast trains today, in 21st century, in Germany, Spain, China, Taiwan、France...but I bet that none of them can beat the Shinkansen's average arrival time - it was within six seconds of the scheduled time, calculated from about 160,000 Shinkansen trips.

We bought a Japan Rail Pass, so it`s been easy to travel - only 'catch' was that we couldn't use it for Nozomi train service on Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen lines. And guess what - the Nozomi is the fastest train service - so we had to pay extra to experience the bullet train.

Doesn`t mean that other Shinkansen trains, Hikari and Kodama, are slow - on the contrary, they are also super fast, but the Nozomi trains are the only ones that go faster than 300 km/h.

The ride itself is hard to describe in words - it is necessary to experience it by yourself, and find it out. I was amazed how technology works on the most beautiful way, and how everything was moving without almost any noise. Only noise was generated when we were passing another train that was going in different direction. No doubt, difference is almost more than 600 km/h.

Well, enough about the speed and Shinkansen trains - I am very much overwhelmed by them, so I'll need some time to absorb and process everything. Well anyway, I could write about it for days.

Our next destination is Fuji mountain. I doubt we'll be climbing the peak (3776 m), but we are hoping for nice weather.