The Tōkaidō Shinkansen began operation in 1964.
The line officially opened on 1 October 1964, connecting Tokyo and Osaka just before the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Its launch marked the beginning of Japan’s Shinkansen network and is widely treated as the start of modern high-speed rail.
At opening, two principal services operated. The limited-stop Hikari completed the Tokyo–Osaka journey in about four hours, while the all-stations Kodama took roughly five hours. The first trains were 0 Series Shinkansen sets, designed for high-speed operation on a newly built, dedicated route.
The railway was created to relieve severe congestion on the older Tōkaidō Main Line. Its separate alignment, standard gauge, continuously welded rail, electric traction, and sophisticated signaling allowed much faster and more reliable service than conventional trains. The line’s success encouraged high-speed rail projects in Europe and elsewhere.