For me, this is more than just good television though - it is deeply personal. 

I was fortunate enough to spend a year living in Kakegawa, a small, often-overlooked town on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line. Most travellers speed past it on their way between Tokyo and Kyoto, barely noticing the station name as it flashes up on the platform signs. 

For me, though, Kakegawa was home. From that one small point on the map, I travelled all over Japan by train -to buzzing cities, quiet hot spring towns, coastal hideaways and historic districts where time seemed to slow right down. 

Those journeys by rail shaped how I came to understand Japan. They were never just a way of getting from A to B. They were part of the experience.

What stands out most in my memories is not only the famous punctuality, but the feeling that surrounds train travel in Japan: 

• Efficiency and respect for time - trains glide into stations to the minute, sometimes to the second. It is an entire culture that respects your time, and there is something very calming about that
• A gentle, unhurried perspective:- even at high speed, travelling by train feels less stressful than flying or driving. You can sit back, watch the landscape change and really absorb where you are
• A window into everyday life -on local lines, you share the carriage with schoolchildren, commuters, grandparents on day trips and friends heading out for the weekend. You catch glimpses of daily life that you would never see from a motorway or an airport
• Ever-changing scenery -one minute you are speeding past rice paddies and rivers, the next you are entering a city of neon signs and skyscrapers. The journey itself becomes a moving postcard 

Japan’s railways offer a perspective you simply do not get any other way. 

When I design Japan itineraries now, my own experience on the rails is always in the back of my mind. I love to weave in rail journeys in a way that feels natural and enriching, rather than just functional. 

A well-balanced itinerary often includes: 

• Shinkansen for the big hops -these iconic bullet trains are ideal for linking major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. They are fast, reliable, comfortable and wonderfully smooth. 
• Local and regional lines for character -slower trains along the coast, into the mountains or through smaller towns can be some of the most memorable parts of a trip. They bring you closer to local culture, history and nature. 
• Station neighbourhoods to explore -many stations are mini-destinations in their own right, with food halls, tiny bars, shops and cultural spots to explore before or after your journey. 

For many travellers I work with, the train journeys become some of the standout memories of their holiday - the moment Mount Fuji appears perfectly framed in the window, the early-morning mist over the countryside, or the quiet contentment of sipping a coffee and watching the world go by. 

A small insider tip for Mount Fuji

If you are travelling on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo and the west (for example towards Kyoto or Osaka), one simple tip can make a big difference: 

Reserve a seat on the right-hand side of the train leaving Tokyo and you will have the best chance of catching that iconic, picture-perfect view of Mount Fuji on a clear day. It is a small detail, but one that many people remember long after they return home. 

Why now is the perfect time to dream of Japan by rail 

With Japan so firmly on the travel radar and “Great Japanese Railway Journeys” bringing its trains to life on screen, this is a wonderful moment to start imagining your own route across the country. 

Whether you are drawn to: 

• Cherry blossoms and traditional ryokan stays 
• Cutting-edge city life and foodie adventures 
• Peaceful countryside, onsen hot springs and coastal scenery 

A thoughtfully designed rail-based itinerary can tie it all together beautifully, giving you seamless travel and a deeper connection with the places you visit. 

If Japan is on your wish list and you would like to experience the country the way many locals do, I would love to help you plan a journey that puts its remarkable rail network at the heart of your trip. 

To start planning your own Japanese rail adventure, you can contact me: 
Email: caron.diggory@travelcounsellors.com 
Phone: 01789 659067 

Let us turn those views from the train window into memories you will treasure for years to come.