Japan documentaries 2018 episode 3/15: Travel in the Shinkansen – free for everyone – News

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Crowdfunding for the 2022 Japan documentary is underway. On this occasion, we are gradually making the 15 episodes of the Japan documentaries 2018 freely available in 1080p. Episode 03: Traveling on the Shinkansen

Since 2018, the Japan documentaries 2018 were only available to crowdfunders and buyers. We are now releasing the 1080p versions free for everyone (however, the making of is subject to a fee). If you like them, join the crowdfunding for the Japan documentary 2022 – and get all 2022 episodes for the special price of €10 (only until the start of travel!).

If you want, you can also Buy 2018 documentaries in 4K, including numerous extras. The extra-long Making Of (Episode 16) and a number of extras are then also included.

There are around 150 trips from Osaka to Tokyo (and back again) with the Shinkansen – per day! There are fewer on holiday days and more on Saturdays. And that’s just Japan’s oldest bullet train, the Tokaido Shinkansen, which began operating in 1964. There are seven other regular routes in Japan, and more or extensions are planned. The trains are also being refined, the currently fastest, Nozomi N700, has been in operation since 2007 and can accelerate faster and take corners faster with technology similar to the ICE Sprinter. The journey from Tokyo to Osaka takes between 2:25 and 2:35 hours – which, including several stops, corresponds to a real average speed of around 205 km/h.

Similar to the ICE, there is a first class called the Green Car, and there are tickets with and without reservations – the latter only valid for certain cars. On certain routes there is also the “Gran Class”, which corresponds to first class in long-haul aircraft. But not on the Tokyo – Osaka route, which takes a maximum of four hours, even with its “slower” Shinkansen trains (which stop everywhere).

In the third episode of the Japan documentaries 2018, Jörg Langer makes the journey for you with said Tokaido Shinkansen, of course in the fastest possible Nozomi N700 variant. Think driving from Tokyo to Osaka and back is boring? You’re wrong, because Jörg has a lot to tell and of course a lot to show: interactions with the staff, several bento boxes, but of course above all the Shinkansen itself and Japan whizzing by. He also draws a comparison to the ICE Sprinter – we apologize in advance for the mediocre quality of the Deutsche Bahn advertising video used. But this way you can appreciate our own sharp, fluid material (in 1080p like 4K) even better…

fun fact: Unfortunately, a certain scene cannot be seen in the video because your suitcase-packed reporter simply didn’t have enough arms free – and was overwhelmed at the moment. Namely, entering the shinkansen station at Tokyo Station proved to be a problem. This is a separate area with several platforms that, like the entire rail network, are reserved exclusively for express trains. In every “To” and “Return” envelope that Jörg had been handed by the nice lady at the counter, there were several ticket-like pieces of cardboard. In fact, you have to put two of them on top of each other and insert them into the slot of the automatic gate at the access control.

That was the second hurdle for Jörg. The first hurdle: In order to prove that you are legally in Tokyo Station (Jörg arrived on an inner-city train), you also have to introduce the ticket of the previous trip before the Shinkansen double ticket or (like 99% of the Japanese) his Insert chip card. But what if you want to go straight to the Shinkansen area without first entering the gated area of ​​Tokyo Station? That’s also possible, but there are separate gates for that. In any case, Jörg was hopelessly confused because the barrier just wouldn’t go up. But only for a few seconds: As everywhere in Tokyo, at points frequented by tourists, the staff is prepared for people who are completely confused and will help patiently. After a little rummaging around in the purse and the ticket envelopes, Jörg was “in”.