NOTIFICATION SQUAD: I've been looking for an excuse to ride the shinkansen and shoot a cinematic style video for a long time now. So when the 60th year anniversary of the bullet train rolled around, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't miss! I hope this video did the shinkansen justice! ⭐BIG thanks to Epidemic for sponsoring the video! Use discount code AIJ50 by November 8th at share.epidemicsound.com/aijOCT24
@@AbroadinJapanthink of a 14 day in the rural Japan ? A lot of people trying to escape city live and the Japan rural lore is there for sure. Keep up the great work mate.
I got inspired by that 14 days in Japan Itinerary video and went to Japan not so long ago. I made few tweaks to it though hehe. It was a fantastic trip. Thank you for the ideas. :)
It was the documentary about the train to Busan that really worried me. (Edit: Don't worry, I know where Busan is; it's just a trivial comment in the vein of the first one. 😊)
Blows my mind that the trains come so often that you can get off at a major station for lunch then get back on a train at anytime and continue on your way. In transit planning this is called "frequency is freedom", Japan takes it to a whole new level!
going hundreds of kms off work to have lunch and come back on time is a luxury most of us can only dream of. i love cars and driving it, but i hate being stuck with dumb drivers and traffic on the road. with decent public transport i can get rid of my boring daily and get a more exciting car for the weekend, like a lot of japanese car enthusiasts do.
the frequency is so often that you really dont really need to buy your tickets in advance. you can show up and buy your tickets on the spot and really only expect to wait 30 mins for the next train
@@TheRebel57 the wait isn't even thirty minutes for the shinkansen. Nozomi, the one Chris is taking here, comes every 3-10 minutes. It's crazy. It's a feedback cycle of the trains being frequent and convenient, so it gets good business, and the good business means it makes financial sense to have such frequent long distance trains. Oh, and there's no dynamic pricing, so the prices won't skyrocket if you book last minute at the ticket counter.
You did Shin-Kobe dirty! 😢 Herb Garden is a beautiful sculpted garden which goes halfway down the mountain, and then there’s a beautiful natural waterfall near the bottom. Also five minutes from station are a number of 19th century European style houses which survived the Kobe earthquake and which are now themed museums. Admittedly I didn’t go in 35 degrees heat but it really is lovely. Bring Sharla with you next time and do it properly in Spring or autumn.
I went to Nunobiki Herb Gardens on my first visit to Japan back in 2017 and it was honestly one of the best memories of that trip. As I was walking through the herb garden, a nice old man started talking to me. He told me all about his travels, told me that he scaled the mountain every week and took the cable car down to keep his health and fitness in tact. He was 80+ but still enjoyed worldwide travels and his story honestly inspired me so much. I'm crap with names, so I forgot his name, but the memories of talking to him and feeling inspired by him will never fade.
1:51 - random fact for any Metal Gear Solid fans interested, the english voice onboard the shinkansen is provided by Donna Burke, who sang "Heaven's Divide" for MGS Peacewalker, and "Sins of the Father" (the WHOA-HOOOOOOOOOO song) from MGS 5 Phantom Pain. I was delighted to hear her when I rode from Tokyo to Osaka.
For the ropeway in Kobe, I would actually advise going down the mountain afterward! I went this spring, and the herb gardens are lovely! You can relax in the sun in one of the many hammocks, you can spot little plant pot people, enjoy all the lovely flowers and if feeling up for a longer trip walk down the mountain all the way on quite an adventurous trail alongside nature and waterfalls. We met a few locals along the way who told us about the legend of the mountain, and all in all, it has been one of the most memorable experiences on my japan trip!
Yes! Kobe is stunning. The walk from the train station up the mountain was full of surprises, well worth the walk up. Then I took the ropeway down for a whole new perspective. I didn't spend long enough in Kobe to really get a feel for the city, but heading up to the herb garden was a top 5 highlight of that trip.
This made me feel oddly nostalgic, it was nice to have a relatively chill video where its just you bringing us along on a little trip somewhere. Some of these videos here and there would be really nice!
Great video Chris, LOVE the Shinkansen and on my most recent trip we did the same route in reverse, albeit over a few days and crucially using the Hello Kitty branded train between Fukuoka and Hiroshima. I think one of the best things about the Shinkansen is it's one of the few places in Japan where it's ok to eat in public. I sometimes feel I have to buy a ticket in order to just eat the tray of discount sushi I've picked up from a department store at closing time.
@@trevors7646 Perhaps, he's a busy man, Mr Affable is. Sunday Times best seller and good friends with the Emperor of Japan and King Charles init - that comes with responsibilities it does.
One thing I'm really enjoying is that with every video of Abroad in Japan I notice that I can read a bit more of what appears on screen. Tells me I'm still making progress with learning Japanese! Also, cool trains this time around! I appreciate the facts and stories around this mode of transportation that not just the British could learn a thing or two from (looking at you, Deutsche Bahn).
That music + mood rollercoaster from leaving the train (sorta sneaky mysterious) to arriving in Nagoya upbeat (JAPANS MOST CITY lol) back to uncertain exploration was absolutely masterfully done
Hey.... my wife and I actually enjoyed the rope way in Kobe... had delicious german beer up top and staggered our way down the garden path...👍😎🍺. But actually... on a previous trip to Tokyo, we had a canal tour of the waterways crisis crossing the city and were absolutely mind blown at the engineering involved in creating it. We also realized that the vast majority of tourists to Tokyo never even notice the Canals that rum mostly underneath the roadways and train paths. The canals are almost invisible. If you created a video showcasing existing canal tours, I'm sure many people would love the experience. The tour we took was at Nipponbashi Bridge near Tokyo Station. The Bridge itself is a beautiful work of art. Thank you for all you do... our travels there have been amazing due in large part to your reconnaissance. Thanks again and God bless.🙏👍😎⛩️
I'm not exactly a train nerd, but Japan has just nailed that aspect of public transportation. The efficiency is honestly unmatched, even though it's a bit expensive. The one time I went West from Tokyo, I didn't get to see Mt. Fuji, and to be fair, I think I enjoyed riding the slower trains through the countryside in all its Summer-green glory even more than the busy Shinkansen departures where the endless concrete just flashes by.
literally costs less then any trip in germany - and is actually reliable - like 130 for green cart is a great price cpmsidering in ger you would need to pay around 220 euros for a "green cart" equivalant
You really did the Herb Garden dirty. Part of what makes it such a fun destination is visiting the perfume shop and thenk taking the hike down the mountain to see Nunobiki falls. On a clear day like when I want back in September, the view is excellent and the hike to the falls is fantastic.
Travelling on the Shinkansen was definitely a highlight of my first trip to Japan. 6 trips over 2 weeks, every one on time and fabulous. Never thought I'd get so enthusiastic about train travel, but this is next level.
Just gotta say, the editing/general production keeps getting better and better! The transition shot to the first bullet train blew my mind Chris, keep it up!! This is good storytelling.
Hey Chris! I've watched most of your videos and just wanted to say your camera work has always been great but it's gotten better and better over the years. We really appreciate your hard work! Thank you!
I’d love to see Chris do a full public transport video in a day. The Shinkansen is a great example to be sure, but I’d love to see him explore the other forms of public transport used throughout Japan. Like a full “I explored Japan for 7 days using nothing but public transport to reach unique destinations.” So you could cover trains, busses, maybe cabs (assuming the cab driver allows filming), and things like that.
Been watching you since 2016 and it was so awesome to run into you and Natsuki by the Yatai in Fukuoka this month! We ended up eating at a Yatai that night, but not along the main street. Natsuki is so cool in person. Looking forward to more videos!
Was in Kobe in November 2017 and too the same ropeway to the Herb garden and is was amazing. The most amazing views. Gorgeous. Also had a tea at the cafe overlooking Kobe skyline, the sea and the mountains. It was a trip of a lifetime.
The Yamanote video was the trigger for the trip my wife and I just returned from. We spent three weeks in Tokyo, Kanazawa, and Hiroshima because your video made seeing Tokyo look so easy. (it was!)
Wow, I did not know it started in 1964! Im sure many updates have been done. Also, not having an accident/ fatality for such a long time can tell you the Japanese culture is all about quality, attention to detail, and being first class. Thanks for the video- love em, Chris!
Although there have certainly been no fatalities or injuries by derailment, many crises have occurred and been overcome. There have been derailments caused by earthquakes directly beneath the tracks, fraud by the train car body manufacturer, and terrorist fires by passengers...I think the JR Shinkansen deserves praise for overcoming such problems and continuing to grow.
This is so cool. I think part of the reason i love the bullet trains so much is because of how they seemingly carve their way through these megacities. I love Blade Runner and whenever i see scenes of Tokyo and a bullet train going through it just has that same vibe to me. Speaking of Tokyo - since its so massive i would love a video where you explore more of it. Maybe go to each of the different boroughs or at least give some history of them and what they're known for. Really enjoyed this classic style of video.
Just wanted to thank you Chris for making these videos, I have been watching you since the pandemic and you’ve made my days a little bit better during a very stressful and hard 4 years for me, your videos are an absolute treat and have made me want to visit japan atleast once in this lifetime if not move there entirely!
You should spend more time in Kobe! I'm currently studying in Kobe for the year (large part because you inspired me to come to Japan many many years ago now) and there's so much interesting stuff here, it'd be great to see it get the spotlight in one of your videos, and preferably not just for the beef. And I'm not just saying that so I can get more ideas of what to do that don't involve bankrupting myself on beef
I love the way you made this video, Chris! I loved the combination of elements. Vlogging with the hand-held camera, but also adding a lot of good shots of locations, and giving so much interesting info about the places and the trains while also adding some humour about the current trip. Thanks for the great content, as always :)
We are always impressed and amazed on how efficient and convenient riding the shinkansen is! Especially as tourists that can avail the JR Pass, it enables us to go to underrated cities like Hiroshima and Fukuoka without wasting precious vacation hours. Hope we come across with you in our future Japan trips, Chris!
Just back from a 14 day holiday in Japan, went from north to south with a JR card, very convenient, especially that they had a special counter for foreigners when reserving seats, no language problem !
Congrats on the Epidemic sponsorship! I thought it was strange you didn't have it already, you've been using their tracks for ages. I hope the reward allows you to go to even greater lengths to show us even greater experiences.
Just went to Japan for the third time, and stopped in Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Yokohama. By far my favourite thing on the whole trip was the Kobe Herb Garden. I think going their in the summer was a disservice to how amazing it really is. Can't wait to go back.
My biggest surprise TIL is that the bullet train is powered by overhead power lines. I didn't realize that sort of system would be maintainable for constant high speed vehicles. I've only been on it on much slower local buses and trams in some cities. I appreciate you and other youtubers making videos like this. I traveled a lot in my youth but not much any more. Seeing places via the internet is a second best. And sometimes I see places I visited in person back in the 80s and it is interesting to compare then and now.
Overhead power lines actually can allow for faster speeds than third rail. High speed rail uses almost exclusively overhead power lines while third rail is more commonly seen for slower city rail lines.
@@Moonstone-Redux I believe you. But prior to this I had only seen it on relatively slow buses and trolleys. Also, I suspect the train system is tailored for the speed. The stuff I have seen has been more 'clunky' and I've seen them bump and spark across certain sections. But again, they are making those knowing the bus is moving around the city at relatively slow speeds.
In all fairness, it did take quite a while before overhead wires became viable for high speeds. Trolley collectors (which are still used for buses) are quite unreliable at higher speeds (according to Wikipedia, it managed to withstand 140 km/h without derailment which is nonetheless lower than the 160 km/h which third rail operate) and there still were two other collectors developed (bow collectors, symmetric pantographs) before half-pantographs (modern current collectors) were the developed. That being said, by the time the Shinkansen was built, the half-pantograph was already developed and the rest consists of optimisations like further reducing wind resistance and making sure the overhead wires are tense enough (which they aren't for trolleybuses and trams).
The Maglev/Chuo Shinkansen had to ditch it and use onboard diesel-electric generators because it generates too much friction to use overhead lines at those speeds. (There were also apparently some weird electrical effects that could appear getting up to speed).
@davidbwa If you're curious about the difference, look up "overhead catenary." This is how they stop high speed wire from sagging between the poles, hang it from a wire that *does* sag but use different length connectors so the lower wire stays level. "Constant tension" is how they keep it pulled taut even with the wire getting longer and shorter as the temperature changes. Usually with a pulley and a hanging weight at the end of a section of wire. For a tram, you're right that they generally don't bother because they're not fast enough to need it.
Dude, I can't put into words inspirational you are as a film maker. You made a very simple video about going on a 9 hour train ride exiting. After every video of yours I just grab my camera and go out filming. Wales may not be as exiting as Japan, but it's still a stunning place to film.
15:46 stupid question and unrelated to the video but how do you choose which people to blur and not to blur? Do they just come up and ask to not be shown?
My girlfriend and I went to the Herb Garden in Kobe this past summer on our Japan trip - it was beautiful! Definitely not amazing Kobe beef up there, but the lavender ice cream we had and tea we brought back was quite good
Usually I don't like when people talk during travel videos, but these ones don't bother me for some reason. Very layed back, gives interesting info about the journey, just feels like the internal monologue I have while travelling lol
The Shinkansen really is a great example of how awesome trains can be. Other countries should learn from Japan and build fast, affordable, and SAFE infrastructure. Great stuff Chris! Cheers!
Besides earthquakes, typhoons, rain and snow regularly stop shinkansen! I regularly travel for work and will get stuck once or twice.a year either at home or my destination. 2 yrs ago I was stuck in Tokyo for 2 extra days because heavy rains around Nagoya and Shizuoka stopped trains most of Friday and Saturday morning and then the ensuing chaos after several hours of delays and then all those thousands of passengers trying to rebook new trains once they started up again. I've also been stuck in a train in the middle of Shiga for several hours due to heavy snow!
at least they have a decent excuse for disruption. UK uses " a bit rainy", "autumn" and "staff things" as excuses to not manage to run a train service ;-)
Although the view from the top in Kobe after the ropeway isn‘t that special, the hike down the mountain through the herb gardens is quite nice. And there‘s also a bit of an adventurous section after you leave the gates of the herb gatens when you take the shortcut to the reservoir. Saw a snake there last time as well haha
Loved this video - felt like when I was preparing for my Japan trip in 2019 and used to watch your videos to help build my itinerary! Now I'm just stuck back at home in Australia, but so pumped to go and visit Japan again one day.
These are the kinds of videos I find really helpful. The part about traveling to Japan that stresses me the most is getting around as a country girl from the US. You make it so simple and take the fear out of it. You look great too btw, I'm so proud of you for all of the hard work you have put in over the last two years. Cheers!
Your videos inspired me to my own trip to Japan this year Chris. Beautiful country, great food, lovely people can see why you moved there. Thanks for the content it's always filmed with such fantastic shots!
Heey I recognized the cable cart instantly when you showed it! I went to the herb garden after having lunch in Kobe! I actually thought it was a fun activity, though I wouldn't recommend hiking down during summer.
It would be great to see what you can do within one day in each prefecture… but it would be very tiring as well. No pressure, but I’d be so excited to watch them if you could! ❤
Coming from Germany, who has its own kinda bullet train, the ICE, I was absolutely blown away by the Shinkansan. Even if (and that is a big "if" nowadays) the ICE is on time, it's way smaller than a Shinkansen car. It's only two-by-two seats and it at least feels much tighter packed. I think the seats are broader and there is more legroom in Japan. And the ceiling is higher up. When I came in the first time it actually reminded me a bit of a space craft. The barriers around the station to keep people from falling onto the tracks are missing in Germany altogether. I know them from other countries and it really helps prevent accidents and suicides. They also require a precise positioning of the train to match the openings with the doors, which is severely lacking on the ICE. There are train car position maps, where you can see where you car will be stopping in the station, but due to time constrains, the train is rarely put together like mentioned. Often it arrives backwards, screwing up all the maps and best laid plans for a short walk to your seat. The frequency and punctuality of the Shinkansen is unmatched. A few decades ago, German trains also were quite punctual, but with the privatization of the trains this went away. Who could have guessed that a company putting money over comfort? Well, everyone. They skimped out on check-ups for the trains and tracks, investing way less into the system and giving most of it to their management and shareholders. Fast forward 10-15 years and trains often went for repairs, taking them out of rotation. It's now quite normal that your train arrives 30-60min late...or will be canceled. I have that happen around 50% of the time I went by train. They sometimes cancel trains for not being full enough (because it will save them more money), while then putting all passengers onto the next train, that is already fully booked. And now you have people fighting over seats, toilets overflowing (and no more toilet paper...), people standing in the train cars for the whole trip, etc. At least the privatization in Japan did not do the same to the trains. They still fear the wrath of the customer. In Germany, they just do not care anymore. I take the Shinkansen over the ICE every time. It's so much better in all aspects.
The difference is that the ICE (and most European HSR) has a 2.9m meter loading gauge - the Shinkansen uses 3.4m. Yes, it's only 50cm, but it makes the trains feel a lot more spacious inside.
Such a nice video, I'm all for this simple style. It kinda feels like an adventure, when you don't plan every single detail and discover things along the way. Such a pleasure to watch.
Do you mean Tokyo or Osaka? There's no Hokkaidou Shinkansen at that time, it was still in the planning stages. Going to Northern Japan was to take a Tohoku Shinkansen then take a sleeper train in either Sendai or Morioka until you reach Sapporo.
Kobe dweller here! The Nunobiki Herb Garden Ropeway is mainly to reach the Herb Garden with very good views along the way. (The Herb Garden itself being gorgeous especially the glass houses.) The real two other ropeways and cable cars which lead to the stunning views of the entirety of Osaka Bay and beyond, however, are the ropeways to Mt. Rokko and the Maya Cablecar which sit at over twice the altitude (around 1000m above sea level). With the nightviews of Hakodate and Nagasaki, it forms one of the so-called "three best views" of Japan 🥰 (even though there are many more!) I absolutely loved today's video! It was such a great glimps into the past, present and future of Shinkansen travel. 😊
Normally I watch AIJ vids pretty soon after they're uploaded but I put off watching this one because I had a project for my Japanese class on things to do in lesser known areas (basically not Tokyo or Kyoto) and I wanted to focus on that. I got assigned Hyogo prefecture. Had I known Chris covered Kobe I would've watched this video earlier! I wrote about the ropeway and thought it was really cool, but I didn't know there was a whole garden up there! But if I ever go, I'll be avoiding the bone-in sausage...
I dream of being able to go to Japan one day. Your videos are a good holdover to live vicariously through someone else until I can make that dream a reality. Such a beautiful country, I'd love to explore it all one day. Thanks for making consistently interesting and informative content, you do a great job!
Really enjoying these down to Earth vicarious travel experiences. They feel very relatable to things I have gotten to do when traveling in Japan in the past, and each video feels like a bite sized chance to see an alternate version of those journeys.
NOTIFICATION SQUAD: I've been looking for an excuse to ride the shinkansen and shoot a cinematic style video for a long time now. So when the 60th year anniversary of the bullet train rolled around, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't miss! I hope this video did the shinkansen justice!
⭐BIG thanks to Epidemic for sponsoring the video! Use discount code AIJ50 by November 8th at share.epidemicsound.com/aijOCT24
Are you UA-camr?
Are you UA-camr?
@@C.Q.U はい、私はUA-camrです！
@@AbroadinJapan So this is the movie, Bullet Train Part 2 starring Brad Pitt redoing his ongoing character, Chris Broad?
Food glorious food. Especially burgers 🍔
This feels like such a 2018-2019 era Abroad in Japan video and I'm so here for it. Chris looks so young and fit!
REAL
idk about fit tho
@@mariomolnar3184 or the young haha
You have low standards then lmao
Ikr
Can't wait for the sequel to the *14 Days in Japan Ultimate Travel Itinerary* series
Coming very soon!
@@AbroadinJapanthink of a 14 day in the rural Japan ? A lot of people trying to escape city live and the Japan rural lore is there for sure. Keep up the great work mate.
Very much interested in this! The university I'm enrolling in soon offers an abroad program, and I'd easily use it!
I got inspired by that 14 days in Japan Itinerary video and went to Japan not so long ago. I made few tweaks to it though hehe. It was a fantastic trip. Thank you for the ideas. :)
@@AbroadinJapan I hope it includes Kyushu. I am going there next year 😃
BULLSHIT on the no fatalities, i watched the documentary Bullet Train with Brad Pitt...
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It was the documentary about the train to Busan that really worried me.
(Edit: Don't worry, I know where Busan is; it's just a trivial comment in the vein of the first one. 😊)
Shaddup
The Orient Express was pretty bad, we all did it.
The bullet train was reliable, the Yakuza, not so much.
Blows my mind that the trains come so often that you can get off at a major station for lunch then get back on a train at anytime and continue on your way. In transit planning this is called "frequency is freedom", Japan takes it to a whole new level!
This is a reason why you don't really need a car in Tokyo. Sadly, that is not the case in most of the US.
going hundreds of kms off work to have lunch and come back on time is a luxury most of us can only dream of. i love cars and driving it, but i hate being stuck with dumb drivers and traffic on the road. with decent public transport i can get rid of my boring daily and get a more exciting car for the weekend, like a lot of japanese car enthusiasts do.
@@lainiwakura1776here comes the big brain 'our country is way too big for trains' reply.
the frequency is so often that you really dont really need to buy your tickets in advance. you can show up and buy your tickets on the spot and really only expect to wait 30 mins for the next train
@@TheRebel57 the wait isn't even thirty minutes for the shinkansen. Nozomi, the one Chris is taking here, comes every 3-10 minutes. It's crazy. It's a feedback cycle of the trains being frequent and convenient, so it gets good business, and the good business means it makes financial sense to have such frequent long distance trains.
Oh, and there's no dynamic pricing, so the prices won't skyrocket if you book last minute at the ticket counter.
the Shinkansen is incredible 🚄
Yo whatup UA-cam
Bro UA-cam is fallof, only 57 likes in 8hrs is crazy
No way its actually official yt acc with 95 likes
ok
Free Bungo Taiga
The Kobe Herb Garden is actually very nice if you have time to walk back down through the garden
I thought so , too.
Ditto.
UA-cam has blue search comments now too? Since when.
💯
Couldn’t agree anymore. And as you leave walking you can walk/jog around those glorious mountains and catch some spectacular waterfalls.
You did Shin-Kobe dirty! 😢 Herb Garden is a beautiful sculpted garden which goes halfway down the mountain, and then there’s a beautiful natural waterfall near the bottom. Also five minutes from station are a number of 19th century European style houses which survived the Kobe earthquake and which are now themed museums. Admittedly I didn’t go in 35 degrees heat but it really is lovely. Bring Sharla with you next time and do it properly in Spring or autumn.
This man only cares for the beauties of food
@@TheDigli😂
Nah Nagoya gets shit on at every opportunity lol. At least go to the best areas and then shit on it. XD
I went during spring, absolutely gorgeous and you can even see Kansai on a super clear day
its true! I went there myself and its much better than connor- uh I mean chris gave it credit for.
I went to Nunobiki Herb Gardens on my first visit to Japan back in 2017 and it was honestly one of the best memories of that trip. As I was walking through the herb garden, a nice old man started talking to me. He told me all about his travels, told me that he scaled the mountain every week and took the cable car down to keep his health and fitness in tact.
He was 80+ but still enjoyed worldwide travels and his story honestly inspired me so much. I'm crap with names, so I forgot his name, but the memories of talking to him and feeling inspired by him will never fade.
1:51 - random fact for any Metal Gear Solid fans interested, the english voice onboard the shinkansen is provided by Donna Burke, who sang "Heaven's Divide" for MGS Peacewalker, and "Sins of the Father" (the WHOA-HOOOOOOOOOO song) from MGS 5 Phantom Pain. I was delighted to hear her when I rode from Tokyo to Osaka.
She also did Raising Heart, the main character's device in Lyrical Nanoha and its sequels. She's also Australian.
that's so cool!
I KNEW she sounded awfully close Snake’s little gadget in MGSV
Marker placed
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BULLSHIT
ありがと日本の新幹線の事正しく伝えてくれるのはChris だけです🥹日本の過激な天気や地震に今まで事故なく支えてくれているJRみなさんに感謝してます。
あなたの日本語は少し不自然です。外国人の方ですかね？
For the ropeway in Kobe, I would actually advise going down the mountain afterward! I went this spring, and the herb gardens are lovely! You can relax in the sun in one of the many hammocks, you can spot little plant pot people, enjoy all the lovely flowers and if feeling up for a longer trip walk down the mountain all the way on quite an adventurous trail alongside nature and waterfalls. We met a few locals along the way who told us about the legend of the mountain, and all in all, it has been one of the most memorable experiences on my japan trip!
hammocks as well as waterfalls! pinning it in Maps immediately
We went at Christmas, wonderful.
He would have done it if Sharla was there.
Yes! Kobe is stunning. The walk from the train station up the mountain was full of surprises, well worth the walk up. Then I took the ropeway down for a whole new perspective. I didn't spend long enough in Kobe to really get a feel for the city, but heading up to the herb garden was a top 5 highlight of that trip.
The footbath they had with the chill breeze was perfect
This made me feel oddly nostalgic, it was nice to have a relatively chill video where its just you bringing us along on a little trip somewhere. Some of these videos here and there would be really nice!
Great video Chris, LOVE the Shinkansen and on my most recent trip we did the same route in reverse, albeit over a few days and crucially using the Hello Kitty branded train between Fukuoka and Hiroshima. I think one of the best things about the Shinkansen is it's one of the few places in Japan where it's ok to eat in public. I sometimes feel I have to buy a ticket in order to just eat the tray of discount sushi I've picked up from a department store at closing time.
The Hello Kitty Haruka is a great way to get from KIX into Osaka, or from Osaka to Kyoto as well. A bit cheaper as well.
Always cool to hear Donna Burke's Shinkansen voice
Working overtime on the RV trip!
Two Abroad in Japan videos so close together! Spoiling us now are we, Chris?
nah, next video will be after Christmas now
@@trevors7646 Perhaps, he's a busy man, Mr Affable is. Sunday Times best seller and good friends with the Emperor of Japan and King Charles init - that comes with responsibilities it does.
One thing I'm really enjoying is that with every video of Abroad in Japan I notice that I can read a bit more of what appears on screen. Tells me I'm still making progress with learning Japanese!
Also, cool trains this time around! I appreciate the facts and stories around this mode of transportation that not just the British could learn a thing or two from (looking at you, Deutsche Bahn).
Germany wants to boost their car makers by letting the railways go, same as the US.
That music + mood rollercoaster from leaving the train (sorta sneaky mysterious) to arriving in Nagoya upbeat (JAPANS MOST CITY lol) back to uncertain exploration was absolutely masterfully done
One of the reasons I love your channel is that I love to see what food you're eating. 😅
Hey.... my wife and I actually enjoyed the rope way in Kobe... had delicious german beer up top and staggered our way down the garden path...👍😎🍺.
But actually... on a previous trip to Tokyo, we had a canal tour of the waterways crisis crossing the city and were absolutely mind blown at the engineering involved in creating it. We also realized that the vast majority of tourists to Tokyo never even notice the Canals that rum mostly underneath the roadways and train paths. The canals are almost invisible.
If you created a video showcasing existing canal tours, I'm sure many people would love the experience. The tour we took was at Nipponbashi Bridge near Tokyo Station. The Bridge itself is a beautiful work of art.
Thank you for all you do... our travels there have been amazing due in large part to your reconnaissance.
Thanks again and God bless.🙏👍😎⛩️
I love that your stock "British railway station" image is Nottingham - it always makes me do a double-take because that's my local one!
I'm not exactly a train nerd, but Japan has just nailed that aspect of public transportation.
The efficiency is honestly unmatched, even though it's a bit expensive.
The one time I went West from Tokyo, I didn't get to see Mt. Fuji, and to be fair, I think I enjoyed riding the slower trains through the countryside in all its Summer-green glory even more than the busy Shinkansen departures where the endless concrete just flashes by.
It's easy when you're starting from scratch and don't have to deal with building railways over housing, roads and modern red tape.
@Lawlzinator Japan had already been building railways since the late 1800s, stop making up excuses for the US's abysmal public transport situation.
@@Lawlzinator the US used to have the biggest passenger rail network in the world
It's easy when your "economic miracle" is artificially funded by western superpowers as an ideological element of the cold war.
literally costs less then any trip in germany - and is actually reliable - like 130 for green cart is a great price cpmsidering in ger you would need to pay around 220 euros for a "green cart" equivalant
You really did the Herb Garden dirty. Part of what makes it such a fun destination is visiting the perfume shop and thenk taking the hike down the mountain to see Nunobiki falls. On a clear day like when I want back in September, the view is excellent and the hike to the falls is fantastic.
In June 2023 I went to the Herb Garden, and it was so nice to hike down as you said. It feels like I'm in a different place at a different time.
This is was so relaxing to watch! Loved hearing about the current trains and the newer one!
Who else was waiting for a UA-camr to make this video??? Now Chris should make the journey from Hakodate to Kagoshima by Shinkansen lol!!!
Loved that transition in the start from new to old! Feels like something one would draw out on a storyboard
Always up for another Abroad video.
As a Brit, I find the Shinkansen’s impeccable safety record and extreme punctuality even more impressive than it’s speed.
Just left Japan a few days ago. Japan is the friendliest, cleanest, and beautiful county I have ever been too.
That edit to 1964 really hit the spot
Seamlessly done! 👍
Travelling on the Shinkansen was definitely a highlight of my first trip to Japan. 6 trips over 2 weeks, every one on time and fabulous. Never thought I'd get so enthusiastic about train travel, but this is next level.
Just gotta say, the editing/general production keeps getting better and better! The transition shot to the first bullet train blew my mind Chris, keep it up!! This is good storytelling.
Pretty sure he has an editor
This video felt more laid back in a good way, One of my favorite you ever made.
Tokyo to Hakodate on a single day, perfect way to showcase Tohoku since you love it, stops at Sendai, Morioka and Aomori for short breaks
Hey Chris! I've watched most of your videos and just wanted to say your camera work has always been great but it's gotten better and better over the years. We really appreciate your hard work! Thank you!
I’d love to see Chris do a full public transport video in a day. The Shinkansen is a great example to be sure, but I’d love to see him explore the other forms of public transport used throughout Japan. Like a full “I explored Japan for 7 days using nothing but public transport to reach unique destinations.” So you could cover trains, busses, maybe cabs (assuming the cab driver allows filming), and things like that.
Been watching you since 2016 and it was so awesome to run into you and Natsuki by the Yatai in Fukuoka this month! We ended up eating at a Yatai that night, but not along the main street. Natsuki is so cool in person. Looking forward to more videos!
I can't imagine a better person to hit the yatais with than Natsuki!
Was in Kobe in November 2017 and too the same ropeway to the Herb garden and is was amazing. The most amazing views. Gorgeous. Also had a tea at the cafe overlooking Kobe skyline, the sea and the mountains. It was a trip of a lifetime.
Nunobiki Gardens was actually really nice! I suggest going during spring when the flowers are all in full bloom, just beautiful.
The Shinkansen never gets old, doesn't it
To be fair they bring out new models fairly regularly! The trains are constantly getting faster each year
Still waiting for japan to get maglev sorted, i wanna go to tokyo for day trip :(
Does it, not doesn't it since you used 'never'.
"Shin-kansen" means "New trunk lines" in Japanese since 1960s.
@@怪盗エメラルド推しの声量は117 Also why many of the stations are "Shin-(city)", like "Shin-osaka" or "Shin-kobe", New Osaka, New Kobe
The Yamanote video was the trigger for the trip my wife and I just returned from. We spent three weeks in Tokyo, Kanazawa, and Hiroshima because your video made seeing Tokyo look so easy. (it was!)
Love your videos, Chris. You get me through life
Wow, I did not know it started in 1964! Im sure many updates have been done. Also, not having an accident/ fatality for such a long time can tell you the Japanese culture is all about quality, attention to detail, and being first class. Thanks for the video- love em, Chris!
Although there have certainly been no fatalities or injuries by derailment, many crises have occurred and been overcome.
There have been derailments caused by earthquakes directly beneath the tracks, fraud by the train car body manufacturer, and terrorist fires by passengers...I think the JR Shinkansen deserves praise for overcoming such problems and continuing to grow.
This is so cool. I think part of the reason i love the bullet trains so much is because of how they seemingly carve their way through these megacities. I love Blade Runner and whenever i see scenes of Tokyo and a bullet train going through it just has that same vibe to me.
Speaking of Tokyo - since its so massive i would love a video where you explore more of it. Maybe go to each of the different boroughs or at least give some history of them and what they're known for.
Really enjoyed this classic style of video.
Just wanted to thank you Chris for making these videos, I have been watching you since the pandemic and you’ve made my days a little bit better during a very stressful and hard 4 years for me, your videos are an absolute treat and have made me want to visit japan atleast once in this lifetime if not move there entirely!
I love the Kobe ropeway and Herb Garden! Was a big highlight of our last 2.5 week trip!
You should spend more time in Kobe! I'm currently studying in Kobe for the year (large part because you inspired me to come to Japan many many years ago now) and there's so much interesting stuff here, it'd be great to see it get the spotlight in one of your videos, and preferably not just for the beef. And I'm not just saying that so I can get more ideas of what to do that don't involve bankrupting myself on beef
How do you find day to day life there? It's on my list of possible places to live, since I loved visiting so much
Chris, the production quality on this one is above and beyond. You should be really proud of this!
I love the way you made this video, Chris! I loved the combination of elements. Vlogging with the hand-held camera, but also adding a lot of good shots of locations, and giving so much interesting info about the places and the trains while also adding some humour about the current trip. Thanks for the great content, as always :)
We are always impressed and amazed on how efficient and convenient riding the shinkansen is! Especially as tourists that can avail the JR Pass, it enables us to go to underrated cities like Hiroshima and Fukuoka without wasting precious vacation hours. Hope we come across with you in our future Japan trips, Chris!
Just back from a 14 day holiday in Japan, went from north to south with a JR card, very convenient, especially that they had a special counter for foreigners when reserving seats, no language problem !
Congrats on the Epidemic sponsorship! I thought it was strange you didn't have it already, you've been using their tracks for ages. I hope the reward allows you to go to even greater lengths to show us even greater experiences.
Two videos in the last 10 days?! Now that is as fast as a Shinkansen!! Love the videos Chris and keep up the great content!
More Affable in Japan videos are always welcome.
I've taken the Shinkansen only twice during my time in Japan. Always, a cool ride.
That transition at the beginning between your shot and the video from 1964 was soo satisfying
Just went to Japan for the third time, and stopped in Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Yokohama. By far my favourite thing on the whole trip was the Kobe Herb Garden. I think going their in the summer was a disservice to how amazing it really is. Can't wait to go back.
6:58 Chris speaks in a legit american accent there XD
My biggest surprise TIL is that the bullet train is powered by overhead power lines. I didn't realize that sort of system would be maintainable for constant high speed vehicles. I've only been on it on much slower local buses and trams in some cities. I appreciate you and other youtubers making videos like this. I traveled a lot in my youth but not much any more. Seeing places via the internet is a second best. And sometimes I see places I visited in person back in the 80s and it is interesting to compare then and now.
Overhead power lines actually can allow for faster speeds than third rail. High speed rail uses almost exclusively overhead power lines while third rail is more commonly seen for slower city rail lines.
@@Moonstone-Redux I believe you. But prior to this I had only seen it on relatively slow buses and trolleys. Also, I suspect the train system is tailored for the speed. The stuff I have seen has been more 'clunky' and I've seen them bump and spark across certain sections. But again, they are making those knowing the bus is moving around the city at relatively slow speeds.
In all fairness, it did take quite a while before overhead wires became viable for high speeds. Trolley collectors (which are still used for buses) are quite unreliable at higher speeds (according to Wikipedia, it managed to withstand 140 km/h without derailment which is nonetheless lower than the 160 km/h which third rail operate) and there still were two other collectors developed (bow collectors, symmetric pantographs) before half-pantographs (modern current collectors) were the developed. That being said, by the time the Shinkansen was built, the half-pantograph was already developed and the rest consists of optimisations like further reducing wind resistance and making sure the overhead wires are tense enough (which they aren't for trolleybuses and trams).
The Maglev/Chuo Shinkansen had to ditch it and use onboard diesel-electric generators because it generates too much friction to use overhead lines at those speeds. (There were also apparently some weird electrical effects that could appear getting up to speed).
@davidbwa If you're curious about the difference, look up "overhead catenary." This is how they stop high speed wire from sagging between the poles, hang it from a wire that *does* sag but use different length connectors so the lower wire stays level.
"Constant tension" is how they keep it pulled taut even with the wire getting longer and shorter as the temperature changes. Usually with a pulley and a hanging weight at the end of a section of wire.
For a tram, you're right that they generally don't bother because they're not fast enough to need it.
Dude, I can't put into words inspirational you are as a film maker. You made a very simple video about going on a 9 hour train ride exiting. After every video of yours I just grab my camera and go out filming. Wales may not be as exiting as Japan, but it's still a stunning place to film.
15:46 stupid question and unrelated to the video but how do you choose which people to blur and not to blur? Do they just come up and ask to not be shown?
Those are the Blurry Folk of Honshu. Please afford them the dignity they deserve.
I was thinking the exact same thing. I am assuming that those people may have seen him holding a camera and asked him to edit their faces
My girlfriend and I went to the Herb Garden in Kobe this past summer on our Japan trip - it was beautiful! Definitely not amazing Kobe beef up there, but the lavender ice cream we had and tea we brought back was quite good
I'm a new viewer to this channel but Natsuki seems like one of the coolest dudes on the planet, you're lucky to know him!
Is this natsuki undercover
@@derncii GFY ;)
18:40 Travel to Norway and experience the Pulpit Rock and Kjerag :D
Usually I don't like when people talk during travel videos, but these ones don't bother me for some reason. Very layed back, gives interesting info about the journey, just feels like the internal monologue I have while travelling lol
The Shinkansen really is a great example of how awesome trains can be. Other countries should learn from Japan and build fast, affordable, and SAFE infrastructure. Great stuff Chris! Cheers!
Any shot of Mt Fuji is beautiful. ☺️
love the retro synthwave
Thanks Chris and crew🍻
Chris, thank you for sharing your trip with us. I really enjoyed the shinkansen express and seeing the experience with you as our guide.
Chris, you may have seen this but I came across “bone-in sausage” there and it’s bamboo.
Besides earthquakes, typhoons, rain and snow regularly stop shinkansen! I regularly travel for work and will get stuck once or twice.a year either at home or my destination. 2 yrs ago I was stuck in Tokyo for 2 extra days because heavy rains around Nagoya and Shizuoka stopped trains most of Friday and Saturday morning and then the ensuing chaos after several hours of delays and then all those thousands of passengers trying to rebook new trains once they started up again. I've also been stuck in a train in the middle of Shiga for several hours due to heavy snow!
at least they have a decent excuse for disruption. UK uses " a bit rainy", "autumn" and "staff things" as excuses to not manage to run a train service ;-)
I always appreciated the beautiful cinematography this channel has.
Although the view from the top in Kobe after the ropeway isn‘t that special, the hike down the mountain through the herb gardens is quite nice. And there‘s also a bit of an adventurous section after you leave the gates of the herb gatens when you take the shortcut to the reservoir. Saw a snake there last time as well haha
Loved this video - felt like when I was preparing for my Japan trip in 2019 and used to watch your videos to help build my itinerary! Now I'm just stuck back at home in Australia, but so pumped to go and visit Japan again one day.
Dude, this video felt short. Watching your videos are so entertaining that I lose track of time.
The GOAT has uploaded!!
Sheep
5:00 not mentioning Ryotaru is so funny 😂😂 love the cheeky banter between you two
im pretty sure thats a clip from an OLD video
@@ATK. yes, it is xD still, he mentioned Natsuki
7:30, Chris is officially a member of the Costanza wallet club.
These are the kinds of videos I find really helpful. The part about traveling to Japan that stresses me the most is getting around as a country girl from the US. You make it so simple and take the fear out of it. You look great too btw, I'm so proud of you for all of the hard work you have put in over the last two years. Cheers!
Your videos inspired me to my own trip to Japan this year Chris. Beautiful country, great food, lovely people can see why you moved there. Thanks for the content it's always filmed with such fantastic shots!
nice timing just sat down with dinner
This mood in here is everything!
Heey I recognized the cable cart instantly when you showed it! I went to the herb garden after having lunch in Kobe! I actually thought it was a fun activity, though I wouldn't recommend hiking down during summer.
It would be great to see what you can do within one day in each prefecture… but it would be very tiring as well. No pressure, but I’d be so excited to watch them if you could! ❤
Every time you go to Fukuoka it makes me so happy to see my old city on your channel
Nearly choked on my lunch laughing so hard when you replied to the AI in your American accent. LMAO!
Even while babysitting Ludwig he still keeps his uploads up
Coming from Germany, who has its own kinda bullet train, the ICE, I was absolutely blown away by the Shinkansan. Even if (and that is a big "if" nowadays) the ICE is on time, it's way smaller than a Shinkansen car. It's only two-by-two seats and it at least feels much tighter packed. I think the seats are broader and there is more legroom in Japan. And the ceiling is higher up. When I came in the first time it actually reminded me a bit of a space craft. The barriers around the station to keep people from falling onto the tracks are missing in Germany altogether. I know them from other countries and it really helps prevent accidents and suicides. They also require a precise positioning of the train to match the openings with the doors, which is severely lacking on the ICE. There are train car position maps, where you can see where you car will be stopping in the station, but due to time constrains, the train is rarely put together like mentioned. Often it arrives backwards, screwing up all the maps and best laid plans for a short walk to your seat. The frequency and punctuality of the Shinkansen is unmatched. A few decades ago, German trains also were quite punctual, but with the privatization of the trains this went away. Who could have guessed that a company putting money over comfort? Well, everyone. They skimped out on check-ups for the trains and tracks, investing way less into the system and giving most of it to their management and shareholders. Fast forward 10-15 years and trains often went for repairs, taking them out of rotation. It's now quite normal that your train arrives 30-60min late...or will be canceled. I have that happen around 50% of the time I went by train. They sometimes cancel trains for not being full enough (because it will save them more money), while then putting all passengers onto the next train, that is already fully booked. And now you have people fighting over seats, toilets overflowing (and no more toilet paper...), people standing in the train cars for the whole trip, etc. At least the privatization in Japan did not do the same to the trains. They still fear the wrath of the customer. In Germany, they just do not care anymore. I take the Shinkansen over the ICE every time. It's so much better in all aspects.
what I like about the ICE is the food cart, especially the ham&cheese sandwich, and the option to get a fresh coffee/espresso directly on board
The difference is that the ICE (and most European HSR) has a 2.9m meter loading gauge - the Shinkansen uses 3.4m. Yes, it's only 50cm, but it makes the trains feel a lot more spacious inside.
Okay, I'm only 30 seconds in, but that transition back to 1964 was beautiful!
Such a nice video, I'm all for this simple style. It kinda feels like an adventure, when you don't plan every single detail and discover things along the way. Such a pleasure to watch.
0:14 did Chris eat a cherry popsicle or something right before recording?
That or he has a side hustle in a host bar
Sharla forgot to put her lipstick out of Chris' reach! Lol
He's chewing on dip (tobacco) the entire video, it's really nasty
Sharla got her goodbye kiss 😂
Naturally luscious lips
in 1986 I took the Shinkansen from Fukuoka to Sapporo. A great trip even back then.
ん？札幌まで？まだ新幹線は通っておりません。2024年ですら。あとその当時福岡から東京までと上野から仙台までしかなかったよ。東京駅で全部乗れなかったのよ。東京から寝台車かな。
Bro until now none of Shinkansen line reach to Sapporo
Do you mean Tokyo or Osaka? There's no Hokkaidou Shinkansen at that time, it was still in the planning stages. Going to Northern Japan was to take a Tohoku Shinkansen then take a sleeper train in either Sendai or Morioka until you reach Sapporo.
You're incredible, keep making videos!
Bot ⚠
@@LHyoutube For real. So many bots. I reported them. UA-cam needs to take some action here.
Kobe dweller here! The Nunobiki Herb Garden Ropeway is mainly to reach the Herb Garden with very good views along the way. (The Herb Garden itself being gorgeous especially the glass houses.) The real two other ropeways and cable cars which lead to the stunning views of the entirety of Osaka Bay and beyond, however, are the ropeways to Mt. Rokko and the Maya Cablecar which sit at over twice the altitude (around 1000m above sea level). With the nightviews of Hakodate and Nagasaki, it forms one of the so-called "three best views" of Japan 🥰 (even though there are many more!) I absolutely loved today's video! It was such a great glimps into the past, present and future of Shinkansen travel. 😊
Normally I watch AIJ vids pretty soon after they're uploaded but I put off watching this one because I had a project for my Japanese class on things to do in lesser known areas (basically not Tokyo or Kyoto) and I wanted to focus on that. I got assigned Hyogo prefecture. Had I known Chris covered Kobe I would've watched this video earlier! I wrote about the ropeway and thought it was really cool, but I didn't know there was a whole garden up there! But if I ever go, I'll be avoiding the bone-in sausage...
As someone who lives in Tokyo i've come to the realization that this channel and most of the j-vloggers make content for tourists.
13:27 My guy was just trying to mind his business and Chris just cuts him off lol
Thats why Chris left the stream early. Editing this video.
I dream of being able to go to Japan one day. Your videos are a good holdover to live vicariously through someone else until I can make that dream a reality. Such a beautiful country, I'd love to explore it all one day. Thanks for making consistently interesting and informative content, you do a great job!
Really enjoying these down to Earth vicarious travel experiences. They feel very relatable to things I have gotten to do when traveling in Japan in the past, and each video feels like a bite sized chance to see an alternate version of those journeys.