The long-awaited extension of the Shinkansen – known in the west as the Bullet Train – is scheduled to open in March. Travellers can now take the train out of Tokyo beyond the previous last stop at Kanazawa and follow the so-called Rainbow Route, stopping at Komatsu, Kaga Onsen, Awara Onsen, Fukui and Echizen-Takefu and ending at Tsuruga.
The total end-to-end travel time of the extension is a mere 50 minutes, yet the new route opens up easy access to a massive range of destinations that are utterly charming and less travelled, nestled between the Japanese Alps and meandering west coast.
Among the many wonderful destinations along the way, highlights include the therapeutic hot springs and traditional ryokan lodgings at Kaga Onsen and Awara Onsen and the stunning clouds of cherry blossom that appear in spring around Fukui, which also hosts an amazing dinosaur museum and an extraordinary Buddhist temple that stages futuristic services with techno music and projection mapping. Foodies should make sure to sample some Echizen crab, a local delicacy that can weigh up to a kilogram.
For more information, get in touch with our team in Japan at: [email protected]
