The Shinkansen is often faster than flying when traveling short-to-medium distances, such as the popular Tokyo to Osaka route, once you factor in the total journey time from city center to city center. While airplanes achieve higher cruising speeds in the air, air travel requires arriving at the airport hours in advance for security screening, boarding procedures, baggage collection, and commuting to distant suburban airports located far outside downtown areas. In contrast, bullet trains depart directly from central urban hubs, require minimal security wait times, and board quickly, allowing passengers to step off the train right in the heart of their destination city with maximum efficiency and convenience.