The best months to visit Bullet Train are Year-round. Cherry blossom Mar–Apr best.
Quick facts
Currency JPY (Yen) 1 USD ≈ ¥150
Language Japanese Station signs in English
Timezone JST (UTC+9) No DST
Best Months Year-round Cherry blossom Mar–Apr best
Daily Budget ~$60–100 USD With JR Pass
Visa Visa-free 90 days Most Western passports
When to go
Ride the world's most iconic railway: 285 km/h through rice paddies, past Mt Fuji, from neon-lit Tokyo to ancient Kyoto in 2 hours 15 minutes.
Getting Around in Bullet Train
- The Shinkansen network connects all major cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagano, and more
- Download the Navitime or Japan Travel app for English train timetables and route planning
- Reserved seats (shitei-seki) guarantee a seat; unreserved cars (jiyu-seki) are first-come-first-served, usually carriages 1–3 on most services
For itineraries, costs and practical travel advice, see the full Bullet Train travel guide.
Timezone: JST (UTC+9) (No DST)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Bullet Train?
The best months to visit Bullet Train are Year-round (Cherry blossom Mar–Apr best), which makes for the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing and getting around. For what a trip costs day to day, see the Bullet Train budget breakdown.
