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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Know Your Trains: Joetsu Shinkansen

Update 12 August 2018: Updated with new map.

A double-decker E4-series "MAX Tanigawa" train at Tokyo Station.
By Rebirth10 [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
The Joetsu Shinkansen (上越新幹線, Jōetsu Shinkansen) is a high-speed rail line travelling from Tokyo to Niigata, on the coast of the Sea of Japan.  It runs through the mountainous north-central region of Japan, known as Joetsu (上越, Jōetsu), providing access to many ski and hot-springs resorts along the way.  It opened in 1982, several months after the debut of the Tohoku Shinkansen.  The maximum speed limit of trains on this line is 240 kilometres per hour, or 150 miles per hour.

A map of the Joetsu Shinkansen and its stops.

Times

Four services run on the Joetsu Shinkansen.  The "Toki" runs the full length of the line from Tokyo to Niigata, whereas the "Tanigawa" terminates mid-way at Echigo-Yuzawa.  Finally, the "MAX Toki" and "MAX Tanigawa" have identical stopping patterns as their regular counterparts, but use double-decker train cars.  (The name MAX stands for "Multi-Amenity Express".)  All Joetsu Shinkansen services are labelled in red on signboards.  Tanigawa and MAX Tanigawa mostly depart during the morning and evening commuter periods.

Name Start Station End Station(s) Time** Max. Frequency***
Toki Tokyo Niigata 2 hours 10 minutes 1 per 2 hours
MAX Toki 1-2 per hour
Tanigawa Tokyo Echigo-Yuzawa
Gala-Yuzawa* 		90 minutes 1 per 2 hours
MAX Tanigawa 1-2 per hour
* Trains stop at Gala-Yuzawa during the winter ski season only.
** Approximate time between Tokyo and designated end station.
*** Departure frequency (per direction) is based on February 2017 schedules and are subject to change.

Stops

A 200-series train (taken out of service in 2013) on the Gala-Yuzawa branch line.
© DAJF / Wikimedia Commons
During the winter ski season, which usually falls between December and April, Tanigawa trains continue from Echigo-Yuzawa onto a short branch line to Gala-Yuzawa station, which is directly adjacent to the ski resort of the same name.  The Gala-Yuzawa Line, as this branch is called, is only 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long, only takes 3 minutes to traverse, and as such isn't nearly as fast as the main Joetsu line, but with tickets at only ¥240 (including limited express fees), it is one of the cheapest ways to experience the Shinkansen, however briefly.

Name (English) Name (Japanese) Prefecture Toki Tanigawa
Tokyo 東京 Tokyo X X
Ueno 上野 X X
Omiya 大宮 Saitama X X
Kumagaya 熊谷 O X
Honjo-Waseda 本庄早稲田 O X
Takasaki 高崎 Gunma X X
Jomo-Kogen 上毛高原 O X
Echigo-Yuzawa 越後湯沢 Niigata X X
Gala-Yuzawa ガーラ湯沢 I O
Urasa 浦佐 O I
Nagaoka 長岡 X I
Tsubame-Sanjo 燕三条 X I
Niigata 新潟 X I
Legend:
X: All trains stop at this station.
O: Some trains stop at this station.
I: No trains stop at this station.

Notable stops
  • Tokyo/Ueno: The largest city in Japan and the world.
  • Omiya: The capital city of Saitama Prefecture, and home to a popular railway museum.
  • Takasaki: Where the Hokuriku Shinkansen branches off.
  • Jomo-Kogen: Access to the hot springs of Minakami Onsen.
  • Echigo Yuzawa: Access to many ski resorts, including...
  • Gala-Yuzawa: Part of the eponymous ski resort.
  • Niigata: A port city on the Sea of Japan coast.
Seating
    On double-decker E4 trains, the upper floors of non-reserved cars may use non-reclining bench seats.
    © DAJF / Wikimedia Commons
    MAX Toki/Tanigawa services use sets of double-decker cars. The upper floors of non-reserved cars are made up of 3+3-layout bench seats. While they feature the same generous seat pitch of 97 cm (41 in), they are narrower due to the more packed layout, do not feature armrests between seats, and do not recline. Still, they're not much different from seating on regular trains. Between 2018 and 2021, E7-series trainsets from the Hokuriku Shinkansen will be introduced into service on the Joetsu line.  More information: (Japanese)

    Service Total Cars Non-Reserved Cars Reserved Cars Green Cars
    Toki 10 4-6 (Cars #1-6) 3-5 (Cars #4-8, 10) 1 (Car #9)
    MAX Toki 8x2 4x2 (Cars #1-4) 3x2
    (Cars #5-8)     		1x2
    (Cars #7-8)
    Tanigawa 10 9 (Cars #1-8, 10) 0 1 (Car #9)
    MAX Tanigawa 8x2 5x2 (Cars #1-5) 2x2
    (Cars #6-8)     		1x2
    (Cars #7-8)
    Tips
    • Unlike on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines, the Japan Rail Pass is valid for ALL services on the Joetsu Shinkansen.  In addition, the JR East Nagano-Niigata Area Pass (English) covers the full line from Tokyo to Niigata, and the JR East Tokyo Wide Pass (English) covers the segment from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa (plus Gala-Yuzawa Station when available).
    • If departing from, or arriving at, Tokyo, you may want to consider using Ueno Station instead of the eponymous Tokyo Station.  Ueno serves some of the same JR lines as Tokyo  (JR Yamanote (JY), Keihin-Tohoku (JK), Takasaki/Utsunomiya (JU), Joban (JO)), but also serves the Tokyo Metro Ginza (G) and Hibiya (H) lines, and is somewhat smaller and more manageable.  The adjacent Keisei-Ueno Station also provides faster access to Narita Airport, via the Skyliner limited express.
    Trivia
    • The Joetsu region (上越), which the Joetsu Shinkansen is named after, encompasses the old provinces of Kozuke (上野国, Kōzuke no kuni) and Echigo (越後国, Echigo no kuni), which correspond to the modern-day Gunma and Niigata prefectures.
    • The name "Toki" (とき) refers to the crested ibis, a endangered species of bird that is famous in Niigata Prefecture.  It was previously used for a limited express service, running between Ueno and Niigata.  It operated from 1962 to 1982, when the Joetsu Shinkansen opened.  As a Shinkansen service, the Toki name was abandoned when the Tanigawa was introduced in 1997, but subsequently restored when the Asahi (below) was cancelled.
    • The name "Tanigawa" (たにがわ) refers to Mount Tanigawa (谷川岳, Tanigawa-dake), a 1,977-metre (6,486-foot) volcano found along the line, near Minakami.  It was previously used for a limited express service, running between Ueno and Minakami in Gunma Prefecture.  It operated from 1982 to 1997, when it was replaced by the Shinkansen service of the same name.
    • There used to be another service on the Joetsu Shinkansen.  The "Asahi" (あさひ, lit. 'morning sun') and "MAX Asahi" were full-stop services from Tokyo to Niigata.  It began with the opening of the line in 1982, but were discontinued in 2002, effectively replaced by Tanigawa services.
    • The line was originally going to start from Tokyo at Shinjuku Station, but to save on construction costs, existing Tohoku Shinkansen tracks were used between Tokyo and Omiya stations.
    • On 23 October 2004, a Joetsu Shinkansen train bound for Niigata was derailed by the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake.  This marked the first derailment in the Shinkansen's history.  Luckily, of the 155 passengers, nobody on board was injured or killed.
    The livery of the Genbi Shinkansen train is decorated in nature photographs by Mika Ninagawa.
    Fancy Free [CC BY-SA 2.5 ], via Wikimedia Commons
    But that's not all!  Since 29 April 2016, JR East has also been running a special train on the Joetsu Shinkansen line, called the Genbi Shinkansen (現美新幹線).  It boasts stylish interiors designed by contemporary artists and photographers, and as such has been described as "the world's fastest art exhibition".  One of the cars also includes a children's play area, and a cafe serving locally-made drinks and sweets.  The Genbi Shinkansen runs three times a day in each direction on weekends, making every stop between Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata.  Unlike regular Toki or Tanigawa services, it does not directly depart from or terminate at Tokyo.

    Station Toki 451
    for Niigata         		Station Toki 452
    for Echigo-Yuzawa
    Echigo-Yuzawa 8:24 AM Niigata 11:26 AM
    Urasa 8:37 AM Tsubame-Sanjo 11:39 AM
    Nagaoka 8:49 AM (Arrive) Nagaoka 11:49 AM (Arrive)
    8:50 AM (Depart) 11:54 AM (Depart)
    Tsubame-Sanjo 9:01 AM Urasa 12:08 PM
    Niigata 9:14 AM Echigo-Yuzawa 12:20 PM
    Station Toki 453
    for Niigata         		Station Toki 454
    for Echigo-Yuzawa
    Echigo-Yuzawa 12:44 PM Niigata 2:02 PM
    Urasa 12:57 PM Tsubame-Sanjo 2:15 PM
    Nagaoka 1:09 PM (Arrive) Nagaoka 2:25 PM (Arrive)
    1:14 PM (Depart) 2:26 PM (Depart)
    Tsubame-Sanjo 1:25 PM Urasa 2:44 PM
    Niigata 1:38 PM Echigo-Yuzawa 2:56 PM
    Station Toki 455
    for Niigata         		Station Toki 456
    for Echigo-Yuzawa
    Echigo-Yuzawa 3:20 PM Niigata 4:42 PM
    Urasa 3:33 PM Tsubame-Sanjo 4:56 PM
    Nagaoka 3:45 PM (Arrive) Nagaoka 5:06 PM (Arrive)
    3:50 PM (Depart) 5:07 PM (Depart)
    Tsubame-Sanjo 4:01 PM Urasa 5:20 PM
    Niigata 4:14 PM Echigo-Yuzawa 5:32 PM

    Service Total Cars Non-Reserved Cars Reserved Cars Cafe
    Genbi Shinkansen 6 4 (Cars #12, 14-16) 1 (Car #11) 1 (Car #13)

    The interior of one of the Genbi Shinkansen's gallery cars.
    くるみ１２１１ (Kurumi 1211) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
    For more information on the Genbi Shinkansen, visit the following links: (English) (Japanese)
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