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.
Toki: Tokyo - Niigata
Tanigawa: Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa
Toki: Tokyo - Niigata
Tanigawa: Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa
Service is extended to Gala-Yuzawa Station during the ski season.
Notes:
GranClass cars on Toki and Tanigawa trains provide seating but there are no attendants or on-board amenities such as snacks or beverages.
Enjoy the view inside the train with 360 degree panoramic imagery