Where can you go by Shinkansen in Japan? Almost anywhere! The original Shinkansen line opened in time for the 1964 Olympics but only went from Tokyo to Osaka. Now Shinkansen lines go from the south of Kyushu to Hakodate in Hokkaido. It’s also easy to travel across Honshu from the Kanto area to the Sea of Japan. Last Saturday, the Hokuriku Line opened a new section from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture. Now it only takes 3 hours from Tokyo all the way to Tsuruga! Tokyoites can take the same train and go skiing in Nagano, visit hot spring resorts in Fukui, or go swimming at Tsuruga Bay.