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Thursday, 17th September 2015
In Japan Travel News,

Hokkaido shinkansen to begin service in March

The authorities behind the hotly anticipated bullet train link between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto in Hokkaido and Shin-Aomori have announced it will go live in March.

Putting the Seikan Tunnel to use, passengers will be able to use the trains, capable of reaching operating speeds of 320 kilometres per hour, to get to their destinations much quicker.

When it opens to the public, the new line will represent the first time that Hokkaido has seen a bullet train put into service.

It means that from March 26th, travellers will be able to continue using this mode of transport to complete journeys from Tokyo, as it will link up with the existing Tokyo and Shin-Aomori line, reports Fuji TV.

Officials have announced that the route will host 13 round trips per day, with ten of them being operated by the fastest Hayabusa trains between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate Hokuto.

Another round trip between Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture and Shin-Hakodate will also benefit from such a high-speed train.

To make up the rest of the services, two Hayate trains between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto and Shin-Aomori and also Morioka will operate daily.

Travelling times will be cut as a result of the new shinkansen coming into service. At present, trips between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate take around five hours and 20 minutes.

This is because passengers must use the Tohoku shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori and then transfer to an express train, which slows the whole process down.

From March, this journey will be reduced to four hours and ten minutes, as it will be possible to complete it in its entirety by bullet train.

Japan is well-known throughout the world for its shinkansen and travelling in this manner is an experience all visitors to the country should undertake at least once during their trip.