Hokuriku Shinkansen Line Extension Opens for Business
Commemorative Ceremonies at Stations
Japan Rail officially opened its new 1.7 trillion Yen route between Nagano and Kanazawa on the west coast of Japan, on the 14th March, 2015. The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture in 2 1/2 hours. The new trains offer an new luxury class and travel at top speeds of 260km/h. Tickets for the first journey on the line sold out in 25 seconds and the trains are expected to provide a major boost to tourism and the economies of the new stops along the Japan Sea coast. In the future it is planned that the line could be extended as far as Osaka. (Photo by AFLO)