Essence of Japan  
Shinkansen  
Osaka  
Shinkansen at Shin Osaka Bullet Train at Shin Osaka
Shin-Osaka where Shinkansen arrive at very frequent intervals - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen at Shin Osaka Shinkansen Standard Class Passenger Car
A stopping Shinkansen arrives bound for Hiroshima and beyond (left).  On the slower Shinkansen seating in standard class is three plus two (right) - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow

Hiroshima

  
Approaches to Hiroshima - Japanese non-Shinkansen Lines Shin-Hiroshima
Although usually referred to in English as Bullet Trains, Shinkansen simply means new line.  Other than Shinkansen which run on "new" standard guage lines, most ordinary Japanese trains (above) operate on the narrow 3ft 6in gauge or Cape Gauge (1067mm).  Shinkansen arrive and depart at "Shin" or "New Line" stations which may or may not be adjacent to stations on the narrow gauge system.  Standard gauge is 4ft 8½in (1,435 mm) - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen at Hiroshima Shinkansen at Hiroshima
Different types of Shinkansen seen departing Hiroshima - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen at Hiroshima Shinkansen at Hiroshima
Shinkansen arrving and departing Hiroshima - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen departure, Hiroshima Shinkansen departure, Hiroshima
The platform guard checks the time before raising his red flag and blowing his whistle prior to closing the doors from a consol on the station platform - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen departure, Hiroshima Shinkansen departure, Hiroshima
Mini-Shinkansen departing on a local service while yet another 700 Series arrives at the adjacent platform - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen arrival, Hiroshima Shinkansen Express Standard Class Passenger Car
Express Shinkansen arriving Hiroshima for Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo;  on these express services, seating in standard class is two plus two - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansens operate normal services at speeds similar to the French TGV and Eurostar - i.e. about 186 mph or 300 km/h.  Typical urban scenery between Hiroshima and Osaka - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen Express First Class Passenger [Green] Car Shinkansen Express First Class Passenger Car
Shinkansen First Class coach - protocol requires that the train staff bow on entering and leaving each coach - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Shinkansen Express Standard Class Passenger Car Shinkansen Express Standard Class Passenger Car
Refreshments from the trolley in Standard Class - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Stopping at Shin-Kobe (Kobe New Line) - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
Another city and another golf driving range between Kobe and Osaka - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow

Kyoto

  
Shinkansen Departure, Kypto Shinkansen Departure, Kypto
Platform guard at Kyoto closes the train doors and checks the train is safe to depart - note that the door light has changed from red to green - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow

Kanazawa to Osaka

  
Japanese Rail Thunderbird Express Japanese Rail Thunderbird Express
The Thunderbird is an ordinary (i.e. not a Shinkansen) express train which runs between Kanazawa and Osaka - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow

73 metre golden Buddha at Kaga Onsen

Japanese Rail Thunderbird Express, Osaka
The next stop out of Kanazawa is Komatsu where a giant Komatsu dump truck can be seen on display on the right hand side of the train.  After Komatsu the train calls at Kaga Onsen where this giant 73 metre golden Buddha can be seen on the left just as the train slows to enter the station.  The Thunderbird goes on to Osaka where the high level Shin Osaka platforms are adjacent to the low level Osaka station - PHOTOs  Malcolm McCrow
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Essence of Japan