In Japan, the high-speed Shinkansen trains spray water onto snowy tracks to prevent the snow from blowing up into the undercarriage and re-freezing. In all areas with extreme winter conditions, de-icing, like in the airline industry, is essential.

In Japan, the Shinkansen (bullet train) uses a sophisticated water sprinkler system primarily for snow removal and ice prevention. In regions like Joetsu or Hokuriku, heavy snowfall can accumulate on the tracks or the underside of the train. If this snow turns to ice, it can damage the train's equipment or cause "snow smoke," which obscures the driver's vision. The sprinklers spray warm groundwater onto the tracks to melt the snow before the train arrives. Additionally, water is sometimes used to cool the tracks during extreme summer heat to prevent the steel rails from expanding or buckling. This specialized engineering ensures that the trains can maintain their famous high speeds and punctuality even in the harshest winter conditions, where standard trains might be forced to slow down or stop entirely.