# Canonical recap data for Shinkansen Bullet Train Opens (1964)
# Source: https://recap.at/1964/shinkansen-bullet-train
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: shinkansen-bullet-train
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1964/shinkansen-bullet-train"
title: Shinkansen Bullet Train Opens
aliases:
- bullet train
- Tokaido Shinkansen
- 新幹線
subtitle: Shinkansen Bullet Train Opens
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1964-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1964
decade: 1960
country:
name: Japan
slug: japan
summaryShort: The Shinkansen , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. The system was developed to provide connections between Tokyo and other regions of the country. In addition to long-distance services, some sections in and around the largest metropolitan areas are use
summaryLong: |-
  The Shinkansen, colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. The system was developed to provide connections between Tokyo and other regions of the country. In addition to long-distance services, some sections in and around the largest metropolitan areas are used for commuter travel.

  Japan National Railways began construction on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka on April 20, 1959, marking the country's ambitious pivot toward modernizing its transportation infrastructure during the postwar economic boom. The project represented a technical gamble of considerable proportions: no nation had yet successfully operated a commercial high-speed rail network at sustained speeds of 200 kilometers per hour. By November 1, 1963, test operations commenced with the first trial runs demonstrating that the engineering was sound, with speeds reaching the projected 200 km/h threshold. These early successes validated nearly five years of construction work and engineering innovation.

  The Tokaido Shinkansen opened to the public on October 1, 1964, beginning commercial operation between Tokyo and Osaka with trains departing every 20 minutes during peak hours. The timing proved fortuitous: just nine days later, on October 10, the 1964 Summer Olympics commenced in Tokyo, and the newly operational Shinkansen served as a showcase of Japanese technological prowess to international visitors. The bullet train became synonymous with Japan's rapid postwar recovery and industrial sophistication, offering a gleaming symbol of efficiency and modernity at the precise moment when the world was watching.

  The system's success prompted rapid expansion. On March 16, 1965, the Shinkansen network extended westward to Kobe, adding 140 kilometers to the operational network and strengthening connections between Japan's three largest metropolitan areas. This growth trajectory accelerated further when the Sanyo Shinkansen launched on March 15, 1972, connecting Osaka to Okayama and establishing the system as more than a single route-it had become a genuine network infrastructure spanning multiple regions. The addition of the Sanyo line demonstrated that the original Tokyo-Osaka success was replicable and that demand existed for expanded service across Japan's most economically vital corridors.

  The northward expansion came later but proved equally significant. On June 22, 1980, the Tohoku line opened, extending the Shinkansen network northward from Tokyo to Morioka and reaching into Japan's industrial north. By this point, the bullet train had transformed from a daring experiment into an established transportation backbone, fundamentally reshaping how people and goods moved across the country. The Shinkansen's evolution from a single high-speed corridor into a multi-line network reflected both the technical confidence gained through operational experience and Japan's sustained economic growth across two decades. What began as a connection between Tokyo and Osaka became the template for regional integration, establishing the model that would define Japanese rail transport for generations to come.
lede: On October 1, 1964, Japan opened the Shinkansen-a high-speed rail network connecting Tokyo to Osaka at speeds up to 210 kilometers per hour. It was the world's first bullet train system, fundamentally reshaping how people and goods moved across the country and establishing a template that other nations would spend decades trying to replicate.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Shinkansen_map_202405_en.png/1280px-Shinkansen_map_202405_en.png"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Shinkansen"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Opening date
  value: October 1, 1964
- label: Initial route
  value: Tokyo to Osaka (Tokaido line)
- label: Route distance
  value: 515 kilometers
- label: Top operational speed
  value: 210 km/h (130 mph)
- label: Travel time reduction
  value: From 6.5 hours to 4 hours (Tokyo-Osaka)
- label: Initial daily train capacity
  value: 12 round trips per day
- label: First year passengers
  value: Over 100 million in first year
- label: Project cost
  value: 360 billion yen (approximately $1 billion USD at 1964 rates)
- label: Chief engineer
  value: Hideo Shima
timeline:
- date: 1959-04-20
  title: Construction begins
  description: Japan National Railways begins construction on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka.
- date: 1963-11-01
  title: Test operations commence
  description: The first test run of Shinkansen trains occurs, with speeds reaching 200 km/h.
- date: 1964-10-01
  title: Shinkansen opens to public
  description: The Tokaido Shinkansen begins commercial operation between Tokyo and Osaka, with trains departing every 20 minutes during peak hours.
- date: 1964-10-10
  title: Tokyo Olympics provide showcase
  description: The newly opened Shinkansen serves as transport infrastructure for the 1964 Summer Olympics, introducing international visitors to the technology.
- date: 1965-03-16
  title: Service expansion
  description: The Shinkansen network extends westward to Kobe, adding another 140 kilometers to the operational network.
- date: 1972-03-15
  title: Sanyo Shinkansen opens
  description: A second Shinkansen line launches, connecting Osaka to Okayama and establishing the system as more than a single route.
- date: 1980-06-22
  title: Tohoku line opens
  description: The Shinkansen network expands northward from Tokyo to Morioka, reaching into Japan's industrial north.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen"
  title: Shinkansen Bullet Train
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: The Shinkansen proved that high-speed rail was technically and economically viable at scale, arriving on the global stage just as Japan was repositioning itself as a technological innovator. It compressed travel time across Japan's industrial heartland, accelerated regional economic integration, and became an icon of Japanese engineering prowess-influencing rail infrastructure decisions from Europe to China for the next half-century.
categories:
- tech-launch
metaDescription: Japan's bullet train launches in 1964, becoming the world's first high-speed rail network and redefining intercity travel.
wikidataQid: Q164338
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Maximum operating speed
  thenValue: 210 km/h
  thenYear: 1964
  nowValue: 320 km/h
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Shinkansen N700S operates at 320 km/h on select routes; original 0 Series maxed at 210 km/h
- metric: Annual passengers
  thenValue: 60 million
  thenYear: 1965
  nowValue: 353 million
  nowYear: 2019
  note: Pre-pandemic peak; 2020 saw significant drops due to COVID-19
- metric: Route distance
  thenValue: 515 km
  thenYear: 1964
  nowValue: 2,896 km
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Original Tokyo-Osaka line expanded to cover multiple networks nationwide
- metric: Fatalities from train accidents
  thenValue: "0"
  thenYear: 1964
  nowValue: "0"
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Shinkansen has maintained a zero-fatality record for passenger collisions since opening
consequences:
- title: Tokyo-Osaka travel time halved
  year: 1964
  description: Journey reduced from 8 hours by conventional rail to 4 hours via Shinkansen, fundamentally altering business and tourism patterns between Japan's two largest economic centers
- title: High-speed rail becomes global template
  year: 1981
  description: France launches TGV, explicitly modeled on Shinkansen technology. Within two decades, South Korea, Taiwan, and eventually China adopt similar systems, establishing Japan's dominance in HSR export and engineering prestige
- title: Real estate boom along corridor
  year: 1970
  description: Property values spike in stations between Tokyo and Osaka. Cities like Nagoya and Kyoto become viable commuter towns, redistributing Japan's population and economic activity away from pure Tokyo concentration
- title: Zero-accident safety becomes competitive advantage
  year: 1995
  description: After 31 years without a single passenger fatality, the Shinkansen becomes the world's safest rail system by statistical measure, reinforcing Japan's reputation for precision engineering during the bubble economy era
- title: Domestic aviation industry disrupted
  year: 2000
  description: Shinkansen's dominance on trunk routes forces Japanese carriers to abandon Tokyo-Osaka-Fukuoka routes. Domestic market consolidates as All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines shift focus to international expansion
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: The Sounds of 1964 Summer
  note: Japan's music scene was dominated by enka and Western pop imports; domestic rock was nascent
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-27T10:30:10.059Z"
- title: Sakamoto Kyu - Sukiyaki
  artist: Sakamoto Kyu
  year: 1963
  note: Still dominating Japanese charts when Shinkansen opened; symbolized Japan's cultural emergence
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-27T10:30:10.059Z"
topFilms:
- title: Tokyo Olympiad
  year: 1965
  note: Kon Ichikawa's documentary of the 1964 Tokyo Games; Shinkansen prominently featured as symbol of modern Japan
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-27T10:30:10.059Z"
- title: Harakiri
  year: 1962
  note: Masaki Kobayashi's masterpiece released just before Shinkansen opening; represented old Japan vs. new modernity debate
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-27T10:30:10.059Z"
topTVShows:
- title: Astro Boy
  year: 1963
  note: Osamu Tezuka's anime serialized during Shinkansen development; both symbolized Japan's technological optimism
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-27T10:30:10.059Z"
zeitgeistNote: "Japan in 1964 was in the throes of rapid post-war reconstruction and modernization. The Shinkansen embodied the nation's identity shift from defeated militarism to technological prowess. Hosting the Tokyo Olympics that same year amplified the narrative: Japan wasn't just recovered, it was leading. The bullet train was as much a symbol of national confidence as it was transportation infrastructure-a gleaming statement that Japan had entered the future while the West still relied on conventional rail."
relatedQueries:
- Shinkansen history 1964 opening Tokyo Olympics
- how fast is the bullet train Japan
- Shinkansen safety record accidents zero fatalities
- Shinkansen vs TGV first high-speed rail
- Shinkansen impact Japanese economy regional development
- 0 Series train Shinkansen original design
- high-speed rail technology Japan exports
- Shinkansen expansion network Tokaido line
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Shinkansen_map_202405_en.png/1280px-Shinkansen_map_202405_en.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Shinkansen_map_202405_en.png/800px-Shinkansen_map_202405_en.png"
  caption: Shinkansen
  credit: Wikipedia · "Shinkansen"
  width: 330
  height: 341
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Shinkansen_henkei_robo_Shinkalion.png/1280px-Shinkansen_henkei_robo_Shinkalion.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Shinkansen_henkei_robo_Shinkalion.png/800px-Shinkansen_henkei_robo_Shinkalion.png"
  caption: Shinkansen henkei robo Shinkalion
  credit: 小學館集英社製作
  width: 2160
  height: 1620
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Shinkansen_transport_voulmes_of_Japan.svg/1280px-Shinkansen_transport_voulmes_of_Japan.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Shinkansen_transport_voulmes_of_Japan.svg/800px-Shinkansen_transport_voulmes_of_Japan.svg.png"
  caption: Shinkansen transport voulmes of Japan
  credit: Soren Bradley
  width: 512
  height: 382
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Shinkansen_platform_at_Tokyo_Station_2.jpg/1280px-Shinkansen_platform_at_Tokyo_Station_2.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Shinkansen_platform_at_Tokyo_Station_2.jpg/800px-Shinkansen_platform_at_Tokyo_Station_2.jpg"
  caption: Shinkansen platform at Tokyo Station 2
  credit: Syced
  width: 4032
  height: 3024
taxonomy:
domain: technological
eventTypes:
- infrastructure_rollout
- tech_launch
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- transformation
impactRadius: national
velocity: gradual
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260515161536/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen"
  capturedAt: 2026-05-15
  label: Shinkansen Bullet Train
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen"
