By Rohini Chaki, Gastro Obscura, Atlas Obscura; June 25, 2019
The Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Japan’s famous bullet-train line, flashes past futuristic skyscrapers, Shinto shrines, and lush paddy fields on its 180-miles-per-hour dash from Tokyo to Osaka. This time-defying bolt is vanquished only by the majesty of placid, cloud-cloaked Mt. Fuji, the brief sight of which makes time stand still for a serene, spectacular moment. To commemorate this sight, which occurs around 45 minutes after leaving Tokyo, many passengers unwrap boxes of food bought at station kiosks or from train attendants.