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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 E2
-
Toki: Tokyo - Niigata
Tanigawa: Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa
- Series E4
-
Max Toki: Tokyo - Niigata
Max Tanigawa: Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa
Service is extended to Gala-Yuzawa Station during the ski season.
Interior Layout of Cars
Toki and Tanigawa Series E2: 10-car trains
Max Toki and Max Tanigawa Series E4: 8-car, double decker trains
Notes: Some runs may include 16 cars.
Google Street View
Enjoy the view inside the train with 360 degree panoramic imagery
Series E2
- Ordinaly Car
Series E4
- Ordinaly Car（2F）
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.