A high- speed rail system

SHINKANSEN’S ROUTE
TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN and SANYO
SHINKANSEN

In 1964 the first Shinkansen, the Tokaido Line, opened

between Tokyo and Osaka, paralleling the renowned
Tokaido Road that had linked Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto in
samurai times. Later this line was extended beyond
Osaka as the Sanyo Line to reach Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
Only the Japan Rail Pass covers the Tokaido Shinkansen
(except for Nozomi trains). The Sanyo Shinkansen is
covered by both the Japan Rail Pass and JR West Sanyo
Area Pass. There are three types of trains operating on
the Tokaido/Sanyo Line.
NOZOMI LINE
Meaning 'hope,' the Nozomi
trains are the fastest service
on these lines. They take
about 2.5 hours between Tokyo
and Osaka, and roughly 5
hours from Tokyo all the way
to Hakata (Fukuoka). They
make only major stops such as
Nagoya, Kyoto, Okayama and
Hiroshima. As the Japan Rail
Pass is not valid on Nozomi
trains pass holders should use
the Hikari trains described
next.
HIKARI LINE
Hikari, meaning 'light,' was the
original Shinkansen service on the
Tokaido/Sanyo Line. Since the
introduction of the Nozomi trains,
it now serves as the mid-level
service making a few more stops,
but still traveling very fast. Hikari
trains link Tokyo and Osaka in
about three hours. Holders of the
Japan Rail Pass must use Hikari
and Kodama trains. There are two
Hikari trains per hour along this
route. If you are traveling from
Tokyo toward Hiroshima or Kyushu
you will have to change Hikari
trains in route.
KODAMA LINE

This might be called the 'local'

version of the Shinkansen since it
makes all primary and secondary
stops. But it is far from slow and is
as much a 'bullet train' as the trains
above. You will not use Kodama for
very long distances; rather it is the
train you may have to use for popular
secondary stops such as Odawara
(Hakone Park and Mt. Fuji) or Himeji
(Himeji Castle). Like Hikari, it is
fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
TOHOKU SHINKANSEN
The Tohoku ('Northeast') region of
Honshu is known for its hot springs
and mountain scenery. The Tohoku
Shinkansen serves the major cities of
Sendai and Morioka. Service is fully
covered by the Japan Rail Pass and
the JR East passes. At present the
line extends to Hachinohe; eventually
it will link to Aomori at the north tip
of Honshu.
HAYATE LINE

This is the fastest service

between Tokyo and Sendai,
Morioka or Hachinohe. Hayate
trains operate once an hour and
take about 2.5 hours to Morioka,
3 hours to the end of the line at
Hachinohe. All seats are
reserved seating. At Hachinohe
it is easy to change to a Limited
Express link to Aomori.
YAMABIKO LINE

Yamabiko and Max Yamabiko

trains make somewhat more
stops than Hayate. Yamabiko
trains usually go as far as
Morioka, Max Yamabiko only to
Sendai. But travel time from
Tokyo to Morioka is only about
15 minutes slower than Hayate.
NASUNO LINE

This is basically a commuter

'bullet train' from Tokyo to
distant suburbs as far as
Koriyama. You might use the
Nasuno if you are going to
Nikko via Utsunomiya.
Remember that these 'local'
Shinkansen trains are still very
fast and smooth riding!
AKITA SHINKANSEN
The Akita Shinkansen branches off from the Tohoku
Shinkansen at Morioka and crosses Honshu to the Japan
Sea coast city of Akita. It stops at the popular tourist
sites of scenic Lake Tazawa and the samurai town of
Kakunodate. This line is of course included in both the
Japan Rail Pass and JR East passes.

KOMACHI LINE
Named for a famous and
beautiful poetess from
Akita, the Komachi trains
travel from Tokyo to
Akita in about four hours
with trains operating once
an hour. As the train
crosses Honshu it passes
through scenic forested
mountains.
 YAMAGATA SHINKANSEN
This line branches off from the Tohoku Shinkansen at
Fukushima and connects to the inland central cities of
Yamagata and Shinjo. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail
Pass and JR East passes.

TSUBASA LINE
The sleek silver Tsubasa trains
link Tokyo and Yamagata once an
hour taking just under three hours
travel time. Only some Tsubasa
trains continue to Shinjo. The
Tsubasa trains are attached to
Max Yamabiko trains (see above)
as far as Fukushima where the
two trains separate.
JOETSU SHINKANSEN
CThis line extends across central Japan to the important port
of Niigata on the Japan Sea Coast. Since the 1990's Niigata
has become even more important as a convenient link to Russia.
There are two types of trains operating on this line, fully
covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East passes.

TANIGAWA LINE

The Tanigawa and Max-

Tanigawa trains only
travel between Tokyo
Station and the ski
resort of Gala-Yuzawa
at Echigo-Yuzawa. They
make all secondary stops
but are still quite fast.
TOKI LINE

These are the fastest trains

operating between Tokyo and
Niigata covering that route in
roughly two hours. Toki and
Max-Toki trains depart in both
directions generally twice an
hour. At the intermediate stop
of Echigo-Yuzawa passengers
can make connections via
Limited Express to the Japan
Sea cities of Toyama and
Kanazawa.
NAGANO SHINKANSEN
This branch was constructed to link Tokyo and Nagano for the
Winter Olympic Games in 1998. It is popular for people going to
the mountains of Central Japan to escape summer heat, or to ski
in winter. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East
passes.

ASAMA LINE
The only service on the Nagano
Shinkansen, the Asama is named for
the towering peak of volcanic Mount
Asama in Nagano Prefecture. Trains
operate one to three times per hour
and take roughly 1.5 to 2 hours
between Tokyo Station and Nagano
City. Karuizawa is a popular resort
area on this route. And don't miss
the famous 'kamameshi' rice lunch
from Yokogawa sold on these trains.
KYUSHU SHINKANSEN
The newest addition to the 'bullet
train' network is the Kyushu
Shinkansen on Japan's southern
island. At present the line is only
partially complete linking Shin-
Yatsushiro (near Kumamoto) with
Kagoshima on the southern tip of the
island. The section between Fukuoka
(Hakata) and Shin-Yatsushiro is still
serviced by fast Limited Express
trains. It is covered by the Japan
Rail Pass and Kyushu rail pass.
TSUBAME LINE

These new trains show the

latest in train design and
comfort as they swoop like
swallows ('tsubame') through
the beautiful Kyushu
countryside. The Tsubame
trains have only one class,
upgraded Ordinary cars. The
trip from Hakata to Kagoshima
is only 2 hours 20 minutes on
the fastest service including
both Limited Express and
Shinkansen segments. There
are generally two connections
every hour..
CARS and SEATING
Most long-distance trains (Shinkansen, Limited Express) and some
local trains offer a choice of Ordinary Cars (coach) and Green
Cars (first class). Although Green Cars definitely offer greater
comfort, the difference between the two classes is not as
extreme as on airlines.

ORDINARY CARS: Coach Class Reserved

and Non- Reserved Seating

GREEN CARS: Reserved First Class Seating

SLEEPER TRAINS
 REPORTED BY:

Dianne T. Gonzales
Wendy D.G Gonzales
Marie Kris D.V. Gonzales
Jocelyn D.C. Sarmiento
Herminigilda D.R. Antipasado
Mark Anthony D. Dimapiles