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Joetsu Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen service began in 1982, linking the Pacific seaboard side of Honshu with the coast bordering the Sea of Japan. Departing from Tokyo and traveling past Takasaki, you pass the Echigo and Mikuni Mountain Ranges, which yield a panorama of rice fields before arriving in Niigata, one of the most prominent rice-growing areas of Japan. In 1990, Gala-Yuzawa Station in Niigata Prefecture opened seasonally to provide direct ski resort service, and each winter, the trains are filled with the merry sounds of skiers.
The Train Line-up
- Series E7
Toki: Tokyo - Niigata
Tanigawa: Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa
Service is extended to Gala-Yuzawa Station during the ski season.
Interior Layout of Cars
Starting March 20, 2023, Car No.9 of some weekday Joetsu Shinkansen trains will offer "TRAIN DESK" service. TRAIN DESK cars are ordinary reserved seat cars intended to offer the ideal space for customers who wish to work or study during their time on board. All passengers are welcome to make use of these cars, but we request that when doing so, you refrain from speaking in a loud voice, engaging in conversation or otherwise making noise that might disturb other passengers.
Toki and Tanigawa Series E7: 12-car trains
Notes：
GranClass cars on Toki and Tanigawa trains provide seating but there are no attendants or on-board amenities such as snacks or beverages.
Google Street View
Enjoy the view inside the train with 360 degree panoramic imagery
Series E7
- Ordinaly Car
Places of Interest
- GALA Yuzawa is a ski resort located only 77 minutes from Tokyo. The ski center immediately outside the ticket gate offers a full array of ski gear and clothing. After a day of winter sports, the area offers hot springs and accommodations for relaxation. In summer, the Echigo-Yuzawa area offers fishing, trekking, camping and other fun activities.
Access: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station. 
- Sandwiched between the great Shinano and Agano Rivers, Niigata Prefecture flourished during the Edo Period as an important stop for ships travelling from Osaka to the northern portions of Japan. This resulted in the development of a unique variety of food and culture. Of particular note are the abundance of seafood from the Sea of Japan and the sake brewing developed for the plenitude of rice in the region.
Access: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station. 
- Sado Island can be reached from Niigata Port in about 60 minutes by jetfoil. Most of the island is designated as national or prefectural parkland, preserving the beautiful natural scenery. A special treat to enjoy is the old-fashioned tarai boats, essentially washtubs used for boats, as well as the ocean views. A visit to the old gold mine is another attraction, where visitors take a trip back in time when Sado was known as the Island of Yellow Gold.
Access:Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station, then transfer to the Sado jetfoil, about a 60-minute marine trip.