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Shinkansen YEAR 2022: 4 things to know about East Japan’s bullet trains

Shinkansen YEAR 2022: 4 things to know about East Japan’s bullet trains

Those of you who have travelled to Japan before would have taken at least one ride on Japan’s famed bullet trains, or the shinkansen (新幹線). As people who have previously used any of the many rail passes sold by JR East and other JR companies know, one major selling point of these passes is unlimited rides on these trains, allowing tourists to maximise their passes to the best of their ability—and it was something I definitely did when I started using them!

 

Did you know, though, that this year is a special year for JR East’s shinkansen trains? Read on to find out four things about what is so special about JR East’s bullet trains!

 

1. JR East’s shinkansen train are all celebrating opening anniversaries this year!

Trains on the five shinkansen lines operated by JR East. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

There are five shinkansen lines starting from Tokyo Station (東京駅 Tōkyō-eki) that branch out all over East Japan and into places like the Tohoku Region (東北地方 Tōhoku-chihō)—home to the prefectures of Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, and Fukushima—and the Kōshin’etsu region (甲信越地方 Kōshin’etsu-chihō) including Nagano and Niigata, and the first special thing about JR East’s shinkansen lines is that they are all celebrating notable anniversaries throughout the course of this year! The dates and the anniversaries celebrated by the respective lines are:

 

  • 22 March: Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線) (Morioka–Akita), 25th anniversary
  • 23 June: Tohoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線) (Ōmiya–Morioka), 40th anniversary
  • 1 July: Yamagata Shinkansen (山形新幹線) (Fukushima–Yamagata), 30th anniversary
  • 1 October: Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線) (Takasaki–Nagano), 25th anniversary
  • 15 November: Joetsu Shinkansen (上越新幹線 Jōetsu Shinkansen) (Ōmiya–Niigata), 40th anniversary
  • 1st December: Tohoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線 Tōhoku Shinkansen) (Morioka–Hachinohe), 20th anniversary

 

Looking at the above, it amazes me that some of these lines are almost half a century old already, but trains still run smoothly and punctually on them. No doubt, this is all thanks to the hard work put in by the maintenance teams that work on these lines late into the night to ensure that everything is operationally good to go!

 

So special is this year that JR East has created a campaign named “Shinkansen YEAR 2022”, and created not only an official webpage, but also an official remix video featuring shinkansen-related sounds, which train aficionados should definitely check out!

 

2. There are five different shinkansen trains operated by JR East now!

With a total of five different kinds of shinkansen trains plying the five lines operated by JR East, there is a lot to see and enjoy for all train lovers! Let’s have a closer look at these five different trains and find out a little more about their specifications, as well as which lines they can be spotted on!

 

A: The E5 Series

The E5 series shinkansen. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

Date first introduced: 5 March 2011
Main line(s) and services: Tohoku Shinkansen (Hayabusa, Hayate)
Top speed: 320 km/h

 

With its iconic, streamlined nose and its striking green colour, the E5 series, though introduced a mere ten years ago, has quickly risen up the ranks to become the de facto face of the Tohoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線)! Designed to operate at the fastest possible speed of the line, the introduction of this train slashed travelling time between Tokyo (東京) and Shin-Aomori (新青森) to under 3 hours, and made Sendai (仙台) a mere 1.5 hour journey from Tokyo.

 

Its ability to travel at top speed has made it the main train plying the Tohoku Shinkansen, notably all Hayabusa (はやぶさ) services, the fastest train on the line. In addition, it is the only train on the Tohoku Shinkansen which offers Gran Class (グランクラス) seats, allowing travellers to reach their destination in business-class comfort and opulence!

 

B: The E6 Series

The E6 series shinkansen. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

Date first introduced: 16 March 2013
Main line(s) and services: Akita Shinkansen (Komachi)
Top speed: 320 km/h (as part of the Tohoku Shinkansen), 130km/h (on the Akita Shinkansen)

 

Even those who have not taken the Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線) before will immediately recognise this train from all of those photos and movies of the E6 and E5 series trains coupling or uncoupling at Morioka Station (盛岡駅 Morioka-eki), the bright red of the E6 a good contrast against the green of the E5!

 

The E6 series shinkansen coupled with the E5 series. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

Most E6 series can never be found travelling along the Tohoku Shinkansen itself—it is sometimes coupled with other trains. Together with the Yamagata Shinkansen (山形新幹線), it is what is termed a “mini-Shinkansen”, so dubbed because the trains are used on existing lines along which local trains run, and as such have been built with a narrower body compared to the other shinkansen trains.

 

C: The E7 Series

The E7 series shinkansen. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

Date first introduced: 15 March 2014 (Hokuriku Shinkansen), 16 March 2019 (Joetsu Shinkansen)
Main line(s) and services: Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki, Hakutaka, Tsurugi, Asama), Joetsu Shinkansen (Toki, Tanigawa)
Top speed: 260 km/h (Hokuriku Shinkansen), 240km/h (Joetsu Shinkansen)

 

One of the newer additions to the shinkansen family, the E7 series first began operations when the Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線) was extended to Kanazawa (金沢) in 2014, replacing the E2 and E4 series that ran along the line previously. Its nose is shorter and sharper compared to the E5 and E6 series, and is one of the few trains which run on more than one shinkansen line.

 

D: The E3 Series

The E3 series shinkansen. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

Date first introduced: 22 March 1997
Main line(s) and services: Yamagata Shinkansen (Tsubasa)
Top speed: 275 km/h (as part of the Tohoku Shinkansen), 130km/h (on the Yamagata Shinkansen)

 

One of the oldest shinkansen trains still in service on JR East’s shinkansen lines, along with the E2, the E3 series was initially used on the Tohoku and Akita Shinkansens before it became the main train for the Yamagata Shinkansen. Just like the E6 series, it is a “mini-Shinkansen”, designed to run along local train lines instead of shinkansen-only rails like its siblings.

 

The E3 series shinkansen at Kakunodate Station, back when it was still used on the Akita Shinkansen. (Image credit: Kevin Koh)

 

A few unique sightseeing trains were converted from the E3 series—for instance, the Toreiyu Tsubasa (とれいゆつばさ), a unique one-of-its-kind train with a footbath that ran on the Yamagata Shinkansen, as well as the Genbi Shinkansen (現美新幹線), a shinkansen with an art gallery on board. Unfortunately, these two trains ended their runs in March 2022 and December 2020 respectively. Similarly, the days of the E3 series are numbered, with the new E8 series slated to replace all E3 series trains starting from spring 2024, so hopefully we will be able to get in one last ride on the E3 series before they get phased out!

 

E: The E2 Series

The E2 series shinkansen. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

Date first introduced: 22 March 1997
Main line(s) and services: Tohoku Shinkansen (Yamabiko), Joetsu Shinkansen (Toki, Tanigawa)
Top speed: 275 km/h (Tohoku Shinkansen), 240km/h (Joetsu Shinkansen)

 

The other old stalwart still plying JR East’s shinkansen lines along with the E3 series, the E2 series can mainly be found today on the Tohoku Shinkansen as the Yamabiko (やまびこ) service between Tokyo and Sendai/Morioka, as well as some Toki (とき) and Tanigawa (たにがわ) trains on the Joetsu Shinkansen between Tokyo and Niigata. The E2 series is expected to be phased out from the latter with E7 series trains by spring 2023, though, leaving only the Tohoku Shinkansen as the sole line where fans of this series can catch it in action.

 

3. There is a lot of shinkansen magic happening at Tokyo Station!

The cleaning staffs bowing after finishing their duties. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

As those of you who have taken trains in Tokyo would know, stations are very hectic places—not only are they bustling with people, trains come and go non-stop, with some lines like the Yamanote Line (山手線 Yamanote-sen) having trains arrive once every two minutes during peak hours! The same is true of the shinkansen lines—at their busiest, trains depart the station every five minutes or so. The tight schedule means that there is little time for trains to be cleaned between trips—this does not mean, though, that the trains are not tidied up before they depart on their next journey!

 

On the contrary, there is a group of cleaners present at Tokyo Station whose job is to ensure the train is spick and span before its next departure—all in a matter of a mere seven minutes, though they usually have less time than that as not everyone gets off the train immediately. As soon as the train doors open, these cleaners enter the carriages and perform their duties—thoroughly cleaning tables, changing garbage bags, swivelling chairs around to face the opposite direction—like a well-choreographed dance, each person dedicated to their role and performing it precisely, but never in a fluster. Then, as gracefully as they boarded the train, they exit it in a couple of seconds, and the doors shut behind them as the driver and conductor prepare the train for its next journey.

 

A cleaning staff sanitising the seat tables. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

While it may be people like the drivers and conductors who are the ones we think of when our thoughts turn towards those people who ensure the trains run on time, it is not an exaggeration to say that without these cleaners, operations at Tokyo Station would come to a halt. Do keep an eye out for these unsung heroes that help keep the shinkansen trains running smoothly, and be sure to say thank you to them the next time you spot them tidying up the train you just left, or standing on the platform with a garbage bag for you to dispose your litter into!

 

A selection of delectable ekiben. (Image credit: Kevin Koh)

 

Shinkansen rides can be long depending on where your destination is, and oftentimes we choose to take the earlier trains, as travellers, to maximise our time at the next stop. This means that there may not be enough time to grab a bite before boarding the train, and it can be rather torturous to spend hours aboard a train without any food.

 

The perfect companion to any train trip is an ekiben (駅弁), a box filled with rice and other delectable bites from a particular region—and Tokyo Station has many shops selling such ekiben, making it easy for you to grab something to fill your stomach (and perhaps even a drink) before you embark on your journey! While there are kiosks at the shinkansen platforms where you can purchase a last-minute snack, the biggest selection of ekiben can be found at Ekiben-ya Matsuri (駅弁屋 祭), the largest ekiben shop in Tokyo Station! Featuring a wide range of nearly 200 lunch boxes from all over Japan, as well as a monthly rotating live demonstration where fresh ones are made before your very eyes, this place is not to be missed if you are at Tokyo Station awaiting your train ride! (I must confess, sometimes I go there just to buy ekiben to pretend that I am going on a journey somewhere…)

 

Ekiben-ya Matsuri (駅弁屋 祭)
Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
Nearest station: JR Tokyo Station (JR東京駅)
Access: Within the station
Opening hours: 5:30am–10pm
Tel: +81 33-213-4353

 

4. There is a business-class equivalent for the shinkansen!

The interior of a Gran Class carriage. (Image credit: cytech / CC BY 2.0)

 

Rail aficionados who have taken the shinkansen before will know that in addition to regular carriages, there are also those dubbed the “Green Cars” (グリーン車 Green-sha), which offer better seating and a little more room. Did you know, though, that there exists one more type of seat category? The Gran Class, the highest class of seating available to shinkansen passengers, aims to offer the best possible quality of service. With only eighteen seats available in a train, passengers are promised a world of luxury the moment they step into a Gran Class carriage.

 

The Gran Class attendant greeting all with a smile. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

The first thing you will notice when you approach the Gran Class carriage of your shinkansen at Tokyo Station is the dedicated attendant standing by the entrance, ready to welcome you aboard with a smile on her face. All Gran Class attendants board the train at Tokyo Station and stay aboard the whole journey, ensuring that all your needs are met throughout the entirety of your ride.

 

An example of the refreshments served in the Gran Class as of March 2022. The range of mini bento differs depending on the line and destination of the shinkansen. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

The interior of a Gran Class carriage is also decidedly sleeker and plusher than that of a regular carriage, with its carpeted flooring and stylish design, and the use of high-grade materials such as leather and wool for its seats. With dedicated service in such a chic environment, as well as things like amenities, light refreshments, and an all-you-can-drink menu (that includes alcohol!), service aboard the Gran Class is truly a memorable experience.

 

Workers cleaning the utensils used aboard the Gran Class. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

The Gran Class Cleaning Room, located in Tokyo Station and with similar bases in Shin-Aomori, Morioka, and Kanazawa, is where much of the preparation work takes place. After a shinkansen returns, the glassware and cutlery used are taken there to be washed and cleaned, while other workers load the carts with drinks to be served aboard, and yet others are tasked with preparing the food and amenities to be given out to passengers.

 

Amenities and drinks being restocked for the next journey. (Image credit: East Japan Railway Company)

 

As with the cleaners tidying up the shinkansens, the special service provided to Gran Class passengers is due to the efforts of not only the attendants, but also the other staff doing all the behind-the-scenes work, so do remember to thank them with a smile whenever you see them at Tokyo Station!

 

Year 2022 and beyond

The campaign catchphrase for “Shinkansen YEAR 2022” is (very aptly) “towards the next new step”—given all the innovations that have taken place on JR East’s bullet trains over the last few decades, I can hardly wait to see what other new and exciting things they will come up with as the shinkansen speed on ahead and into the future!

 

*Due to the damage caused by the earthquake that struck off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on 16 March, operations will be suspended on some sections of the route, and a temporary timetable will be in place. Work will be carried out with the aim of resuming all operations on or around 20 April. The official date of resumption of operations will be announced in conjunction with the detailed operation plan, as it is subject to change depending on the aftershocks and restoration work.

 

Header image credit: Kevin Koh

 

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