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Two limited express trains run along the Joban Line: the Super Hitachi and the Fresh Hitachi. The Super Hitachi debuted in 1989 as JR East’s first limited express train, serving the interval between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture. It was the first time for a train to operate at 130 kilometers per hour using conventional tracks. This was followed by the Fresh Hitachi, debuting in 1997, a limited express known for its paint design with five colors. The Fresh Hitachi primarily serves the interval between Ueno and Katsuta Station in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The Train Line-up
- Series E657
Super Hitachi: Ueno - Iwaki / Sendai
Fresh Hitachi: Ueno - Katsuta / Iwaki
- Series 651
Super Hitachi: Ueno - Iwaki / Sendai
Fresh Hitachi: Ueno - Katsuta / Iwaki
- Series E653
Fresh Hitachi: Ueno - Katsuta / Iwaki
Places of Interest
- Mito is the home to Kairaku-en, counted as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan along with Kenroku-en in Kanazawa and Koraku-en in Okayama. Kairaku-en was created in 1842 by Nariaki Tokugawa, the daimyo (lord) of Mito. The botanical collection at Kairaku-en includes 3000 ume (plum) trees of about 100 varieties, and the month-long Mito Plum Festival celebrates their beauty from the end of February. Mito is located near the Pacific Ocean, making Oarai and Nakaminato close trips where the aquarium and fresh seafood can be enjoyed.
Access: Take the Joban Line to Mito Station. 
- Fukuroda Falls is one of the three Great Waterfalls of Japan, and its beauty is famous throughout the seasons. The most popular times are autumn when the beautiful tree colors surround the falls and in winter when everything becomes frozen.
Access: Take the Suigun Line to Fukuroda Station. 
- Iwaki is a city located in the eastern part of Fukushima Prefecture, also known as Hamadori. Iwaki has the warmest climate in the Tohoku Region and is blessed with bountiful seafood. The coastline runs for some 60 kilometers, north and south, with beautiful scenery of white sand and reefs. The bountiful seafood that is caught off the coast includes monkfish, bonito (or skipjack tuna), sea urchin and crab. It is worth the trip to Iwaki just to enjoy such wonderful foods.
Access: Take the Joban Line to Iwaki Station.
Approximate Travel Times
| Interval | Train | Approximate Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ueno to Iwaki | Super Hitachi | 2 hours, 15 minutes |
| Ueno to Mito | Fresh Hitachi | 1 hour, 15 minutes |
