Bullet Train Timetables Now Viewable in Google Maps
December 4th, 2009
Posted by
Iwasaki Naoki / Software Engineer
Suzuki Issei / Software Engineer

As we enter December and the end of the year approaches, people have started making plans to travel home.

Up until now, Google Maps has provided train transfer information. But what if you've decided on your destination and desired train line but haven't yet decided on a departure time? Haven't there been times when you've wanted to see timetables?

Google Maps has now added bullet train timetables. Let's give it a try.

First, enter the name of a station in the search box and click search. Let's try Tokyo Station (東京駅).

Clicking "more info" (詳細) next to the station name on the left of the screen or one of the train line names in the pop-up bubble will display the line's timetable. I'm planning to visit Okayama at the end of the year so I will click "Toukaidou Bullet Train" (東海道新幹線).

There are a lot of bullet trains running so it doesn't look like I have to worry. Uh-oh, what about the end of the year timetable? In cases like this, you can click "choose a date" (日付の選択) and a calendar will display. Please choose your departure date. My departure date is the 30th. I wonder if it will display?

Looks like it does. Google Maps displays the timetable of the date selected. Also, you can rest assured knowing that schedule changes and special train times are reflected in the timetable.

I'm worried about the end of the year rush. Looks like "Hikari" has more seats available than "Nozomi". Try clicking "Hikari" in the timetable legend. You can highlight Hikari's departure times.

With this, you can look for a train matching your criteria more easily than before.

So, what do you think? Please give the new timetables added to Google Maps a try next time you are making vacation plans or plans to visit home.

Oh yeah, and don't forget a souvenir.

35.659418, 139.744843

And here is a shot looking up at a Yodobashi Camera shop in Akihabara (if you pan the camera to the reverse view, you an see a train at Akihabara station):

35.698862,139.774266

It is interesting to note that street view is not being welcomed with open arms by all people in Japan. Click here for an article written by GlobalVoices author Chris Salzberg about the issue. Despite the controversy, I still enjoy looking for interesting scenes. Please post some of your own in the comments if you find them.