Snake Disruption: Bullet Train Services Halted in Japan

The Tokaido Shinkansen services between Tokyo and Osaka experienced a temporary suspension due to a snake entangled in a power line, coinciding with Japan's peak holiday travel period.

A notable incident disrupted operations on one of Japan's busiest bullet train lines when a snake wrapped around a power line, leading to a power outage. The Tokaido Shinkansen services, which connect Tokyo and Osaka, were halted at approximately 5:25 PM local time on Wednesday, with operations resuming around 7:00 PM, as reported by Central Japan Railway Company and local outlets.

This event took place during Japan's Golden Week, a peak travel time marked by four national holidays occurring within a week. Visitors flock to various destinations, with Osaka hosting the World Expo this year that is expected to attract millions of tourists until its conclusion in October.

The snake was found between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, impacting both Tokyo and Osaka-bound train services. As crews worked to restore power, passengers gathered around staff at stations while large lines formed at ticket machines.

“I travel the shinkansen frequently, but this is my first time seeing a service suspend due to a power outage,” shared 46-year-old Satoshi Tagawa, who was on his way back to Tokyo. On the other hand, 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi expressed his frustration, stating, “I want them to run on time,” reflecting the feelings of many affected travelers.

Interestingly, this is not the first encounter with snakes in train operations; an incident in April 2024 resulted in a 17-minute delay as authorities removed a 16-inch (40.6 cm) snake from a train traveling between Nagoya and Tokyo, highlighting the unusual challenges sometimes faced by Japan’s renowned rail services.