Shinkansen is the ‘New Trunk Line’ or ‘bullet train’ which was first built in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympics. It cut the time for inter-city trips between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe in half. Since 1964, the system has been extended to both the northern and southern islands and additional routes are planned throughout the nation. Technological improvements have also increased speeds and the trains now serve both commuters and inter-city travelers.
