Although airplanes reign supreme when it comes to high-speed travel, trains in Europe and Asia are able to give them a run for their money as the best way to travel long distances.

There is no single definition for what a high-speed train actually signifies, but, generally, newer train lines where trains routinely reach an excess of 160 mph are considered high-speed. The first generation of high-speed trains debuted in the mid-1960s and were generally called bullet trains. Since then, the game has been elevated.

Japan has one of the fastest bullet trains in the world. These maglev trains have the capacity to reach upwards of 600 kph. Superconducting magnetic trains were developed in Japan as early as the 1970s. The train rests on rubber wheels when stopped. Once the train reaches 93 mph, the magnetic forces are enough to lift the train four inches in the air. This eliminates friction, keeps the train centered on the tracks and lets the train move at unparalleled speeds.

In 2015, a maglev train in Japan clocked in at 375 mph and broke the previous land speed record for railed vehicles.

Jrailpass believes even greater speeds will be available in the future as better technology becomes more available.