Knowledge Article: World Geography
Development of Japan’s Railway
The World's Most Efficient Mass Transportation System
Today Japan’s mass transportation system is widely considered the best in the world.
This holds true whether it is judged for efficiency, frequency, reach, or cost. Since the
turn of the last century, the system has served as a model for other metropolitan areas.
In 1987, the government privatized its national rail system. Today there are seven
companies who own and operate Japan’s railway industry. Each of the seven
companies is its own independent unit, but they work together to coordinate schedules
and fares. All seven companies are overseen by Japan Railways Group, which is
considered the owner of the entire system. Smaller municipal or regional services, such
as subways and bus lines, are more often provided by local governments.
The JR Keihin Line runs in Tokyo, Japan. The Japan Railways Group's railway lines are mainly limited to
routes between Japanese cities, rather than the metro lines within those cities.
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A Rocky Start to Rail Development
The development of Japan’s railways has been closely tied to the nation’s access to
natural resources and its rugged geographic features. As early as the mid-1600s,
Japanese emperors in the Tokugawa period were building a network of land and sea
transportation. These early roadways enabled Japan’s centers of commerce to flourish.
Japan’s central government benefited from having easier access to its many remote
provinces. Feudal lords from distant provinces could no longer avoid reporting to their
emperor.
It was also during this period that Japanese emperors began expanding their sea-based
transportation system. Influenced by the maritime activities of European merchants, the
Japanese did not want to be left behind by this wave of trade. Ammunition gained from
Europeans, particularly the Portuguese, helped strengthen Japanese armies as well.
Modernizing Japan remained a priority for the country’s rulers for many years. By the
late 1800s, Japanese leaders began making plans to lay railroad tracks. Roadways for
cars, however, were largely ignored and considered impractical because Japan has no
fossil fuels—like oil and natural
gas—that can be used to run
vehicles.
Ashigara Bridge of Tōmei Expressway in Oyama,
Japan. The Tōmei Expressway runs between the major
Japanese cities of Tokyo and Nagoya.
Having no domestic access to oil
was not the only reason Japan
adopted railways as its principle
means of transportation. Because
Japan’s landscape is rugged and
rocky, building above-ground roads
was considered unsafe or costly,
which further discouraged the use of
cars. As the country expanded its
railways, were built underground to
avoid the rocky surface.
Roads Still Lag Behind
In the 1960s, for the first time in the country’s history, Japanese automobile ownership
reached significant levels. The government tried to catch up by developing roads to
support all the new vehicles, as well as expressways to link the cities. Although
advances were made, the level of road development was unsatisfactory. Accidents on
Japanese roadways were common and were often linked to the poor design of the
transportation system and the country's physical geography.
In time, the spike in vehicle ownership leveled off. Many Japanese began to realize that
their railways were improving while the quality of their roadways was lagging behind.
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However, the progress made in roadways was by no means a waste. Though freight is
moved in Japan primarily by railroads, commercial truck transport in the country
became more popular after its roadways were improved. Today, Japan has more than
650,000 miles of roads, including highways. Only a small fraction of that number is
made up of local roads, and in all, two-thirds of Japanese roads remain unpaved.
Traveling in Japan Today
Despite the underdeveloped road network and preference for rail travel, many Japanese
do own cars today. According to a 2002 survey, the number of Japanese who own
vehicles has reached nearly 80 percent, increasing steadily over the previous decade.
By contrast, nearly 90 percent of Americans own at least one vehicle.
A large segment of Japan’s automobile market is comprised of recreational vehicles.
Many Japanese have disposable income and want to enjoy their leisure time.
Furthermore, recreational vehicles are made to navigate Japan’s steep landscapes,
making them favored weekend vehicles.
During the week, many Japanese who own cars do not use them to get to work.
Instead, they prefer riding subways, or taking buses, taxi cabs, or bullet trains to work.
Some Japanese live and work in the same city, but many opt to commute greater
distances. Japanese who use the mass transportation system often spend as long as
two hours commuting to work. With so many users depending on them, those who
operate this vast rail system are careful about keeping everything running smoothly.
Passengers waiting for trains and subways can expect the train to be punctual, arriving
within seconds of the time posted on the signs at the boarding platforms. Once
passengers enter trains, conductors herd them into the crowded cars to ensure that the
boarding is as efficient as possible.
The Bullet Trains
These commuters crowd the stairway as they leave a
Tokyo metro station during the morning commute.
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Other advances are built into the
technology itself. The bullet train is
probably the most well-known
feature of Japan's railways. Called
the Shinkansen, the bullet train
connects commuters to four major
Japanese cities, as well as stops in
between. These cities are Tokyo,
Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. When
it began operating in 1964, the
Shinkansen became the world's
first high-speed train. The first
models of the Japanese bullet
trains were capable of going up to
135 miles per hour. Today the Nozomi, Japan's fastest modern train, reaches an
average speed of 162 miles per hour and can go up to 186 miles per hour in
commercial use. Only the TGV, a bullet train in France, can outpace the Nozomi.
In comparison, the United States is a country with a vast roadway system where the
automobile is the primary way people get around. Railroads that were once central to
the movement of people and goods are now used far less frequently. Recently, the U.S.
railway industry has been in search of ways to gain riders. The introduction of the bullet
train Acela has helped. The Acela is the tenth fastest bullet train in the world, well
behind Japan's Shinkansen and many trains in Europe.
One of Japan's bullet trains passes by Mount Fuji, the country's highest mountain. The bullet
trains of Japan are well-known and have been imitated all over the world.
Sources
Jansen, Marius B. The Making of Modern Japan. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000.
"Japan Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s Survey Highlights Latest Trends in the
Japanese Passenger Car Market." Industry Canada.
“Modern Transportation Museum: Progress in Transportation in Japan." Modern
Transportation Museum, Osaka, Japan.
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