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- Tohoku Shinkansen
The longest of the JR East Shinkansen lines, the Tohoku Shinkansen went into service in 1982. Currently running between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori, the Tohoku Shinkansen Line has many sightseeing locations, such as Oirase Stream (Aomori Prefecture) known for its beautiful scenery, Hiraizumi (Iwate Prefecture) with its World Heritage Sites, and Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture), nicknamed the City of Trees.
Special Promotion
To Sendai/Miyagi, filled with food, hot springs and other attractions!
Approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes from Tokyo to Sendai on the Tohoku Shinkansen. Located in the Tohoku area, Miyagi Prefecture and its capital Sendai are easily accessible, and the Sendai/Miyagi Campaign runs from Monday, April 1 to Sunday, June 30, 2013. Come visit Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai by rail for loads of sightseeing places and attractions, including the thick, juicy Sendai beef tongue and Naruko-onsen-kyo Hot Spring Village, which features some of Japan’s greatest hot springs.
Get a free gift!
When you use your JR EAST PASS SPECIAL or JR EAST PASS to travel to Aomori, Akita, Iwate or Miyagi between April 1 and June 30, 2013, you can receive a free gift!
The Train Line-up
- Series E5
Hayabusa: Tokyo - Shin-Aomori
Hayate: Tokyo - Morioka / Shin-Aomori
Yamabiko: Tokyo - Sendai
Nasuno: Tokyo - Koriyama
- Series E2
Hayate: Tokyo - Morioka / Shin-Aomori
Yamabiko: Tokyo - Sendai / Morioka
Nasuno: Tokyo - Koriyama
The Hayate is coupled to the Komachi between Tokyo and Morioka, and the Yamabiko sometimes is coupled to the Tsubusa between Tokyo and Fukushima.
Interior Layout of Cars
The Hayabusa and Hayate Series E5: 10-car trains
The Hayate and Yamabiko Series E2: 10-car trains
Places of Interest
- The Oirase Stream is a 14-kilometer stretch of water from Lake Towada to Mount Yake, and is known for the purity of its water. The lively, sparkling water is said to present viewers with an endless kaleidoscope of changes to delight the eye. Straddling the border between Akita and Aomori Prefectures, Lake Towada is famous for the clarity of its water. It is surrounded by untouched forests, whose trees turn to brilliant colors in autumn.
Access: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Hachinohe Station. 
- The Aomori Nebuta Festival in August is one of Japan's fire festivals and is well known throughout the world. Through the streets travels a float with a warrior figure known as the Nebuta. Illuminating the float is a lantern, and around the float, hayashi musicians play instruments while haneto dancers perform, all the while chanting, "rasse, rasse," filling the town with joy to celebrate the short Aomori summer. A 60-minute trip by bus from the station is Sukayu Onsen, a hot spring bath with a history reaching back three centuries. The bath accommodates one thousand bathers and is constructed from cypress.
Access: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori Station, then transfer to the Ou Line to Aomori Station. 
- Morioka flourished as a castle town in old times as a part of the Morioka Domain. Blessed with such natural features as Mount Iwate and the Kitakami River, one of the tourist draws of Morioka is its Sansa Odori dance festival. Located 40 minutes from Morioka is Koiwai Farm, a popular place for visitors to visit the farm animals.
Access: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka Station. 
- Hiraizumi is a town located in the southern part of Iwate Prefecture. Home to the powerful Hiraizumi Fujiwaras, this region blossomed as a cultural and political center of Japan around the end of the eleventh century. Also located here is Chusonji Temple, built in 850 and one of seven National Treasures located in Hiraizumi.
Access: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station, then transfer to the Tohoku Line to Hiraizumi Station. 
- Known by its nickname Mori-no Miyako or the City of Trees, Sendai is a major Japanese city through which the Hirose River flows. Sendai is also well known for its picturesque tree-lined roads. Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, is a popular attraction, and offers other such popular sites as Zuiganji Temple and Godaido Hall.
Access: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai Station.