What is the name of Japan's high-speed rail network?

Japan’s high-speed rail network is called the Shinkansen.

The Shinkansen is a nationwide system of purpose-built high-speed railway lines linking Japan’s largest urban regions. Its first route, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, opened in 1964 between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, just before the Tokyo Summer Olympics. It transformed travel between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka and became a model for later high-speed rail systems worldwide.

In English, Shinkansen trains are often called “bullet trains,” but Bullet Train is a descriptive nickname rather than the network’s official name. Shinkansen means “new trunk line,” referring to the dedicated high-speed routes rather than one particular train model. Several regional lines now form the network, including the Tōhoku, Sanyō, Kyūshū, Hokkaidō, and Hokuriku Shinkansen.

The network is known for frequent service, strict operating procedures, and strong punctuality. Another common mistake is treating the Shinkansen as a single train: it is a rail system with multiple lines, operators, services, and train series.