Initial 'D' (D for Densha)

[JR 500系]

I stumbled upon this video by youtube user HINTEL1824TRAIN who does really good Zenmen Tenbo comparison videos! Here's one that compares between the JR新快速 vs JR快速 vs 阪神・山陽直通特急 大阪・梅田 from Osaka/ Umeda to Himeji/ Sanyo Himeji. Really interesting how fast the 新快速 is!

 

 

Interesting Coincidence both JR trains are driven by female drivers! 

Edited May 23, 2015 by JR 500系

[Sacto1985]

By far the fastest way between Osaka and Himeji is the Hikari Shinkansen, but then, the cost of the  trip can be a bit daunting--3,320 yen one way. For about half that price, you can ride the shin-kaisoku train from Osaka to Himeji--and gawd, if you've seen any zenmen tenbou videos of the trip, they weren't kidding when the train really does go 130 km/h (81 mph).

[JR 500系]

Good point! No doubt the shinkansen is the fastest, the price is a deterrence. Also, it's much more scenic to travel on the Shin-Kaisoku right?

 

Yes, the 223 series is amazing as the Shin-Kaisoku service, together with the 225 series. Here's a video of 0km/h to 130 km/h acceleration;

 

 

Here's another on deceleration from 130 km/h to 0km/h

 

[Sacto1985]

In fact, a good example of going at 130 km/h on a shin-kaisoku train is shown in this zenmen tenbou video from YouTube member naha478 going west from Osaka to Himeji Stations. This especially true west of Kobe Station:

 

[bikkuri bahn]

It' been mentioned before I think, but a ride on the shin-kaisoku service from say, Himeji to Maibara is one of the top railfan rides in the country (beats anything in Kanto), with good variety of views, speed, and freight trains along with ltd. express trains to be seen.  I am more of a mintetsu fan than JR fan, but this ride is tops in Kansai, IMO.

[JR 500系]

It' been mentioned before I think, but a ride on the shin-kaisoku service from say, Himeji to Maibara is one of the top railfan rides in the country (beats anything in Kanto), with good variety of views, speed, and freight trains along with ltd. express trains to be seen.  I am more of a mintetsu fan than JR fan, but this ride is tops in Kansai, IMO.

 

Noted! A MUST trip to take on the next Japan journey. Good idea to take this from Shin-Osaka to Himeji for the Himeji castle instead of the Shinkansen ~

[Sacto1985]

The ride from Himeji to Maibara is pretty amazing in terms of views (and the 130 km/h speed on many stretches of running), but be careful riding this long a route if you're paying with the JR West Icoca payment card, since (from what I've read) there is a four hour time limit for the use of this card on JR West lines for a single trip. Mind you, at that distance, you might as well spend around 3,300 yen to ride the Shinkansen from Himeji to Maibara (with a change of trains at Shin-Osaka).

[bikkuri bahn]

However, the shin-kaisoku is more fun than the shinkansen.  If you don't want to bother with having your ic card reset by station staff if the time limit is exceeded, it may be better to buy a regular paper ticket, that are typically good for the whole day (or more).  Unfortunately, unlike most joshaken for distances over 100km, you can't break your journey, as it lies entirely within the JR West Urban Network region.

[katoftw]

Interesting this discussion direction.  I was just looking at Ishiyama (due to cheap hotels) just south of Otsu and looking at train ride in the area.  This discussion had helped.