500 Series

One ambition yet to fulfil in Japan is to travel on a 500 Series shinkansen. So far they have eluded me because they are only used on the very fastest 'Nozomi' services between Tokyo and Hakata and this is the one train that you aren't allowed to use with a Japan Rail Pass. But I need to travel down to Kyoto in December so that will be my chance to get to travel on one.

Smart beasts eh? There are nine sets built between 1995 and 1998 and they have a top speed of 200 mph although in service thay are normally run at a maximum of 186 mph. I've seen them running through Shizuoka at that speed - a very impressive sight.

These sixteen car trains are powered on every axle and have a total output of 25,000 HP. Each train cost around GBP £25 million.