Cheapest Bullet Train Ride In Japan Lasts 3 Minutes

Above, an E4 series shinkansen featured in the article's video. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is a train buff's paradise.

Some areas run vintage steam locomotives, but for the most part, there are modern commuter trains and bullet trains (shinkansens) of differing models.

Rocket News 24 has a shinkansen story of a bullet train in Nīgata Prefecture whose fare costs only ¥240 ($2.34) for a a ride of three minutes duration.

A video of the 3-minute trip is included with the article.

They wrote:

Becoming a conductor of one is a typical kindergarten dream, and while a lot of kids grow out of that phase, some emerge as bona fide train fanatics who go by many monikers: tetsu-ota, tetchan, tetsu-kichi (as in “crazy”), you name it. Unfortunately, travel by shinkansen may be fast and luxurious, but it’s generally not cheap—for example, a three-hour one-way ride from Tokyo to Ōsaka can cost around 14,300 yen (US $140). 

So what’s this about a 240-yen ticket in Nīgata Prefecture that has train enthusiasts all abuzz? A seasonal train station that’s actually part of a ski resort? A place called “Cowabunga” 125 miles north of Tokyo? Let comedian and self-declared train otaku, Ayako Suzukawa, be your guide today!

Sound interesting? To read more, go here.