Asia dominates global high-speed rail. Of the roughly 50,000km of high-speed rail track in operation worldwide, China alone has over 40,000km — more than the rest of the world combined. Japan's Shinkansen has carried over 10 billion passengers since 1964 with zero passenger fatalities. South Korea's KTX connects Seoul to Busan (325km) in 2 hours 15 minutes.
Understanding each system helps you choose the right pass, book the right seats, and avoid the most common expensive mistakes.
Japan's bullet train network radiates from Tokyo and connects virtually every major city. Key routes:
| Route | Train | Duration | Fare (Reserved) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo → Kyoto | Nozomi/Hikari | 2h 15m / 2h 40m | ¥13,320 / ¥13,080 |
| Tokyo → Osaka | Nozomi/Hikari | 2h 30m / 3h | ¥13,870 / ¥13,620 |
| Tokyo → Hiroshima | Nozomi | 3h 44m | ¥18,040 |
| Tokyo → Fukuoka (Hakata) | Nozomi | 5h | ¥22,220 |
| Tokyo → Sapporo | Hokkaido Shinkansen | 4h 40m | ¥22,690 |
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is available only to non-Japanese passport holders and must be purchased outside Japan. It covers most JR trains including most Shinkansen (except Nozomi and Mizuho, the fastest services on the Tokaido line).
| Pass Duration | Ordinary Class | Green Class (First) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | ¥50,000 (~$330) | ¥70,000 (~$462) |
| 14 days | ¥80,000 (~$527) | ¥110,000 (~$726) |
| 21 days | ¥100,000 (~$659) | ¥140,000 (~$923) |
Break-even calculation: Tokyo → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Osaka → Tokyo in 7 days costs approximately ¥48,000–¥52,000 in individual tickets. The 7-day JR Pass at ¥50,000 therefore barely breaks even for this specific route — the pass becomes better value the more you travel.
JR Pass is NOT worth it if: You are visiting only Tokyo and Kyoto — the return Shinkansen fare is around ¥26,000, far less than the cheapest JR Pass.
JR Pass IS worth it if: Your itinerary covers 4+ cities across the main island (Honshu) and includes Hiroshima, Fukuoka or Hokkaido.
Individual tickets offer two seat types:
Book via: JR Pass holders use the ticket machine or counter at any JR station. Non-pass holders use Shinkansen e-Ticket online (smartex.jr-central.co.jp) or the English-language JR website.
South Korea's KTX (Korea Train Express) is one of Asia's most efficient rail systems, connecting Seoul to virtually every major Korean city at speeds up to 305km/h.
| Route | Duration | Standard Fare | First Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul (Suseo) → Busan | 2h 15m | KRW 59,800 | KRW 87,500 |
| Seoul → Gwangju | 1h 33m | KRW 46,800 | KRW 68,500 |
| Seoul → Daejeon | 50m | KRW 23,700 | KRW 34,600 |
| Seoul → Yeosu | 2h 40m | KRW 56,300 | KRW 82,400 |
The Korail Pass is available to foreign passport holders (except Korean nationals and residents) and covers unlimited KTX travel:
Buy via: Korail official website (letskorail.com) or at major Seoul stations (Seoul, Suseo, Busan KTX stations accept foreign cards).
China's high-speed rail network is staggering in scale — 40,000+km connecting virtually every major city at speeds of 250–350km/h. The G-trains (高铁) are the fastest; D-trains are slightly slower intercity services.
| Route | Train | Duration | 2nd Class Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing → Shanghai | G1 (Fuxing) | 4h 18m | CNY 553 (~$75) |
| Shanghai → Guangzhou | G-series | 6h 30m–8h | CNY 490–860 |
| Beijing → Xi'an | G-series | 4h 30m | CNY 515 |
| Chengdu → Chongqing | G-series | 1h 10m | CNY 98 |
| Shanghai → Hangzhou | G-series | 45m | CNY 73 |
The challenge: The official 12306.cn website requires a Chinese phone number for verification, making it difficult for international visitors.
Solutions for international travellers:
Seat classes:
Taiwan's HSR runs the full length of the western coast from Taipei to Zuoying (Kaohsiung) in under 2 hours — transforming what was a 4-hour drive into a convenient commute.
Book via: THSR official website (thsrc.com.tw) with English interface; accepts international Visa/Mastercard.
India's rail network is the world's largest by number of employees and fourth-largest by track length. For foreign visitors, navigating the booking system requires some planning.
Indian Railway Tourist Quota: A quota of seats on every major train is reserved for foreign tourists and can be booked at International Tourist Bureaux at major stations (New Delhi, Mumbai CST, Kolkata Howrah). Requires foreign passport.
Online: irctc.co.in with a foreign tourist account; requires initial registration with Indian phone number (use a local SIM from airport).
The overnight sleeper from Bangkok (Hua Lamphong or Krungthep Aphiwat) to Chiang Mai is one of Southeast Asia's most beloved rail journeys — 13 hours through the Thai countryside arriving refreshed in the mountains.
The 1,726km journey through Vietnam is one of the world's great rail trips — 30–35 hours through highlands, coastal cliffs and rice paddies.
Moscow to Vladivostok: 9,289km, 7 days, crossing 8 time zones. One of the world's greatest travel experiences.
Booking: Via RZD (Russian Railways) rzd.ru or specialist agencies like Real Russia or Monkey Shrine. Book 60+ days ahead for summer departures.