The disruption affected the Tokaido Shinkansen route, which runs between Tokyo and Osaka. Services were suspended around 5:25 p.m. local time on Wednesday and resumed approximately 90 minutes later, at 7:00 p.m., according to local media citing the Central Japan Railway Company.

The incident occurred at a particularly inconvenient time—during Golden Week, one of Japan’s peak holiday periods, when millions of people travel across the country. The week-long celebration includes four national holidays and sees heavy congestion at train stations, airports, and popular tourist destinations.

Compounding the travel rush, Osaka is currently hosting the World Expo, drawing large numbers of domestic and international visitors through October.

The snake caused a power outage between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, impacting trains headed toward Tokyo between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and those bound for Osaka from Tokyo, according to Kyodo News.

As power was being restored, scenes of frustration played out at stations, with passengers crowding around staff for updates and long lines forming at ticket machines.

Satoshi Tagawa, 46, a frequent shinkansen passenger, said the disruption was a first for him. “I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I’ve experienced a suspension due to a power outage,” he told Kyodo News.

Others were less forgiving. “I’m fed up with the troubles,” said 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi. “I want them to run on time.”

This isn’t the first time a snake has interrupted bullet train services. In April 2024, a 40.6 cm (16 inch) snake caused a 17-minute delay on a train between Nagoya and Tokyo, according to CBS News.