Image Credentials: Image Title: Snake Causes Major Disruption to Japanese Bullet Train Network During Holiday Rush Source: AI-Generated Image (Grok, xAI) Date: April 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), and it does not depict a real-world scene.
Power outage halts Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen service amid peak Golden Week travel
By Staff Writer with Agencies
Tokyo, Japan – April 30, 2025 — One of Japan’s most vital transportation arteries ground to a halt on Wednesday evening after a snake became entangled in a power line, triggering a major power outage and disrupting bullet train service at the height of the country’s Golden Week holiday.
The Tokaido Shinkansen line, which connects Tokyo and Osaka, was suspended at approximately 5:25 p.m. local time. The disruption lasted nearly two hours, with services gradually resuming by 7:00 p.m., according to Central Japan Railway Company, the operator of the line.
The incident occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, forcing Tokyo-bound trains to halt between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and Osaka-bound services to stop between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo.
Service on Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen was temporarily suspended today due to a power outage.
The reason: a 100cm long snake became tangled in overhead lines in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, causing a short circuit. pic.twitter.com/0RBDJCZW1B— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇸 (@mrjeffu) April 30, 2025
Travel Chaos During Golden Week
Golden Week, a cluster of four national holidays in a seven-day period, is one of the busiest travel times in Japan. Millions of domestic and international travelers flood transportation hubs during the holiday, many of them this year also heading to Osaka, which is hosting the 2025 World Expo through October.
Passengers caught in the suspension reported large queues at ticket machines and confusion at stations. “I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage,” said Satoshi Tagawa, 46, who was returning to Tokyo.
Kazutoshi Tachi, 26, expressed growing frustration: “I’m fed up with the troubles. I want them to run on time.”
Not the First Time for Reptilian Interference
Though rare, this is not the first time a snake has disrupted Japan’s high-speed rail. In April 2024, a 16-inch snake caused a 17-minute delay between Nagoya and Tokyo after being spotted on a train, prompting emergency removal procedures.
Wednesday’s power line entanglement, however, had a broader impact due to the location and timing. Train operators worked swiftly to isolate the power issue and restore service, though the disruption has reignited debate about infrastructure vulnerability during major events and holidays.
As of Thursday morning, full service had resumed with enhanced inspections ordered across the shinkansen network to prevent further incidents.
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