The JR Pass is a godsend for tourists traveling within Japan.
For 20,000 yen (~ S$260), my JR East pass became my instant passport around the "eastern" part of country.
During any 4 days (or 5 consecutive days), the pass allows me unlimited use of the network of speedy and comfortable trains operated by the JR (Japan Rail) company in designated areas, including the use of Shinkansen.
Shinkansen（新幹線）the bullet trains that first debuted in the 1960s wowed the world with its speed of 200 km per hour.
Today, moving along at up to a brisk 300 km per hour, the train whizzes you from Tokyo to Osaka in 3 hours. I figure my class 3 license will take me at least 8 to 10 hours to cover the same distance.
40 years on, after carrying 6 billion passengers, Shinkansen continues to enjoy a perfect record of zero passenger fatality due to derailment or collision. A colossal achievement, by any standards.
As I get to witness it for myself again in the course of this trip, I can't help being impressed with the mind-boggling and awe-inspiring transport system of Japan. The whole comprehensive (and somewhat confusing!) system runs like clockwork.
Every single bus and every single train arrives on time. And every single bus and every single train departs on time. I kid you not.
Arrive one minute late, and you better get yourself a seat in the next one.
For some destinations, the next trains may not be available for the next hour!
Guess that reinforces the culture of punctuality in Japan, where late comers are often frowned upon. As the ryokan staff put it succinctly across to me: "In Japan, when the schedule tells you the bus leaves at 7, they leave at 7. They don't wait for you."
Also, on the Shinkansen, to ensure a comfortable ride for all passengers, yakking on the mobile phones is strictly prohibited. Commuters are requested to go to the end of the trains (in between the carriages) to do their calls - nature's or otherwise :)
We should all learn a thing or two from these Nihon-jin, who value and respect their own time and space, as well as those of others.
Anyway, unlike the ho-hum and claustrophobic traveling in the skies (even in an A380, I bet), zipping around in trains sometimes rewards the passenger with constantly changing scenery and unexpected landscapes.
It is also an interesting way to keep yourself occupied during the journey (besides the iPod and a good read).
The next time you get on the trains, don't forget to peer out of the windows and take in the views. Like they say lah, it's not just the destination.
So what are the views out of your windows now?
Here's an attempt to capture some of mine - as seen out of the Shinkansen, Bus, and JR during my recent visit to the land of the rising yen.
