I think foreign people know the Japanese Shinkansen(bullet train). Because the Japanese Shinkansen (bullet train) is one of the fastest train in the world. And I think that many people know that this train follows from Tokyo to Osaka.
However, I think that there are not many people know that the Shinkansen (bullet train) can go to the local city, for example, Sapporo, Sendai,etc.But, there are many pleasure in the local city, food sight seeing and so on. So I will introduce the trip of Shinkansen (bullet train) that goes to the local city for your interesting trip.
1. About Shinkansen (bullet trains in Japan)
First, I will introduce about shinkansen (bullet trains in Japan).
1-1. History
About 50 years ago, shinkansen was very special train. And there are not many shinkansen as nowadays. I think air plane was the first direction of going to local city. For example, Tokyo to Hokkaido was.
But about 40 years ago, Tohoku and Joetsu shinkansens were opened. So it might be the start of construction of local shinkansen.
1-2. Advantages of using shinkansen
There are some advantages of using shinkansen, compare with air plane.
For example, Using air plane, you must be checked baggage. But in shinkansen, no checking baggage is OK to get in the train.
And using airplane you should wait about 30 minutes in airport. But using shinkansen, you don't have to wait such a long time.
2. About the local city that you can go
In Japan there are many big city. Actually the cities are not as big as like Tokyo or Osaka. However every city has originality, so you can enjoy depending on each place.
So I will introduce some shinkansen and cities. Exploring local Japan would be exciting by local cultures.
2-1. Hokkaido Shinkansen (To Sapporo)
Sapporo is big city in Hokkaido. And Hokkaido is the biggest island in Japan. Then it is the coldest place. Especially the snow is huge amount. So in Sapporo the big event of snow called Yuki-matsuri (The snow festival) is opened every year. In Yuki-matsuri, many big statues and buildings of snow are made. So the snow objects are so beautiful then you would be exciting.
In Sapporo, you can also enjoy good snowy scenery. It would be a good experience for people of hot country like South America, middle east.
And, Sapporo is the famous town for ramen. Ramen restaurant more than 1,000 are in Sapporo and can eat various ramen. The ramen will be to please foreign people that like ramen for the food.
2-2. Tohoku Shinkansen (To Sendai)
Sendai is the biggest city in Miyagi prefecture. Miyagi is in the north of Tokyo and can go by bullet train in 2 hours.
By the way Japan has various delicious food. Especially delicious food of Sendai is rice. The rice is Japanese representative staple food, but the rice of Sendai is one of the most delicious in Japan.
On the other hand, in Miyagi, a fish is very delicious, because the sea is near by. And the sashimi such as tunas in particular is good in Sendai.
There are many cities without the sea in the world. The rice and sashimi of Sendai can please many people that live in the place without the sea.
2-3. Joetsu Sinkansen (To Niigata)
Niigata is a big city that is near by the Sea of Japan, and you can go in two hours from Tokyo.
The place near Sea of Japan is very cold in winter, and there is a great deal of snow, too. So you can enjoy Japanese special snowy scenery.
And, Niigata is a delicious place of rice. Rice of Niigata is famous as rice called the Koshihikari. And it is the most famous and delicious in Japan.
In addition, the seafood of the Sea of Japan has different pleasure unlike a fish of the Pacific side. For example, a crab is delicious in Niigata, but probably may not be so good in the Pacific side.
2-4. Nagano Sinkanshen (To Nagano)
Nagano has a lot of mountains near the city. And there is in the center of Japan. So there is pleasure unlike the town facing the sea.
Pleasure in Nagano includes a hot spring, onsen. The onsen is one of the representative pleasure and popular with overseas people.
In addition, Nagano is the place where soba is very delicious. The soba is introduced by many foreign people as good Japanese food. The soba of Nagano would surely pleases overseas people.
2-5. Tokaido Shinkansen (In Nagoya stopped)
Nagoya is a famous big city in Japan. Nagoya is on the middle of Tokyo and Osaka . And you can go around two hours from Tokyo.
Nagoya has big castle. And the big castle in Nagoya could teach overseas people the Japanese history and culture. A castle of Nagoya is built by Ieyasu Tokugawa who is a Japanese famous shogun. Ieyasu Tokugawa is most famous one of the old generals. He made the Edo. Possibly overseas people might have watched a Japanese old TV program, and he might be introduced by many TV programs.
2-6. Sanyo Shinkansen (To Hakata）
Hakata is a big city of Kyushu. Kyushu is a Western big island of Japan.
Kyushu island is so far from Tokyo, so maybe using airplane might have more advantage than using shinkansen. But trip of train has enjoyment you can not by airplane.
By The way there is various delicious food in Hakata. The ramen in Hakata particular is famous. As for the ramen of Hakata, the soup of pork bones is delicious. This ramen is taste unlike other local ramen. In addition, you can eat with a stand.
3. Recommendation
You can enjoy various Japanese food and culture in Tokyo. But you can taste another pleasure in the local city. And the overseas person would have good trips of the railroads. By 2 or 5 hours, many pleasures would be had experience.
When you could come to Japan, it would be interesting to go to the local city.
Have a good trip. Have a local experience.
