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- Tohoku Shinkansen
The longest of the JR East Shinkansen lines, the Tohoku Shinkansen went into service in 1982. In December 2010, the Tohoku Shinkansen Line opened for extended service to Shin-Aomori Station. In March 2011, the long-awaited E5 Hayabusa cars will make their debut on the line, connecting Tokyo and Shin-Aomori by as little as 3 hours, 10 minutes. It runs between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori via Sendai, with the Hayabusa train making the trip in as little as 3 hours, 10 minutes. Other trains servicing the Tohoku Shinkansen route are the Hayate, Yamabiko, Max Yamabiko, Nasuno and Max Nasuno. The Tohoku route is popular for the through beautiful scenery and popular sightseeing locations along the way, including the Oirase Stream in Aomori Prefecture and Chusonji Temple in Iwate Prefecture.
Special Promotion
Hiking Event to be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Why don't you walk along the Cedar Avenue of Nikko feeling the history of Japan?
Explore Iwate with the JR East Pass
[Limited time only!] Visitors to Iwate with the JR East Pass will receive a dyed cloth with traditional designs.
Tohoku Shinkansen Line – Shin-Aomori Extension Opens!
In December 2010 the Tohoku Shinkansen Line opened for extended service from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori Station. Access to Aomori is more convenient than ever. Travel from Tokyo to Aomori in as little as 3 hours, 10 minutes.
The Train Line-up
- Series E5
Hayabusa: Tokyo - Shin-Aomori
Hayate: Tokyo - Morioka / Shin-Aomori
Yamabiko: Tokyo - Sendai
- Series E2
Hayate: Tokyo - Morioka / Shin-Aomori
Yamabiko: Tokyo - Sendai
Nasuno: Tokyo - Koriyama
- Series E4
Max Yamabiko: Tokyo - Sendai
Max Nasuno: Tokyo - Nasushiobara
- Series 200
Yamabiko: Tokyo - Sendai
Nasuno: Tokyo - Koriyama
The Hayate is coupled to the Komachi between Tokyo and Morioka, and the Max Yamabiko is sometimes coupled to the Tsubasa between Tokyo and Fukushima.
Max Yamabiko & Tsubasa
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.
Fastest Travel Times
| Interval | Train | Fastest Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo to Shin-Aomori | Hayabusa | 3 hours, 10 minutes |
| Tokyo to Morioka | Hayabusa | 2 hours, 20 minutes |
| Tokyo to Sendai | Hayabusa | 1 hour, 36 minutes |
