Next was a JR Kyushu 787 Limited Express acting as a Relay Kamome. IMHO the 787 is one of the best looking Japanese trains, and I got to peek into the cab.
#AllTheShinkansens2023

And then we finally got to ride the newest Shinkansen, the JR Kyushu N700S "Kamone" on the Nishi Kyushu line to Nagasaki. The line only opened a year ago, and is still isolated from the rest of the network because of local politics.

This is the same train, by the way, that Texas Central wants to use on the Dallas-Houston route.

#AllTheShinkansens2023

From Shin Tosu to Takeo Onsen, we rode the Midori Limited Express, winner of the 1989 Laurel Prize and the most 1990s train I have ever been on. But we had the little Green Car section to ourselves.
#AllTheShinkansens2023

From Kagoshima we rode a JR Kyushu series 800 Shinkansen to Shin Tosu, IMHO the best looking Shinksnsen. It had bamboo window shades and an emergency door... thing.
#AllTheShinkansens2023

Jumping off the Hello Kitty Shinkansen in Okayama, we took a JR West 8-car N700A down to Kagoshima. The hotel had a really cool view of the Shinkansen station which immediately dives into a tunnel.
#AllTheShinkansens2023

*Hello Kitty takes a long drag on her Marlboro red, projects her gravelly voice*

"Now approaching Shin *cough* Kobe. Now approaching *cough* Shin Kobe."

#AllTheShinkansens2023

But then on the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Okayama we rode the motherfuken Hello Kitty Shinkansen! This is a converted JR West Series 500 with Hello Kitty branding, including a gift shop. This the same vehicle that was briefly the Neon Genesis Evangelion Shinkansen for a year. #AllTheShinkansens2023

I started today with the OG, the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, the route that opened in 1964 as the world's first modern high speed line. The train was a JR Central N700A (big A), the only type I rode before this trip. #AllTheShinkansens2023

And finally an E2, so that can say I've been on every JR East shinkansen model.
#AllTheShinkansens2023

OK, that was totally worth it. Now to ride a very crowded little EMU to the nearest shinkansen station (Koriyama). #AllTheShinkansens2023

Before this I knew Niigata had rice, but I hadn't appreciated quite how much rice.

Also, my favourite thing about this trip was just how many fans this train has. After several years of downtime due to locomotive maintenance, flooding, and covid, it was great to see how excited people were for the steam train. This ranged from kids with their parents to train otaku in the middle of fields (pictured) to old guys waving a rag around to celebrate their local steam train.

#AllTheShinkansens2023

The English speaking members of the crew found me during the water break to ask how I even found out about the train, lol. To be fair, figuring out how to book this required judicious use of Google translate of various websites, though the fare itself was covered by the JR Pass. #AllTheShinkansens2023

That's right, it's time for MAIN LINE STEAM, Japan style! The SL Banetsu Monogatari, operated on the Banetsu Main Line from Niitsu to Aizu-Wakamatsu by JR East themselves. This is gonna be fun. #AllTheShinkansens2023

I started the day riding the entire Niigata Shinkansen, which is mostly underground to cross the Japanese Alps. But that's just the start of today's fun. After that I rode a GV E400, first diesel of the trip, and the first diesel electric multiple unit of JR East. But that's all prelude. #AllTheShinkansens2023

We then took the entire Yamagata Shinkansen, through more great scenery. And with a special "incense" flavor beer, with wasn't the greatest TBD. #BeerOnTrains

Also, I was wondering why people were taking so many pictures of us, and it's because we coupled up to the special E2 painted to look like the now retired 200 series.

#AllTheShinkansens2023

We started today on the Ou Line local for 2.5 hours, slowly passing some great scenery from Akita to Shinjo. #AllTheShinkansens2023

And that's the Akita Shinkansen complete. Akita really leans into the dog stuff. #AllTheShinkansens2023

And now on to a JR East E6 mini shinkansen bound for Akita. It's a "mini" because it uses regauged old narrow gauge right of way through the countryside.

Why yes, that is a Galaxy Express 999 IPA with my beef ekiben and chocolate ice cream. #BeerOnTrains

#AllTheShinkansens2023

Jumping off at Morioka, got to watch an E6 mini shinkansen coming from Akita join up with the E5 I rode down on from Hokkaido before they head down to Tokyo together. #AllTheShinkansens2023

And back on the Hokkaido Shinkansen down to Morioka, suitably 320 km/hr hydrated. #AllTheShinkansens2023