The Shinkansen has been a by-word for speed, safety and reliability for over fifty years since the first “bullet train” ran in 1964. The Shinkansen, while truly marvel of engineering, is also the envy of commuters stuck in packed, slow carriages worldwide.

This week, Japan’s train enthusiasts have a new reason to be excited, with tomorrow’s opening of the new Hokuriku Shinkansen line, connecting Tokyo to Kanazawa in just two-and-a-half hours — a journey that used to only be accessible by flight or a four-hour train ride.

For those who aren’t lucky enough to get seats on the Hokuriku yet, check out the panoramic imagery that we took from inside the train. Here’s a look at the train’s upscale “Grand Class”:

In addition to this “Grand Class” seating, the train offers two other different sections spanning over 12 cars. Here’s a glimpse at their luxurious “Green Car” seating:

You can also browse through panoramic imagery of its “Standard Class” cars:

We’re bringing you this Street View preview of the new Shinkansen thanks to the JR East Railway Company, which let us aboard early to capture the imagery just a few weeks back. Here’s a video of us collecting it:

We hope this’ll help tempt you to travel on the Hokuriku next time you’re in Japan!

Posted by Wakaba Ohkura, Program Manager, Google Japan