By 2011, the Akita branch will extend farther north all the way to Aomori, with future plans calling for a new Hokkaido Shinkansen to extend all the way to Sapporo by 2013. The Tohoku Shinkansen Line runs north from Tokyo and Ueno stations to Sendai, Morioka, Kakunodate, and Hachinohe (some trains require reservations), with branches extending to Shinjo and Akita. Trains run so frequently - as often as four times an hour during peak times not including the Nozomi - that it's almost like catching the local subway. Frustratingly, the Nozomi is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, so rail-pass travelers wishing to go the entire distance must take the Hikari or Kodama and transfer in Osaka or Okayama. The Hikari makes more stops than the Nozomi the Kodama stops at every station. Only Nozomi Super Express Shinkansen, the fastest and most frequent trains, cover the entire 1,179km (730 miles) between Tokyo and Hakata. The Sanyo Shinkansen extends westward from Osaka through Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, and Hiroshima before reaching its final destination in Hakata/Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. The most widely used line for tourists is the Tokaido Shinkansen, which runs from Tokyo and Shinagawa stations west to such cities as Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. There are five basic Shinkansen routes in Japan, plus some offshoots. With a front car that resembles a space rocket, the Shinkansen hurtles along at a maximum speed of 300kmph (187 mph) through the countryside on its own special tracks. Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - The Shinkansen is probably Japan's best-known train. There are also private regional companies, like Kintetsu (Kinki Nippon Railway) operating around Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Ise and Odakyu Electric Railway operating from Tokyo to Hakone. Most of Japan's passenger trains are run by six companies (such as JR East and JR Kyushu) that make up the Japan Railways (JR) Group. Train stations also may have a counter where hotel reservations can be made free of charge. The staff may not speak English, but they usually have maps or brochures in English and can point you in the direction of your hotel. Furthermore, most train stations in Japan's major cities and resort areas have tourist offices. And because train stations are usually located in the heart of the city next to the city bus terminal or a subway station, arriving in a city by train is usually the most convenient method. Bullet trains even have telephones and carts selling food and drinks. All trains except local commuters have washrooms, toilets, and drinking water. Whether you're being whisked through the countryside aboard the famous Shinkansen bullet train or are winding your way up a wooded mountainside in an electric streetcar, trains in Japan are punctual, comfortable, safe, and clean. The most efficient way to travel around most of Japan is by train. You can also travel by plane (good for long-distance hauls but expensive unless you plan ahead), bus (the cheapest mode of travel), ferry, and car. Japan has an extensive transport system, the most convenient segment of which is the nation's excellent rail service.
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