Hokkaido Shinkansen begins operation — First-class carriages now visible on Google Street View

▲ The Hokkaido Shinkansen began operation on the 26th. (Photo / Provided by JR Hokkaido)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Hokkaido Shinkansen officially launched on the 26th. All 731 seats on the inaugural train departing from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station were sold out instantly upon release. To allow those who couldn’t catch the first ride to still explore the interior of the carriages, JR Hokkaido collaborated with Google Street View to launch the “Hokkaido Shinkansen Interior Street View,” fully showcasing the design of all three classes of carriages.

The carriages of the Hokkaido Shinkansen are divided into one Grand Class luxury carriage, one first-class carriage, and eight standard carriages. The luxury carriage is comparable to an airplane first-class cabin. Passengers can use Google Street View to explore a 360-degree view of the different interior designs of each class, as well as the connecting passages between carriages.