There sure are, but given the size of Japan and the extent of the Shinkansen network, it would be useful if you let people know what kind of area you can get to.
Then the only one near you is the Tokaido line. You could go to shin Yokohama station and just hang out on the platform or go to Tama river near Kosugi and watch them go across the bridge there.
You can buy a platform ticket 入場券 for 150¥ (jr west/east) or 140¥ (tokyo station only) and 70¥ for kids under 6yo.
Here’s some spots. Mostly Tokyo though but searching 新幹線が見える 横浜 or something might give other results.
Also, just a separate tip, there are people who post the schedule of Dr. Yellow so you kid can see that too. I just did it the other day. Followed the schedule and it was spot on. Was able to see it at Hiroshima Station for about a minute before pulling away. The link below is one IG account I follow that posts such info.
I also did what others have said. Purchased a ¥150 入場券 from the ticket machines. It’s good for 2 hrs from purchase.
If your kid is into trains, there is a whole museum lodged between the normal JR trains and the bullet trains near Omiya station in Saitama. There is basically a viewing platform and a restaurant, from which you can see the bullet trains whiz by. Oh, and other train stuff, of course. And a play area, and a little train kids can ride. Google The Railway Museum or 鉄道博物館.
Son was also crazy into trains, I used to use Google maps and follow the track to find a good viewing spot. Far from you but there’s a good spot in Yurakucho and an even better one in Nippori
3yrs might be too young for it, but if you can get to it, I’d suggest a station like Odawara. There are four tracks. The two outermost are for trains that stop each direction there, the middle two are for thru trains. Some shinkansen do stop there, but most just whiz thru on the middle tracks, the full speed kind of whizzing thru. Sometimes you get two at once, or almost.
There are sometimes some folks taking pictures of that, and you do have to watch, since if you aren’t watching for one to come, you’ll probably miss its approach.
Oh man, I also live in Yokohama in Asahi-ku near Futamatagawa Station. You can see the shinkansen pass by numerous places around here.
Musashikosugi station also Tamagawa area is pretty cool. Not too fast not too slow.
There’s highway overpass near shin yokohama station that also has a divided footpath. You can get some cool views of the shinkansen entering the station and Fuji on the other side.
You can see the Shinkansen passing by at this observation deck near Oji Station. The colored ones use this track.
There’s a beautiful bridge out in the country section of hiratsuka that shows passings. It’s near a strawberry picking patch. Would be a fun trip if you have a car.
I live near the shinkansen line in yokohama, I could tell you a couple of awesome places to see the shinkansen, with Mt fuji in background on a clear day 🙂
You get good views on long viaducts and bridges since the trains are so long. Maybe try the bridges where it crosses the Tsurumi or Sagami rivers?
If you want to make a day trip of it, there’s the classic section in Fuji city where Mount Fuji is immediately behind the trains.
Adding to the recomendations in this thread, if your kids love trains I recommend the Romancecar Museum in Ebina (1 line from Yokohama Station). There is a huge model city with train tracks and moving trains and you can even control the train in some places!
Shinkansen runs slow between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama. I suggest going to the west side of Kanagawa as follows:
18 comments
There sure are, but given the size of Japan and the extent of the Shinkansen network, it would be useful if you let people know what kind of area you can get to.
Then the only one near you is the Tokaido line.
You could go to shin Yokohama station and just hang out on the platform or go to Tama river near Kosugi and watch them go across the bridge there.
You can buy a platform ticket 入場券 for 150¥ (jr west/east) or 140¥ (tokyo station only) and 70¥ for kids under 6yo.
Here’s some spots. Mostly Tokyo though but searching
新幹線が見える 横浜 or something might give other results.
https://kids.rurubu.jp/article/7180/
Also, just a separate tip, there are people who post the schedule of Dr. Yellow so you kid can see that too. I just did it the other day. Followed the schedule and it was spot on. Was able to see it at Hiroshima Station for about a minute before pulling away. The link below is one IG account I follow that posts such info.
I also did what others have said. Purchased a ¥150 入場券 from the ticket machines. It’s good for 2 hrs from purchase.
https://instagram.com/dryellow_k?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
If your kid is into trains, there is a whole museum lodged between the normal JR trains and the bullet trains near Omiya station in Saitama. There is basically a viewing platform and a restaurant, from which you can see the bullet trains whiz by. Oh, and other train stuff, of course. And a play area, and a little train kids can ride. Google The Railway Museum or 鉄道博物館.
Son was also crazy into trains, I used to use Google maps and follow the track to find a good viewing spot. Far from you but there’s a good spot in Yurakucho and an even better one in Nippori
3yrs might be too young for it, but if you can get to it, I’d suggest a station like Odawara. There are four tracks. The two outermost are for trains that stop each direction there, the middle two are for thru trains. Some shinkansen do stop there, but most just whiz thru on the middle tracks, the full speed kind of whizzing thru. Sometimes you get two at once, or almost.
There are sometimes some folks taking pictures of that, and you do have to watch, since if you aren’t watching for one to come, you’ll probably miss its approach.
Oh man, I also live in Yokohama in Asahi-ku near Futamatagawa Station. You can see the shinkansen pass by numerous places around here.
Musashikosugi station also Tamagawa area is pretty cool. Not too fast not too slow.
There’s highway overpass near shin yokohama station that also has a divided footpath. You can get some cool views of the shinkansen entering the station and Fuji on the other side.
You can see the Shinkansen passing by at this observation deck near Oji Station. The colored ones use this track.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/frUiHrkzEQkKFvFB8?g_st=ic
There’s a beautiful bridge out in the country section of hiratsuka that shows passings. It’s near a strawberry picking patch. Would be a fun trip if you have a car.
I live near the shinkansen line in yokohama, I could tell you a couple of awesome places to see the shinkansen, with Mt fuji in background on a clear day 🙂
You get good views on long viaducts and bridges since the trains are so long. Maybe try the bridges where it crosses the Tsurumi or Sagami rivers?
If you want to make a day trip of it, there’s the classic section in Fuji city where Mount Fuji is immediately behind the trains.
Adding to the recomendations in this thread, if your kids love trains I recommend the Romancecar Museum in Ebina (1 line from Yokohama Station). There is a huge model city with train tracks and moving trains and you can even control the train in some places!
Shinkansen runs slow between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama. I suggest going to the west side of Kanagawa as follows:
https://abou-mom.com/blog-entry-tokaido-shinkansen-passes-at-high-speed-up-close_sagamigawa-bridge_recommended-view-spot-where-you-can-experience-the-power-of-the-shinkansen.html
Or, take Kodama from Shin-Yokohama and get off at Odawara, then you can see them at seed.
If you’re willing to make the trip to Yurakucho then this
https://ryosai-kembo.com/yurakucho-tokyo/648/