Shinkansen, known as a Bullet Train, zooming through Kyoto

Shinkansen known as "Bullet Train&quot
Originally uploaded by Jahangir @ Tokyo

The Shinkansen (新幹線?, new main line) also known as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies, says Wikipedia.

Starting with the 210 km/h (130 mph) Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the now 2,459 km (1,528 mi) long network has expanded to link most major cities on the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū at speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph).

Test runs have reached 443 km/h (275 mph) for conventional rail in 1996, and up to a world record 581 km/h (361 mph) for maglev trainsets in 2003.