Shinkansen or Bus? Calculating Time Performance from Morioka to Sendai, and Wallpaper That Craftsmen Are Paying Attention To
February 20, 2026. Near the west exit of Morioka Station at minus 5 degrees Celsius.
It was a bit chilly this morning, wasn't it?
Near the west exit of Morioka Station, just past 6:00 AM on my way to work.
I didn't check the thermometer, but it felt like minus 7 degrees? No, it might have been even lower.
The puddles on the side of the road had also frozen solid overnight.
This bus stop is empty for now, but in a little while, it should be overflowing with people lining up while enduring the cold.
Thinking of those people who will likely be waiting for the bus with their coat collars turned up in the coming hours, I feel a deep sense of respect, thinking, 'Everyone is truly admirable, starting their day so early or traveling from so far away.'
From Morioka to Sendai, the turning point of whether to 'buy' a minute for 30 yen or not.
I suddenly became curious about the concept of 'buying time with money'.
How do young people perceive the difference between the Shinkansen and the bus? I tried calculating the "time performance" (Taipa) a little.
I think to myself that I am a really annoying person.
The true nature of "1 minute = 30 yen" time performance
When you break down the travel from Morioka to Sendai into numbers, it looks like this.
Highway Bus (Urban-go): Approx. 3,500 yen (time is approx. 150 minutes)
Shinkansen (Hayabusa): Approx. 6,790 yen (time is approx. 39 minutes)
The difference is 3,290 yen. And the time saved is 111 minutes.
If you divide this, choosing the Shinkansen means
calculating that you are "buying 1 minute for about 29.6 yen (about 30 yen)."
Calculation formula: 3,290 yen ÷ 111 minutes = approx. 29.7 yen/minute
Converted to an hourly wage, it is about 1,780 yen. Whether you think this is "expensive" or "cheap" will change the means you should choose.
Highway Bus (Urban-go): 3,500 yen (required time varies depending on road conditions, but generally around 2.5 to 3 hours)
Shinkansen (Hayabusa series): 6,790 yen (required time approx. 39 minutes)
The difference is 3,290 yen. The time that can be saved is 131 minutes if we assume the bus takes 2 hours and 50 minutes (170 minutes).
3,290 yen ÷ 131 minutes = approx. 25 yen/minute.
In other words, the Shinkansen is a choice to "buy 1 minute for about 25 yen."
Of course, if the bus goes smoothly and takes 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes), it becomes about 30 yen/minute, and if there is traffic, it becomes even cheaper.
I feel that this fluctuation is the interesting part of the time performance argument.
※Supplementary note
・"Shinkansen 6,790 yen" is a guideline for a reserved seat, so it will fluctuate for non-reserved seats or other trains
・"Bus required time" changes depending on the season and road conditions
Which one is "smarter" to choose?
-
People who recommend the Shinkansen:
These are people with an aggressive stance who "want to make their own hour worth more than 1,800 yen." For professionals who want to arrive early to prepare for work or use travel time for sleep to maximize performance after arrival, the Shinkansen is the best investment.
-
Who should take the highway bus:
Those who are practical and want to spend their budget on experiences at their destination. With the extra 3,000 yen or so you save, you can enjoy a premium beef tongue set meal in Sendai. If you have the peace of mind to treat those two and a half hours as 'reading time for yourself,' there is nothing more cost-effective than the bus.
It's not about which one is correct, but rather how you perceive that '1 minute is worth about 30 yen'... yes, exactly.
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Arrived at the office. The Sangetsu wallpaper catalog 'FAITH' is quite impressive
After leaving the station and returning to the office to warm my fingers by the heater, I remembered that today was the day the Sangetsu representative was coming.
I have a bit of a childlike side, and just looking at the cover of a sample book gets me excited.
I think a certain number of men will probably understand this.
What I am introducing this time is '2025-2028 FAITH'.
It is a comprehensive sample book of non-combustible certified wallpaper, and the contents made enthusiasts (?) groan in admiration.
The invisible technology I'm focusing on: 'Anti-static wallpaper'
When we hang wallpaper or sliding door paper, the thing we are most careful about is 'dust'.
Especially in rooms with precision equipment, you want to avoid the accumulation of dust caused by static electricity.
Product numbers like "CR11" and "CR13" featured in this FAITH collection have thorough countermeasures in place.
Looking at the structural diagram, there is a "layer containing wood flour and aluminum" within the vinyl chloride layer, which is the mechanism that dissipates electricity.
The surface resistance value maintains high performance in the semiconductor range of 10 to the 8th power ohms.
Even in JIS standard tests, it shows surprising figures, with a charge half-life of 0.5 seconds or less (some are 0.3 seconds or less).
Where should this wallpaper be applied?
This wallpaper is not just "beautiful"; it truly shines in environments where functionality is required.
Semiconductor and LSI factories, laboratories
Optical equipment and camera assembly rooms
Computer rooms and precision equipment inspection rooms
The fact that they even provide dedicated joint protection tape (dust-proof tape) conveys how serious Sangetsu is about this.
Sangetsu "FAITH" Digital Catalog
In the end, whether it's travel or wallpaper,
"What is the purpose of making that choice?"
I think it all comes down to that objective.
Whether you take the Shinkansen to save every minute and second, or take the bus and spend two hours traveling slowly, both are seeking their own version of "richness."
Though I am clumsy, I want to put a reason into every sheet of wallpaper I provide to my customers that will make that space "richer." That was what I was thinking about on this winter morning.
Well then, have a wonderful day today as well.
Masatoshi Maeda
I run a magazine.
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