Where do bullet trains go in Japan? The Shinkansen network is very extensive, and covers the following lines: Tokyo - Osaka, Osaka - Hakata, Tokyo - Aomori, Hakata – Kagoshima, Tokyo – Niigata, Takasaki – Kanazawa, Aomori - Hokuto. Mini-shinkansen also covers Morioka – Akita and Fukushima – Shinjo lines.

In 2026, the Shinkansen (bullet train) network from Tokyo is one of the most extensive high-speed rail systems in the world, radiating out from Tokyo Station. The Tokaido Shinkansen goes west toward Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen extends that route further to Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Heading north, the Tohoku Shinkansen travels to Sendai and all the way to Shin-Aomori, where it connects to the Hokkaido Shinkansen for travel under the sea to Hakodate. The Hokuriku Shinkansen takes passengers northwest to the scenic cities of Nagano, Kanazawa, and Tsuruga (the latter being a recently completed extension). Finally, the Joetsu Shinkansen runs directly to the "snow country" of Niigata. These trains are the backbone of Japanese travel, offering departures as frequent as every few minutes for major cities.