The Bullet Train

A story recently hit the BBC News desk that beggared belief of the British public. The headline: 'Apology After Japanese Train Leaves 20 Seconds Early.'** Perhaps this resonated so much because, in the UK, the trains are: 

• Expensive
• In constant states of construction
• Rarely on time
• Unapologetic about any of the above

For the past year, Southern Rail has been in a perpetual state of strike--because there's not enough drivers, because people are sick, because they're protesting driver-only routes. 

And then you go to Japan and experience the Shinkansen. You walk into a train station and:

• Buy a ticket for a service that will take you to hundreds of places across the country
• Which will take you there quickly via bullet train (for a high but fair price) 
• But can also take you there less quickly (for a reasonable price)
• Will leave on time
• Arrive at the advertised time 
• Feel happy about the whole process 

For major cities, there are multiples services and multiple times that take you there in comfort, class and style. The train pulls into the station and even the local population geek out a little bit: 

If you're a planner and travelling in Japan as a foreigner, you can even buy a JR (Japan Rail) pass for a fraction of the price that a regular rail ticket would cost. Look here.  

So, Shinkansen, I bow down to your wonderful. I'd even go as far as saying it's enough of a reason in of itself to visit Japan. As if the food and the culture and the scenery weren't enough.

*The article is dated 16 November 2017...so it may be important to note that I'm not clairvoyant, I'm just waaay backdating.