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- Azusa and Kaiji
Along the Chuo East Line run three limited express trains: the Super Azusa, the Asuza and the Kaiji. Debuting in 1993, the Super Azusa was specially designed to pass through the mountainous, winding terrain between Shinjuku and Matusmoto. Known as an excellent choice for pleasure trips, the Asuza sometimes operates on extended runs to Hakuba and Minami-Otari. Also a limited express, the Kaiji is primarily used for business travel. It went into service in 2001, running between Shinjuku and Kofu. With larger windows and more space to move around, the Kaiji makes train riding even more pleasurable than before.
Special Promotion
Extend your horizons from Matsumoto — A trip to Hida Takayama for a feel of Japanese history
Buy a JR EAST PASS and you can get a round-trip bus ticket between Matsumoto and Takayama for 2,500 yen, less than half the regular price! We highly recommend this special ticket for anyone wanting to visit Hida Takayama. Use your JR EAST PASS to take a rail trip at great savings, and you can save money on bus travel, too. This is a great opportunity to see Hida Takayama and its Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site.
The Train Line-up
- Series E351
Super Azusa: Shinjuku - Matsumoto
- Series E257
Azusa: Shinjuku - Matsumoto / Minami-Otari
Kaiji: Shinjuku - Kofu / Ryuo
Interior Layout of Cars
The Super Azusa Series E351: 12-car trains
The Azusa / Kaiji Series E257: 11-car trains
Notes: Some runs may include 9 cars.
Places of Interest
- At 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji is the highest point in Japan. Considered by many to be sacred, Mount Fuji is capped year-round with snow, and its beauty has been memorialized in numerous songs and paintings since ancient times. Five lakes lie at the foot of the mountain, and of these, Lake Kawaguchi is popular for its particularly beautiful views of Mount Fuji. Each of the four seasons reveals different aspects of Mount Fuji’s beauty. Explore the many faces of Mount Fuji and find your favorite season!
Access: Take the Chuo Line to Otsuki Station, then transfer to the Fuji Kyuko Line. 
- Matsumoto has been a castle town for centuries, and at its center stands Matsumoto Castle, a designated national treasure that rises in grand form. Completed in 1594, the castle includes the oldest extant donjon in Japan, and while its construction appears to be five stories from the outside, there is actually a sixth story inside. The entire town of Matsumoto becomes particularly alive in the summer. Visitors include mountain climbers who make Matsumoto their starting base on trips to the highlands and the Hida Mountains (also known as the Northern Alps).
Access: Take the Chuo Line to Matsumoto Station. 
- Located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, Hakuba is famed for its panoramas of the Northern Alps. Each season brings a new form of beauty, from the lingering snow of spring and wildflowers of summer to the brilliant autumn colors of the trees in fall. Winter, of course, brings snow, and Hakuba attracts skiers from around the world each year who seek the high-quality consistency of Hakuba snow.
Access: Take the Oito Line to Hakuba Station or the Nagano Shinkansen to Nagano Station. then transfer to the local bus.