Joe Bloggs

No spillage

The two and a half hour bullet train journey between Kyoto and Kyushu is certainly very different to the journey (of the same length but in the other direction) to Tokyo. It seems like one long tunnel interspersed with a few stations and valleys. Even the valleys afford a limited view as if the mountains wish to hide the interior of the land like some latter-day communist country secreting military bases from prying eyes. It really is best to get one's head down and either sleep, read a book or the news that flashes across the electronic strip over the doors. The news on the strip tends to be a few hours hold so is usually only good for baseball scores and the weather forecast. I was given a surprise though when the speed of the train flashed up on that strip between Hiroshima and Kokura (Kita Kyushu). We were informed that the train was travelling at 300kph. I'm led to believe it is the world's fastest scheduled passenger train. I can believe it. What really is astonishing (and yes, even after countless rides in both directions from Kyoto I am still capable of feeling astonishment) is how smooth the ride is. You can leave your drink on the window sill or the table in front of you and not have to worry about spillage.

The picture above was taken at Kyoto station with the train on the left (the Nozomi 700) heading for Tokyo and the one on the right (the Nozomi 500) coming from Tokyo to pick me up and bring me to Kyushu.