Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen by joining a day of family-friendly activities at Japan House London.

2024 marks 60 years since the first generation ‘Series 0’ Shinkansen, or ‘bullet train’, entered into service on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line, inaugurated on 1 October 1964 just 10 days before the opening ceremony of the first Olympic Games in Tokyo.

To celebrate this landmark occasion, Japan House London is collaborating with Central Japan Railway Company for a day of fun activities in the lower ground floor Hall. Visitors can learn about the history and innovation of Japan’s bullet trains while enjoying a number of drop-in activities available throughout the day.

The programme includes:

Display of Shinkansen models

Explore the evolving design of the Shinkansen through a number of scale models, including an interactive model you can operate.

Make Your Own Paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen

Learn about Japanese railway technology and innovation by creating your very own paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen – the latest model on the tracks – using our activity sheet.

This activity is recommended for ages 8+.

Try on a Shinkansen driver’s uniform

Dress up in a train driver’s cap and jacket and capture the moment with a photograph. (Please note: only children’s sizes are available suitable for ages up to 11.)

Short film screenings about the Shinkansen

Sit back and enjoy a selection of short films about the birth, evolution and groundbreaking advancements of the Shinkansen.