The world’s first shinkansen was launched to coincide with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
![The world’s first shinkansen was launched to coincide with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics The world’s first shinkansen was launched to coincide with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics](https://media.timeout.com/images/105805825/750/422/image.jpg)
![The world’s first shinkansen was launched to coincide with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics The world’s first shinkansen was launched to coincide with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics](https://media.timeout.com/images/105805825/750/562/image.jpg)
Shinkansen is considered to be one of the pinnacles of modern Japanese technology, but it’s been around for over half a century. The world’s first bullet train was launched on the Tokaido Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo and Osaka on October 1 1964 – just a few days ahead of the first Tokyo Olympics.