How did the first railway between Tokyo and Yokohama change transportation in Japan?

The construction of the first railway between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1872 marked the beginning of a transportation revolution in Japan. Prior to this development, the majority of the Japanese population traveled on foot, with vehicular transport limited to small carts or palanquins carried by men or animals.123

The establishment of this line was a farsighted goal of the government following the Meiji Restoration (1868), aimed at modernizing the country despite significant opposition from those who feared the expansion of foreign economic and political influence. This initial project served as the foundation for an extensive modern rail network that eventually expanded to include intraurban and suburban systems, as well as the world-renowned Shinkansen high-speed rail. By shifting away from traditional, labor-intensive modes of travel, the railway laid the groundwork for Japan's current status as a nation with one of the most developed transportation networks in the world.4523