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High-speed trains in Japan, also known as shinkansen, are far more than mere transportation from point A to point B — they can also function as fast-moving art galleries.
One train in particular cobbles together the works of groups of artists and photographers into a cohesive collection that riders can enjoy.
Passengers of the Genbi Shinkansen train on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line can see works from six Japanese artists, the Paramodel collective, and New York-based artist Brian Alfred on their trip.
The train itself is also covered with a decal featuring another contributing artist's work.
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Shinkansen, or "bullet trains" as they're more commonly called, run at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. By comparison, Acela Express, the fastest train line in the United States, runs at an average speed of 68 miles per hour and 150 miles per hour in limited stretches.
And unlike a regular commuter train like the Amtrak where windows cover both sides of the train, only one side of the Genbi Shinkansen is covered with windows; the other is reserved for art.
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There's even a play area designed especially for kids, complete with an elaborate train set. Very meta:
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As Instagram users show, they also have access to lounges as well as a bakery and coffee shop.
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Fares are actually pretty reasonable. JR East, the railway company that manages the train, places fares at anywhere from 1,020 Yen ($9.36 USD) for a single 2.3-mile stop from Tokyo to Ueno. The full 207-mile journey from Tokyo to Niigata is around $100 at today's conversion rates, which compared to a less-scenic and far slower trip from New York City to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a heck of a deal.
JR East is also planning on launching a sleeper train line in 2017 that will be the whole nine yards: a four-day vacation excursion up and down the coast of Japan for $9,200 a person.
And I'm sitting here hoping I'll be in a Hyperloop within my lifetime.
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