The Tokaido Shinkansen became the world’s first high-speed rail service when it opened between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka in 1964.
Japan opened the line on 1 October 1964, shortly before the Tokyo Olympics. It connected the country’s two largest metropolitan regions through Nagoya and Kyoto and dramatically reduced travel time compared with conventional rail. The service was operated by Japanese National Railways and later became part of the Central Japan Railway Company network.
The line was built as a dedicated standard-gauge railway rather than an upgrade of Japan’s older narrow-gauge main lines. That choice allowed higher speeds, purpose-built infrastructure, and separation from most slower traffic. Its success encouraged high-speed rail projects in Europe and elsewhere.
The Tokaido Shinkansen remains one of Japan’s busiest railway corridors. The route is also notable for passing near Mount Fuji, although visibility depends on weather and the train’s direction.