If it is visible at all, it is impossible to miss.

Do NOT plan on seeing Mt. Fuji as you whiz by, it's not visible or only partially visible almost all the time. You have to be quite lucky.

I thought some of the strange looking Pachinko Parlors you zoom by were more interesting than the rice paddies, but I suppose that's because of my weird sense of humor.

The Westin is in Ebisu so it is easier (and maybe marginally cheaper) to board the shinkansen in Shinagawa. You know, the shinkansen lines other than the Tokkaido are not quite as fast but they are a good experience too. For Y20,000 each, you could get a JR East pass that is good on all Tokyo shinkansen EXCEPT the Tokkaido line and, including the Narita Express both ways, could possibly be modestly more cost effective. In fact, if you were stopping over in Japan in both directions of your trip, you could get the "flex-pass" JR East pass for the same price and very possibly work it so you had train access included on both stopovers on one pass.

Bullet train is an odd experience: it's SO smooth, I didn't have any real sense at all how fast we were moving.

Oh, and it's awfully expensive.

I did find the rail system in Japan an engineering marvel. Coordinating trains leaving every few minutes, at speeds up to 200+ mph, is an amazing achievement.

I'm afraid that's my experience too, it was only when we passed a shinkansen going the other direction whilst at full throttle (WHOOOOMPHFF!) that I got reminded of the speed at which were pelting - must admit that I've only travelled on shinkansen after sunset.

The other poster's suggestion of standing at a platform whilst a nozomi hurtles past sounds (literally) awesome. ^ ^ ^

Being on a hikiari as the Nozomi passes by is nice :) You can feel the train sway a bit just after the train as a whole passes you. Be reminded, that there are SIXTEEN cars to per train. Makes them a LONG LONG "snake" train going through on the tracks to Osaka or to Tokyo. ;) I loved taking photos of them passing the ACT Okura Hotel Hamamatsu from my 32nd floor room.

Oh yeah, don't forget that the time shown on your ticket is the _departure_ time, not the arrival time of the train, when going to the station! Beware. :)

Sanosuke!

:confused: ... and don't forget to eat your sandwiches before the "consume by" date.

I still think the linear motor car from PVG to no where is much more of a wow experience, top speed was 440+- KMH :D !

More specifically, Fuji is on the NORTH side of the Shinkansen tracks, but your chances of seeing it in the summer, when the atmosphere is hazy, are slim.

In Shanghai, China, they have the "mother" of all bullet trains--the not-so magnificent Maglev. It's a 7-minute ride from a Shangahi subway station to the new airport. It gets up to about a 250 mph full speed (for about 2 minutes) before starting to slow down upon arrival. RT is $10. It's great if you're going to or from the airport with no more than carry-on luggage, but it's not worth it as a thrill ride as it almost seems that you're not moving becuase it's so smooth.

My weird sense of humor always led me to look for the 'hole in the wall' when walking by a Pachinko Parlor.

Cash payoffs are illegal, so one must exchange the steel balls/winnings for special tokens before leaving the Parlor. Outside, there will be a slot in a nearby wall or shed. Place the tokens in, and someone will pass back cash.

It's illegal, but arrests are very rare.

They look a bit more like bank tellers in Tokyo. It's your local neighborhood T U C shop. In fact, I don't believe it is illegal under Japanese law. They are an independent company which just happens to buy the little doohickys the pachinko parlor gives you in exchange for all those ball bearings, and then sell the doohickeys back to the pachinko parlor for a bit less.

Many Japanese seem to believe these cashiers' profits go straight to North Korea, incidentally.

Seems at least one Pachinko group is owned by born in Japan Koreans(Masayoshi Sohns family owns the Yuko Lucky group in Kyushu)..... and don't forget the Police Agencies benevolent fund!

I did 2 day trips from Tokyo several years ago -- one to Kyoto and another to Osaka. Not sure which class of bullet train they were on? Both times took the first one there from Tokyo station and the last one back -- made long but great day trips. Though the train was not that memorable... interesting at first, but once you get going you sort of adjust to the speed and except for passing Mt. Fuji the landscape seemed to repeat. Was sort of expecting it to be like my train rides in Europe (i.e. the TGV), but found it less scenic.

If you want scenic train rides in Japan its not going to be on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

The Shanghai maglev was out of the blue, JR Central is currently developing and testing a maglev train, with possible usage in a Shinkansen line in the future. The problem with Maglev technology is that is a lot more expensive to implement (you need new infrustucture), I could talk forever about this..