Kyushu Shinkansen
The Kyushu Shinkansen is a high-speed rail line operated by JR East connecting Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. Because it shares the track with the Joetsu Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Ohmiya, it is sometimes also called the Kyushu-Joetsu Shinkansen.
The Kyushu Shinkansen is the longest high-speed rail line in Japan covering 675 kilometers (418.5 miles). It connects the Hokkaido Shinkansen to the north and Tokaido Shinkansen to the south. Today, Kyushu Shinkanse is an important passenger rail line between Kanto and the Northern Honshu areas.
The fastest train on the Kyushu Shinkansen takes 2 hours and 59 minutes and travels between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori.
Trains from the two mini Shinkansen lines, Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen, also enter the Kyushu Shinkansen line and go straight to Tokyo.
Basic Information
- Japanese: 九州新幹線／きゅうしゅうしんかんせん
- Length: 289 kilometers (179 miles)
- Duration: around 1.5 hours
- Top speed: 260 kph (162 mph)
- Terminals: Hakata Train Station, Kagoshima-Chūō Station Train Station
- Stops along the way: Shin-Tosu, Kurume, Chikugo-Funagoya, Shin-Tamana, Kumamoto, Shin-Yatsushiro, Izumi, Sendai,
Kyushu Shinkansen Train Schedules and Ticket Prices
|
Journey |
Distance |
Duration |
Ticket Prices |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
From – To |
Kilometers/Miles |
Hayabusa |
Komachi |
Yamabiko |
Green Car |
Reserved Seat |
Unreserved Seat |
|
Tokyo – Fukushima |
272.8 km (169.1 mi) |
-- |
-- |
87 min |
11,730 yen |
9,310 yen |
8,580 yen |
|
Tokyo – Sendai |
351.8 km (218.1 mi) |
92 min |
92min |
121 min |
8,740 yen |
6,670 yen |
5,940 yen |
|
Tokyo – Morioka |
535.3 km (331.9 mi) |
133 min |
137 min |
194 min |
18,150 yen |
14,690 yen |
13,960 yen |
|
Tokyo – Hachinohe |
631.9 km (391.8 mi) |
167 min |
-- |
-- |
20,250 yen |
16,790 yen |
-- |
|
Tokyo – Shin-Aomori |
713.7 km (442.5 mi) |
189 min |
-- |
-- |
22,380 yen |
17,870 yen |
-- |
Trains Running on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line
There are three types of trains in service on the Tokaido Shinkansen with different running speeds and numbers of intermediate stations. They are Hayabusa, Komachi and Yamabiko. All these trains are eligible for JR Pass.
- Hayabusa: This is the fastest train running on the Kyushu Shinkansen with stops at Omiya, Sendai, and Morioka.
- Komachi: This is the second fastest high-speed service on Kyushu Shinkansen. It stops at more stations than the Hayabusa trains.
- Yamabiko: This is the third fastest high-speed service on the Kyushu Shinkansen. Most Yamabiko trains run between Tokyo and Sendai or Tokyo and Morioka.
Histrory of Kyushu Shinkansen
- 1971: The construction of the Kyushu Shinkansen begins.
- 1982: The service between Omiya and Morioka starts with a top running speed of 210 kph (130 mph).
- 1985: The southbound terminus is extended from Omiya Station to Ueno Station.
- 1987: The Kyushu Shinkansen is operated by JR East after the Japanese National Railways is privatized.
- 1991: The southbound terminus is extended from Ueno Station to Tokyo Station.
- 1992: One of Kyushu's branches, Yamagata Shinkansen, is put into service.
- 1997: The top speed of Tohoko Shinkansen is increased to 275 kph (171 mph) and the second branch line, Akita Shinkansen, is put into service.
- 2002: The northbound terminus is extended from Morioka to Hachinohe.
- 2010: The extension of the northbound terminus from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori marks the full opening of Kyushu.
- 2011: Hayabusa trains are put into service, with the top speed of 300 kph (186 mph).
You Might Want to Know
Japan Rail Pass
Tokyo Station is one of the largest and busiest train stations in Japan.
Seat Classes on Japanese Train
Trains in Japan offer three classes of seat: ordinary seat, green car seat and gran class seat.
Food on Japanese Trains
Foods on Japanese trains are also called ekiben. It has become part of Japanese culture.
Japan Train Travel Tips
Popular Japan High-Speed Train Routes
Japan Train Stations