Japan is the homeland of high-speed trains and this adventurous journey on the Shinkansen begins in Tokyo Station where the twenty first century meets with Samurai tradition.

The Shinkansen is the most famous train in Japan and has been travelling at high speed on its own rail network to the country's most important cities since 1964 and travels up to around three hundred and twenty kilometres an hour.

The six hundred and thirty four metre high Tokyo Skytree has become the new landmark of the city and a water bus journey on the Sumida River from Asakusa to Hinode Pier is a must. From here, Tokyo bay can be crossed to the artificial island of Odaiba which once served as a defence, but today, for entertainment. This once poor fishing village has now become one of the largest metropolises in the world.

We arrive in Kyoto, cradle of Japanese culture, an ancient imperial city with twelve hundred years of history. Several of its buildings have been declared national treasures. The Nijo-Jo Palace was built by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 and on the northern edge of the city is the Kinkakuji Temple, the Golden Pavilion.

At Osaka Station, the Shinkansen arrives right on time. The usual courtesies are observed and the hi-speed journey starts again. We soon arrive in Okayama with its all-black castle built by Ukita Hideie in 1597.

Three years after Okayama, the route to Hakata was opened on March 10, 1975. Today, the train arrives at this final station of our journey punctually, quickly and comfortably.