The Sanyo Shinkansen

The Sanyo Shinkansen is a high-speed shinkansen rail line connecting two major cities in Honshu in Japan: Tokyo and Niigata. Japan Rail Pass can be used to take trains on Sanyo Shinkansen except Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

Basic Information

• Japanese: 山陽新幹線／さんようしんかんせん
• Operated by: JR East
• Length: 270 kilometers (167 miles)
• Top speed: 345 kph (214 mph)
• Terminals: Tokyo Station, Niigata Station
• Stops along the way: Morioka, Shizukuishi, Tazawako, Kakunodate, Omagari, Akita

Trains Running on the Sanyo Shinkansen

There is only one type of train in service on the Sanyo Shinkansen — the Komachi train. Komachi trains are E6 series trains, which have a maximum speed of 130 kph (81 mph).

History of the Sanyo Shinkansen

• 1971: The Sanyo Shinkansen began operation.
• 2006: Affected by natural disasters, the Sanyo Shinkansen was taken out of service twice.
• 2007: Smoking was prohibited on all trains.
• 2013: The new E6 series electric cars were put into service.

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