EDIT:
Thank you everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences. Some of your responses were truly helpful and I chose to take the Shinkansen to go to Kyoto and go back by night bus. I hope it will be worth it!
Hi everybody!
I am currently studying in Tokyo, this is my first time in Japan. Few of my friends and I are planning to visit Kyoto and Osaka during the Golden Week. Some of them are taking Shinkansen while me and others are thinking of going with an overnight bus, but now I am considering taking Shinkansen for one way. The price for Shinkansen is about two or three times higher than the price for the bus. Although it would be more convenient to go with a train as it is faster (also more comfortable and arrival time is a bit better), the time it takes to travel with a bus does not bother me. However, I know Shinkansen is an unique experience here in Japan and I am not sure if I will have another chance to do it. I also heard the train ride from Tokyo to Kyoto is very scenic and beautiful (its possible to see Fuji). There is also an option to just experience Shinkansen ride from Kyoto to Osaka as this is very short ride and therefore quite cheap.
So, my question is – is taking the Shinkansen worth it just for the experience? What is the experience like, is it significantly more interesting than just a regular train? Do you think taking the train from Kyoto to Osaka is a good alternative?
Generally, I love trains. But I don’t want to spend too much money on transportation as this will already be a costly trip so I would really appreciate to hear your experiences.
Thank you!
42 comments
If you love trains I’m sure you’d like it. Whether it’s worth it or not is really up to the individual, when I went together with my friend I thought it was cool but for my friend, it was just like any other train
Even as a regular Shinkansen rider (monthly business trips) the experience is always nice. Would totally recommend Tokyo to Kyoto. Reserve a right hand side window seat to see Mt Fuji, but be careful of falling asleep. The seats are quite comfortable.
It’s fun, but I wouldn’t say it’s that unique imo. When I vacationed in Japan with my family we bought the JR pass and it really saved us because we were really time constrained, but for a single ride where time is not the issue I’m nit sure it’s worth the price. Also I don’t think you can see fuji every time and it depends on the weather (but I could be wrong). We did manage to see it but it’s quite far away so it doesn’t appear big
Purely from cost/performance PoV it’s worth it if you’re time-constrained rather than money-constrained, like if you have a couple of weeks packed with places all over Japan and have saved up money in advance. If you’re already there for an extended period of time, chances are there are cheaper (but much longer) options.
I found the experience to be very similar to France where we do have high-speed rail networks, even though Japan’s are a little more futuristic-looking and on-time. If you’re from a country that doesn’t have that you might have another point of view 😉
Definitely worth it. One of the highlights of our trip in 2019. Very easy to mange trip through the app and you can even move to a later train up until a few minutes before departure.
It’s worth it because it’s faster and more comfortable than a bus. I wouldn’t read much into it other than that.
Years ago, when showing family around the Kansai region, we chose to ride the Shinkansen from Himeji to Maibara, simply for the experience. No other reason than that, as my family, in all likelihood, wouldn’t experience something like it again.
So, I guess my point would be to do it, but only if the novelty of doing so is worth the price/upcharge.
It’s worth the price for time saved. But if time isn’t an issue, bus would be fine. You will still see the view.
But as you like trains, and it maybe no other chance to ride in the future, I would. TBH, Osaka Kyoto ride is too short to experience the Shinkansen ride.
I’d say take shinkansen to Kyoto and night bus back.
I used to take that night bus monthly to save money. It’s doable, but I always hated it because I could never sleep. The seats are cramped, the bus makes several stops, and you’re likely to have someone sit next to you.
The bus will likely leave you groggy when you arrive and you won’t be able to enjoy your trip.
(Also, I never had a problem finding a spot with non-reserved seats, and I recommend bringing a fancy bento for the train ride.)
It’s definitely worth it. The sheer convenience of riding trains compared to flying is unbeatable. If you’re in for the experience, then go. But if you’re pressed for time, consider the travel time. Flying from Tokyo to Fukuoka or Sapporo is far more practical than taking the *shinkansen*.
100% worth it for the experience, but maybe save it for a different time that isn’t Golden Week? If you’re studying in Tokyo then you’ll be there for a while and surely you’ll have another chance to take a Shinkansen while you’re there at a time when it will be less crowded?
For me riding the Shinkansen is a relaxing experience, with a nice bento and a drink and an empty seat beside me. I’m not sure it would be like that during Golden Week.
It’s a nice way to travel — that’s for sure.
But it’s still a train. If you have taken high speed train before, the riding experience’s probably not very different. Tokyo<->Osaka/Kyoto section is very old and it’s not as nice as the newer lines.
The real experience that differentiate the Shinkansen from other high speed rail system, IMO, is its sheer capacity. Especially during Golden Week, the Tokyo<->Osaka section will be almost certainly running at max capacity, which mean 16 train per direction per hour. Each train in this section seats 1323 passengers. It’s more frequent than some subway lines, tbh.
While both of them are experiences for different reasons, there are pros and cons to both.
Pros – Overnight Bus
>- Less Expensive.
>- Covers the cost of Hotel/Hostel for the night, usually for less.
>- Spend most of your trip to Kyoto sleeping.
Cons – Overnight Bus
>- Sleeping may not be comfortable for the duration of the trip, and if you don’t get a lot of rest, your first day could be tiring.
>- Very early arrival time the next day – think 5:30 am – so you’ll have to either entertain yourself, or find a hotel/hostel that accepts check-in that early.
Pros – Shinkansen
>- Same day departure and arrival, meaning you can leave on the first train of the day and be there early to meet up with your friends, or leave on a later train in the evening and still get there with time for dinner and hotel check in.
>- Cost is higher, but it is guaranteed to be more comfortable than the night bus if you can book a seat.
Cons – Shinkansen
>- Cost is higher, and seats may be all booked out, leaving you standing for the duration of your trip.
>- Packed trains and packed stations during Golden Week could put you at risk of getting sick and making your trip miserable.
One other major thing is that you live and study in Japan. If you don’t take the train for this particular trip, there are other scenarios where you absolutely could. Just because you’re not taking the shinkansen now doesn’t mean you won’t down the road, and if you can book an overnight bus and catch some useful sleep on the ride down, it could be better for this trip at this time anyway. My vote is for Overnight Bus.
I’ve used the shinkansen many time and while the first ride might be exciting because you are taking the shinkansen, I am not sure that it is especially worth spending a lot of money just for the sake of the experience. The big thing is the excitement of being in a train that go fast. Comfort wise, for me it is on par with many limited express train.
It might sound dumb, but I would say that being on the platform of a station where the Nozomi does not stop when a Nozomi pass by is crazy as it goes super fast just in front of you.
Yes, there is a chance to see Mount Fuji from the shinkansen, but it’s a chance. I’ve passed several times and never seen it. For me, more unique experience than the shinkansen are ride in [scenic or special train](https://www.japan.travel/en/scenic-railways/).
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I do not understand why you would not have another chance to use the shinkansen. You are studying in Tokyo right ? So unless you are going back home in a week, you have time to do it again as there is several (3) shinkansen stations in Tokyo.
If you are considering doing Kyoto-Osaka for the experience, you might as well do Shinagawa to Shin-Yokohama, or Ueno to Omiya (and go check the Train museum while there), would be about the same price as doing Kyoto to Shin-Osaka.
I couldnt handle an overnight bus, cant sleep while moving, so the bus would not be a fun use of time and i would need to catch up on the sleep when i arrive anyway.
Always took shinkansen cross country, saves a ton of time so i get to spend more time enjoying the country
Yes! Definitely worth the experience!
We don’t have anything similar in the UK, you can really feel the speed of the shinkansen as it goes through the countryside.
You won’t regret the experience, I’m not a train fan either.
Yes, the experience is 100% worth it. Part of the fun is the new experience and if you are able to afford it, it’s worth doing. Not only the trip, but the experience of anticipation, the shopping for snacks and ekiben are memorable for me six years later.
I love riding the trains, but after experiencing riding the Shinkansen, I don’t think I’ll be doing it again. I had a bad experience as a lady with a crying baby sat behind me for about four stops for my trip from Tokyo to Osaka. On the way back a few days later, some crazy lady woke me up as I was dozing off and insisted on sitting next to me (I was in the aisle seat), then got off one stop later despite there being many open seats in the cart. I really needed the rest that time as I wasn’t feeling too well. Since I absolutely couldn’t fall asleep due to all the hustle and bustle, I’m taking the overnight bus from now.
It is up to you, I always think shinkansen as transportation that will bring me from A to B, it looks good from time to time, but I wouldn’t call it exciting.
How about overnight train? Sleeping inside a train seems nicer than overnight bus. yes you can sleep on bed, some very cheap one is like capsule hotel (and sleep on wood), while other will have door that separate your room and semi padded bed
One problem.. Business people like to book the window seats — so they can pull down the shades and snooze more easily. We were lucky that a mother and her children had the Mt. Fuji-side seats opposite us — as virtually every other window on that side of the train had its shade pulled down.
It is much easier to enjoy the scenery if you can take non-shinkansen trains (but slower and less convenient). We’ve never taken a bus for a long stretch in Japan (so can’t compare this).
It’s worth experiencing once, but the real reason I would really recommend it over the night bus is because the night bus can make your trip kind of miserable if you have a hard time sleeping on it (which many people do–especially in the cheap seats). If you arrive at your destination feeling like you barely slept at all the previous night and end up just wasting the day sleeping at a manga café after you arrive (I’ve had to do this after night bus trips before), then was it really worth the money you saved? If you do take the night bus, I would do it on the return trip. Also be aware that there are ticket discount shops and your school may offer its own student discount on tickets.
>also heard the train ride from Tokyo to Kyoto is very scenic and beautiful (its possible to see Fuji).
Ehh….it’s okay. Fuji can be seen briefly if you’re sitting on the correct side and keep your eyes open, and you can also see Hikone Castle if you know where to look, but most of it just goes through urban and suburban areas and at such a high rate of speed that you don’t see much. If you’re interested in scenic train rides I don’t really recommend any Shinkansen. Some of the slower expresses like the Hida Wide View or Inaho, or local costal and mountain lines are much more enjoyable in that respect.
>There is also an option to just experience Shinkansen ride from Kyoto to Osaka as this is very short ride and therefore quite cheap.
Do not do this. It’s a complete waste and you might actually end up spending more time than you would just taking a regular train.
>Generally, I love trains. But I don’t want to spend too much money on transportation as this will already be a costly trip so I would really appreciate to hear your experiences.
If you’ve got time and interest, you could consider the Seishun 18 Kippu, though unfortunately it’s not available during Golden Week. Another option (again, if you have a lot of time but maybe not so much money) would be to just take local trains and make more a more circuitous route (e.g., through Yamanashi, Nagano, Toyama, Gifu, etc.), staying at hostels along the way. This would probably end up costing more in total than the Shinkansen, but much less on a per-day basis, and you would see a lot more.
I love the Shinkansen and will always take it if the option is available. That being said, it is just a train, and you can get much of the same experience on regular limited express trains throughout Japan. In some cases the limited express tourist trains like JR East Saphir Odoriko will offer a better onboard experience. It is exciting to see the trains come in and just experience feel the speed of the train, but you can get that on a shorter trip to Nagoya or Nagano. If you’re strapped for cash you can probably wait.
Regarding the trip between Kyoto and Osaka, it don’t believe the Shinkansen gets up to full speed on that route, or if it does it is only for a short period of time. I would at least look for trip the is at least 1 hour in duration. Part of the long distance train experience in Japan involves grabbing a ekiben and settling in and enjoying the scenery wizzing by while you eating local delicacies.
You can save it for when you feel like going to Hokkaido. That’s when the bullet train becomes really worth it.
Did the trip and totally worth it! It was a fun experience and I stared out the window a lot. You arrive rested. The seats are comfortable. It basically allows you to arrive fresh enough to have a full day of being a tourist.
>So, my question is – is taking the Shinkansen worth it just for the experience? What is the experience like, is it significantly more interesting than just a regular train?
Well, it’s just a really fast train, if you are lucky enough with the weather, you might be able to enjoy the Fuji-san views on your way, but mostly it’ll be just fields, tunnels and hills around. Riding it is a nice experience, but only for distances that are long enough.
I.e.
>taking the train from Kyoto to Osaka is a good alternative?
Roughly a 15 minutes long ride won’t be much of an experience at all. It’ll be something like riding an elevator in a high-rise building, same level of “fun”.
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>I also heard the train ride from Tokyo to Kyoto is very scenic and beautiful (its possible to see Fuji).
That’s right, but, as I’ve already mentioned, you’d better check the weather forecast before you go, every single time I’ve been going to or from Tokyo, Fuji-san has been covered in clouds. But it’s just my “next-to-zero” luck level, lol.
If you are already planning on traveling to Kyoto it’s definitely worth it. The shinkansen can cut an 8-hour trip into a 3-hour trip
Been there done that. The bus is exhausting. You’ll feel like crap all day. It’s very uncomfortable and noisy. No sleep guaranteed. The train is fun and fast. You’ll see Japan and feel great. If your a dude don’t be standing in the bathroom when the train brakes.
I took the ride from Tokyo to Kyoto and back… was great. I got a tonkatsu sandwich… guy near me was drinking a beer… it was a very pleasant experience.
If you might not have another chance do it! Buy o-bento and a beer/ tea, relax and enjoy.
It is great to go from A to B quickly. I do not use JR rail passes though as I do not city hop that much on trips.
Kyoto to Osaka is like 15 mins by shinkansen or 30mins by the normal train （Special Rapid ）so I probably not bother unless I was in a rush and save me the 1000 or so yen difference.
But for the sake of riding one, it a cheap option. Is a quick an uneventful trip though. I think the best shinkansen experience is eating train bento and getting drunk while watching countyside and towns fly by going across the country inbetween reading my book. So longer albeit more expensive trips are better for the experience.
Definitely do it.
Why in the hell would you willingly choose to travel during golden weeks?
I’d go one way bullet train and one way night bus. The night bus was also a cool experience for me
Everyone should experience the bullet train in their lifetime IMO! But if you do get the night bus, don’t get the cheapest seats. I am 6 feet tall (and metrically challenged, sorry) and my legs would not fit – I basically had to sit in an awkward human scissor position the whole trip. I think the Japanese guy who sat next to me felt a strange mix of pity, disgust, and awkwardness,
Depends. Can you sleep comfortably on an overnight bus? If not, it’s worth considering.
You are on a budget so it’s not something you should do on a whim.
Is it on your bucket list?
When I went in 2019, the Shinkansen was definitely on my bucket list. Yes, it was a bit pricey, but I’m glad I pulled the trigger.
Time is money, Shinkansen is worth
Yes, definitely worth it. But make sure to book a seat especially during golden week.
I’m Japanese in Saitama. I go to Osaka about twice a year, basically I use the Shinkansen.
I used to use overnight bus, but it’s so narrow and very unconfortable.Also it depends on the person in the seat next to you,but it cant be vacant during GW.
In addition, over night bus is more expensive during GW than other period, so I reccomend you to use Shinkansen.
If you have the money for it do the Shinkansen. The view between Tokyo and Osaka is beautiful and something you really should experience. Seeing everything from countryside to cities go bye in a flash is a pretty unique experience, especially when you get to Mt.Fuji. Make sure you go during the day though so you can actually see the things you pass.
The overnight bus is a good option if you want to save some money, but it isn’t all that comfortable. I don’t know which bus you intend on taking, but due to new covid measures Willer put a divider between the normal “pink” seats that made my ride with them horrible. I was forced to scrunch my shoulders the whole 9 hour ride and got out with some pains in my back and no sleep. I would recommend getting the slightly upgraded “purple” seats if your shoulders are wider than the average Japanese person.
If you ever come back in the winter I would also recommend taking the Shinkansen up through Tohoku when there is a lot of snow. I personally think it is more beautiful than between Tokyo and Osaka.
If you have the money, Shinkansen all day. The seats are nicer, there are snacks, the view is good, and you’ll end up with more time at your destination.
The only reason to go bus is to save money. It’s not very comfortable, it’s boring, and it’s long. I’ve been on both, and I’ll probably never go on the bus again.
Overnight bus is ghetttooooo. Take the shinkansen.