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- Akita Shinkansen
The Komachi service on the Akita Shinkansen Line began in 1997, providing direct service from the Tohoku Shinkansen Line to Akita Prefecture using the Tazawako and Ou Lines. At the fastest speed, travel from Tokyo to Akita Station via Morioka takes 3 hours, 50 minutes, and along the route from Morioka to Akita can be seen many famous scenic spots such as Lake Tazawa, known for its clear water, as well as cherry blossom trees and the historical district of Kakunodate. The Komachi train cars are sized slightly smaller than typical Shinkansen cars, and are decorated with gray and pink lines on a white base, giving them a feminine form that has been compared to the women of Akita, known throughout Japan for their beauty.
The Train Line-up
- Series E3
Komachi: Tokyo - Akita
The Komachi is coupled to the Hayate between Tokyo and Morioka.
Hayate & Komachi
Places of Interest
- The water of Lake Tazawa is known for its beautiful, cobalt blue color and is the deepest of any lake in Japan. Its glittering surface does not freeze in winter, so visitors enjoy its wondrous scenery all year round. About 40 minutes from Tazawako Station is Nyuto Hot Springs Village, a spot famous for its marvelous hot springs, each with its unique properties and restorative effects. Another feature of this village is the encircling mountains, whose natural beauty typify the Tohoku region.
Access: Take the Akita Shinkansen to Tazawako Station. 
- Kakunodate is a town in Akita Prefecture where many samurai mansions of old remain. Historically flourishing as a castle town, Kakunodate earned the nickname Little Kyoto from its townscape. In spring, some four hundred weeping cherry blossom trees come into bloom, a delight to the eye.
Access: Take the Akita Shinkansen to Kakunodate Station. 
- The Kanto Festival, or Festival of Lantern Poles, is a traditional event for which Akita is well known. Men carry poles 40 feet and higher, decorated with lanterns, and perform traditional tricks such as balancing them on their palms, foreheads, shoulders and even waists. The lantern poles weight 100 pounds or more, and their feats of skill and displays represent wishes for a bountiful harvest. The namahage event of the Oga Peninsula is particularly characteristic of winter, when adults dress as monsters to test the mettle of children.
Access: Take the Akita Shinkansen to Akita Station.
Fastest Travel Times
| Interval | Train | Fastest Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo to Akita | Komachi | 3 hours, 50 minutes |
| Tokyo to Morioka | Komachi (Hayate) | 2 hours, 23 minutes |
