Compared with other countries, Japan's transportation system is highly dependent on railways. Above, a west bound Tokaido Shinkansen departs Tokyo Station. In addition to the six regional JR companies, some 170 private railway companies provide regional transportation services. In major cities, subway systems are an important means of transport. Tokyo's subway network has a total length of around 230 kilometers.
Subways also operate in eight other cities, including Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya.