Where is this and why is this?

[Bayum]

Saw a video the other day which had a video from either the Hokuriku or Joetsu Shinkansen, somewhere toward Tokyo calling at Takasaki, Ueno and Tokyo. Any ideas where it is? Why is this particular aspect raised so far above the track bed? I know the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen traverse mountainous regions so I potentially thought of snow? Raise the tracks away from the ground for snowfall to not impact?

 

[Mr. SW]

Aerodynamic reasons?

 

[Ploughman]

Earthquake protection?

 

[Acathater]

The ground under the trees in the background is clearly higher than the train, so presumably this is a bridge/viaduct crossing a wide valley?

 

[TheWierdOne]

protection against heavy rainfall? Ensuring that the tracks don’t get overtopped if water can’t drain for some reason.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

That region has lots of snow. I guess is for the snowfall to accumulate when pushed off the tracks by passing trains.