Hayabusa Shinkansen line

On 5th March 2011, the latest section of the Japanese Shinkansen track was opened. Known as the Hayabusa service, the route operates between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori (on the northern tip of Japan's main island, Honshu). The route is nearly 400km long (the longest Shinkansen service in Japan) and travels at speeds of up to 300km/h.

Following the massive earthquake and tsunami (11th March 2011), the line was suspended. Amazingly, the service from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori was reopened by 22nd March; although a full-speed service was not operating until 23rd September 2011.

Tourism potential in northern Honshu

The construction of the Hayabusa line opens up new tourism possibilities to the northern regions of Honshu. Traditionally, travellers to Japan still mostly head south-west from Tokyo to areas like Kyoto using what is the oldest Shinkansen route (Tokaido service; Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka). However, the construction of the Hayabusa route between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori means that hitherto largely unexplored and exciting destinations are now easily within reach from Tokyo.

For example, places such as Aomori, Hakkoda, Oirase (Gorge), Oyu, Hiraizumi, Ichinoseki, and Nikko provide new experiences for travellers. These include:

• visiting the Wa Rasse Nebuta Museum to see spectacular Nebuta Floats
• tasting the superb seafood fresh from Aomori food market
• seeing the 6000-year-old Jomon archaeological site, Sannai Maruyama
• walking on Hakkoda Mountain
• cycling or walking through Japan's most beautiful river valley (Oirase Gorge) and relaxing in thermal hot springs
• visiting the temples of Hiraizumi (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Nikko (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• visiting the 4000-year-old Oyu Stone Circles - built by the Jomon people

Extension to Hokkaido

The Hayabusa Shinkansen route is in the process of being extended to Japan's most northern island, Hokkaido. Hokkaido is known for its beautiful scenery, wildlife, and winter sports, as well as its now largely extinct indigenous Ainu population. The route will initially join Aomori with Hokkaido's southern most town (Hakodate; due to be completed by March 2016) via the longest undersea railway tunnel in the world (Seikan Tunnel). It will reach Hokkaido's capital (Sapporo) by 2030.

The extension of the Hayabusa Shinkansen route from Aomori to Hokkaido means that the number of travellers to the northern regions of Honshu will grow, and tourists will have the chance to experience new and exciting destinations in northern Honshu and Hokkaido for many years to come.

Further details

Details of Timetrekkers' self-guided trip to northern Honshu using the Hayabusa Shinkansen rail line can be found at http://gotimetrekkers.com/jps020-inside-japan-stones-and-temples-north

Includes:

• Accommodation, all breakfasts and 4 evening dinners
• Airport transfers
• Train tickets (including Shinkansen)
• Private car and driver
• Route notes/instruction set (including English-Japanese translation cheatsheet)
• Gratuities

ENDS-

Contact patrick@gotimetrekkers.com, call 01162701644, or visit http://gotimetrekkers.com

About Timetrekkers

Timetrekkers® is a specialist tour operator, providing guided, semi-guided, and self-guided archaeocultural adventures across the globe. Timetrekkers® is renowned for creating unique, affordable and exciting tailor-made holidays to popular and off-the-beaten-track destinations that include activity, adventure, and archaeology/culture.