Introduction
JR East is the regional railway operator in eastern Japan, connecting Tokyo, Nagano, Niigata, Fukushima, Yamagata, Sendai, Morioka, Akita and Aomori.
Trains operated by JR East
JR East operates the Shinkansen high-speed railway service with trains running at a maximum speed of 240–320 km/h.
- - Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Aomori
- - Akita Shinkansen between Tokyo and Akita
- - Yamagata Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shinjo
- - Joetsu Shinkansen between Tokyo and Niigata
- - Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Tsuruga
Shinkansen trains carry Green Cars with business class seats and Ordinary Cars with standard class seats distributed in Reserved and Non-reserved seats. In total, Shinkansen trains offer three passengers classes: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.
JR East also operates many intercity and regional lines with trains running on conventional rail at a maximum speed of 130-160 km/h.
Conventional rail services are classified depending on the stop pattern:
- - Limited Express is the fastest service stopping at major stations
- - Express is a semi-fast service stopping at major stations
- - Rapid is a fast service stopping at most stations
- - Local is a slow service stopping at all stations
When travelling on conventional rail, the standard ticket or the rail pass allows the passenger to access the platform and board Limited Express trains as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains.
On Limited Express trains, passengers can travel on Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat. In case of travelling on Reserved Seat, passengers are required an extra ticket for the Reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the standard ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Japan.
Routes
Travel with ticket
We facilitate advance ticket booking for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR East.
Tohoku Shinkansen serving Tokyo, Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka and Aomori
| Stations | HAYABUSA | YAMABIKO | NASUNO | HAYATE |
| Tokyo | ||||
| Ueno | ||||
| Omiya | ||||
| Oyama | — | |||
| Utsunomiya | — | |||
| Nasushiobara | — | |||
| Shin-Shirakawa | — | |||
| Koriyama | — | |||
| Fukushima | — | |||
| Shiroishizao | — | |||
| Sendai | ||||
| Furukawa | ||||
| Kurikoma-Kogen | ||||
| Ichinoseki | ||||
| Mizusawaesashi | ||||
| Kitakami | ||||
| Shin-Hanamaki | ||||
| Morioka | ||||
| Iwate-Numakunai | ||||
| Ninohe | ||||
| Hachinohe | ||||
| Shichinohe-Towada | ||||
| Shin-Aomori |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | KOMACHI |
| Tokyo | |
| Ueno | |
| Omiya | |
| Oyama | — |
| Utsunomiya | — |
| Nasushiobara | — |
| Shin-Shirakawa | — |
| Koriyama | — |
| Fukushima | — |
| Shiroishizao | — |
| Sendai | |
| Furukawa | |
| Kurikoma-Kogen | |
| Ichinoseki | |
| Mizusawaesashi | |
| Kitakami | |
| Shin-Hanamaki | |
| Morioka | |
| Shizukuishi | |
| Tazawako | |
| Kakunodate | |
| Omagari | |
| Akita |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | TOKI | TANIGAWA |
| Tokyo | ||
| Ueno | ||
| Omiya | ||
| Kumagaya | ||
| Honjo-Waseda | ||
| Takasaki | ||
| Jomo-Kogen | ||
| Echigo-Yuzawa | ||
| Urasa | ||
| Nagaoka | ||
| Tsubamesanjo | ||
| Niigata |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | KAGAYAKI | HAKUTAKA | ASAMA | TSURUGI |
| Tokyo | ||||
| Ueno | ||||
| Omiya | ||||
| Kumagaya | — | — | ||
| Honjo-Waseda | — | — | ||
| Takasaki | — | |||
| Annaka-Haruna | — | |||
| Karuizawa | — | |||
| Sakudaira | — | |||
| Ueda | — | |||
| Nagano | ||||
| Iiyama | — | |||
| Joetsumyoko | — | |||
| Itoigawa | — | |||
| Kurobe-Unazukionsen | — | |||
| Toyama | ||||
| Shin-Takaoka | — | |||
| Kanazawa | ||||
| Komatsu | ||||
| Kagaonsen | ||||
| Awaraonsen | ||||
| Fukui | ||||
| Echizen-Takefu | ||||
| Tsuruga |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | TSUGARU | INAHO | SHIRAYUKI |
| Aomori | |||
| Akita | |||
| Niigata | |||
| Joetsu |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | NIKKO | KINUGAWA |
| Shinjuku | ||
| Ikebukuro | ||
| Omiya | ||
| Tochigi | ||
| Shimo-Imaichi | ||
| Tobu-Nikko | ||
| Kinugawa-Onsen |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | NARITA |
| Narita Airport | |
| Narita | |
| Yotsukaido | |
| Chiba | |
| Tokyo | |
| Shinagawa | |
| Shinjuku |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | AZUSA |
| Tokyo | |
| Shinjuku | |
| Tachikawa | |
| Hachioji | |
| Otsuki | |
| Kofu | |
| Nirasaki | |
| Chino | |
| Kami-Suwa | |
| Okaya | |
| Shiojiri | |
| Matsumoto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | SHINANO |
| Shiojiri | |
| Matsumoto | |
| Akashina | |
| Hijiri-Kogen | |
| Shinonoi | |
| Nagano |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | FUJI EXCURSION |
| Shinjuku | |
| Tachikawa | |
| Hachioji | |
| Otsuki | |
| Mt. Fuji | |
| Kawaguchiko |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | ODORIKO |
| Tokyo | |
| Shinagawa | |
| Kawasaki | |
| Yokohama | |
| Ofuna | |
| Odawara | |
| Yugawara | |
| Atami | |
| Ajiro | |
| Ito | |
| Izu-Kogen | |
| Izu-Atagawa | |
| Izu-Inatori | |
| Kawazu | |
| Izukyu Shimoda |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | SHONAN |
| Shinjuku | |
| Shibuya | |
| Osaki | |
| Tokyo | |
| Shimbashi | |
| Shinagawa | |
| Ofuna | |
| Fujisawa | |
| Tsujido | |
| Chigasaki | |
| Hiratsuka | |
| Ninomiya | |
| Kozu | |
| Odawara |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Travel with rail pass
We facilitate the purchase of different rail pass with JR East valid for unlimited travel between Tokyo, Nagano, Niigata, Fukushima, Yamagata, Sendai, Morioka, Akita and Aomori in eastern Japan.
Travellers with JR East Tokyo WIDE Area Pass (3-day), JR East Tohoku Area Pass (5-day), JR East Nagano-Niigata Area Pass (5-day) and JR East Hokuriku Arch Pass (7-day) can travel on Express, Rapid and Local trains with Non-reserved seats. Passengers can also travel on Limited Express trains and Shinkansen trains with Non-reserved seat or travel on Reserved Seat by receiving a Reserved Seat ticket before boarding, as this is included in the rail pass.
Tokyo WIDE Area Pass (3-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 3 consecutive days.
Tohoku Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Nagano-Niigata Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Hokuriku Arch Pass (7-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 7 consecutive days.
Destinations
JR East serves the following destinations in Japan:
Tohoku region
Tohoku region comprises Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. This region is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Akita Shinkansen, the Yamagata Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR East.
Train routes to Aomori
Train routes to Hirosaki
Train routes to Akita
Train routes to Sendai
Kanto region
Kanto region comprises Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. This region is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Joetsu Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR East.
Train routes to Tokyo
Train routes to Nikko
Train routes to Kinugawa
Train routes to Yokohama
Train routes to Kamakura
Train routes to Odawara
Chubu region
Chubu region comprises Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama, Nagano and Niigata prefectures. This region is served by the Joetsu Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR East.
Train routes to Fuji
Train routes to Matsumoto
Train routes to Nagano
Train routes to Niigata
Train routes to Kanazawa
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| JR East | Change time/date |
| Fare Gran class car seat (Tohoku) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Tohoku) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tohoku) | Permitted |
| Fare Gran class car seat (Hokuriku) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Hokuriku) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Hokuriku) | Permitted |
| Fare Gran class car seat (Joetsu) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Joetsu) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Joetsu) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Azusa) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Azusa) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Fuji Excursion) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Inaho) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Inaho) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Kinugawa) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Kusatsu) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Narita) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Narita) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Nikko) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Odoriko) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Odoriko) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Shinano) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shinano) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shirayuki) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Shonan) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shonan) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Tsugaru) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tsugaru) | Permitted |
| Fare Hokuriku Arch Pass (7-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Nagano-Niigata Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Tohoku Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Tokyo WIDE Pass (3-day) | Permitted |
If you wish to change your booking with JR East, please Contact Us. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
- No change once the physical ticket has been issued by the ticket vending machine
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| JR East | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare Gran class car seat (Tohoku) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Tohoku) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tohoku) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Gran class car seat (Hokuriku) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Hokuriku) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Hokuriku) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Gran class car seat (Joetsu) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Joetsu) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Joetsu) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Azusa) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Azusa) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Fuji Excursion) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Inaho) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Inaho) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Kinugawa) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Kusatsu) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Narita) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Narita) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Nikko) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Odoriko) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Odoriko) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Shinano) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shinano) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shirayuki) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Shonan) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shonan) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Tsugaru) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tsugaru) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Hokuriku Arch Pass (7-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Nagano-Niigata Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Tohoku Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Tokyo WIDE Pass (3-day) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your ticket with JR East, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 320 JPY of the ticket fare + 200 JPY per ticket if the physical ticket has not been issued by the ticket vending machine
- No refund once the physical ticket has been issued by the ticket vending machine
If you wish to cancel your rail pass with JR East, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 10% of the ticket fare + 200 JPY per ticket if the exchange order (E-TICKET) has not been exchanged
- No refund if the rail pass has been exchanged, used, expired, lost or stolen