They did it again, you guys. Japan and futuristic, state-of-the-art technology go hand and hand, and when it comes to country-wide connectivity and ease of travel, they’re far from letting tourists down.
From Tokyo, you can already get pretty much anywhere in the country with minimal hassle, but soon enough, you’ll be able to board the world’s new fastest train, linking the capital to the up-and-coming city of Nagoya, in central Japan.
Faster even than the latest model of Japan’s iconic high-speed shinkansen, this beast-on-rails will bridge the 180-mile distance in just 40 minutes, down from a current 2h30:
The World’s Fastest Train Will Link Tokyo To One Of Japan’s Most Exciting Cities
Dubbed the L0 Series train, Japan’s shiny new toy is a maglev beauty that can reach speeds of up to 375 mph. Your typical shinkansen only goes as fast as 186 mph.
Oh, and if you’re unsure what ‘maglev’ even means, it’s just a fancy neuologism for ‘magnetic levitation’. In short, this means:
- Practically no contact with tracks → a veeeeery smooth ride
- Extremely fast speed → in the case of the L0 Series, up to 375 mph
- Less friction → far more efficient and quieter than your average train
- Electromagnetism is king → it helps both lift the train and shoot it forward
By the way, the current fastest train in the world is China’s Shanghai Maglev, which reaches a speed of up to 286 mph. It goes without saying that Japan’s latest endeavor easily surpasses that.
Don’t get us started on how inefficient this makes European trains feel. Don’t get us wrong, we love it that Europe is launching new train routes from the West to the (far) East, but it’s not like France’s fastest TGV service, which only goes as fast as 190 mph, can exactly compete.
Anyway, enough with the train geekness… for now. Why Nagoya of all places?
Is Nagoya The Coolest Place In Japan Right Now?
If you’re thinking Japan beyond Tokyo, chances are it’s Kyoto, Osaka, or, if you’re keen on something a little off-the-beaten track, the neighboring port city of Yokohama—but we rarely see people online hyping up an equally exciting Nagoya.
It’s primarily known as an industrial hub, as it hosts Toyota and a bunch of other cutting-edge Asian technology giants, but it has got so much more in store than its surface-level sea of glassed-in buildings.
It is home to Nagoya Castle, originally built in 1612, and one of Japan’s most beautiful tenshu: a multi-story main keep protected by imposing walls.
The old structure was heavily damaged during World War II, but the current reconstruction is incredibly faithful to the original, and it even includes the historic Golden Shachihoko: an iconic tiger-headed carp perched atop the castle’s stepped roofs. It’s one of Nagoya’s main symbols.
Try Soupless Ramen & Visit Toyota’s Main Hub
Over in Osu Kannon, you’ll find a lively district cut through with shopping streets and ramen spots. Head to Menya Hanabi, in the heart of the urban buzz, to try their famous mazesoba, a soupless ramen with rich flavors.
Over in Sake, a week-round nightlife and elegant rooftop restaurants await discovery, and if you don’t mind going a little further away from the downtown zone, Atsuta is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, and it just happens to be a short 15-minute train ride from Nagoya Station.
Of course, you haven’t really been to Nagoya unless you’ve visited the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. We mean, Toyota is born in Nagoya, so you might as well go check out some cool, Sci-Fi-ey installations while you’re at it.
To sum it up, Nagoya is the perfect mix of modern city life and traditional Japan.
When Will The Train Launch?
That’s the one part that’s a bit of a downer.
The train was actually scheduled for completion next year (2027), though it’s now been delayed by eight years. You can expect it to hit the tracks between 2034 and 2035.
If you feel like we’ve been here before, you were probably with us through the various pushbacks of the Maya Train in Mexico prior to its final launch—but hey, we trust Japan to keep its promise, and let’s face it, a futuristic train on this scale needs massive investment.
We’re talking costs coming up to over 65.3 billion USD. We’ll give them a pass this time.
Once it does launch, though, the L0 Series train will be able to travel from Tokyo to Nagoya in 40 minutes. The current trains complete the journey in between 1h26 and 2h30 (or more), depending on the route and speed (the Kodama and Hikari lines tend to be much slower).
Once operational, plans also call for extending the L0 Series to the Osaka line, which would cut travel times from Tokyo to just 1 h. Soon enough, all of Japan will be one big metropolitan zone.
By then, you will need to apply for a travel permit to enter Japan as an American, though, so make sure you stay up to date with Travel Off Path not to miss any important changes.
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