On the third day of our Japan Holiday, we'll leave beautiful Hakone National Park by motorcoach for a short commute to Mishima Station, where we'll take our first ride on the Shinkansen, also known as the "Bullet Train." The Shinkansen is a network of high-speed railway lines that connects most of the major cities on the larger islands of Japan. These trains are some of the fastest in the world, moving at maximum speeds from 149-186 miles per hour. 
Standing on the platform as one of these trains whizzes by is an awe-inspiring experience. The visual impact of ground-based object moving that fast within 25 feet of you is pretty spectacular; but the sound it makes as it goes by is even more interesting. If you've seen the "Lord of the Rings" movies, do you recall the high-pitched shrieks of the Black Riders as they terrorized Middle Earth? Okay, bullet trains are NOT that bad. But they're close. Imagine one very long, metallic shriek at a volume that is pretty scary (but, thankfully, not overwhelming). The local folks are used to it, but first-time hearers will want to cover their ears!
We'll arrive in Hamamatsu in the early afternoon and make our way to Kawai's Ryuyo Grand Piano Factory, where we will be the honored guests for a grand tour!
