Gourmet food on the 5 Shinkansen lines available with the “JR East Unlimited Ride Ticket”!

≪JR East will release a special ticket to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the railroad service. The ticket allows unlimited travel on all JR East lines and seven railroad companies’ lines for three consecutive days from October 14 to 27. In addition, the pass allows unlimited use of nonreserved seats on limited express trains and Shinkansen trains, including four reserved-seat reservations. The price is 22,150 yen for adults and 10,150 yen for children. In the first part of the article, “Let’s go on a “Sasaki Akinori Trip” with the “JR East Unlimited Ride Ticket,” which will go on sale soon! in which railroad writer Tatsuya Edakubo suggested a “Round-the-town trip along the Tohoku coastline,” he also told us about another way to enjoy the trip.

＜A Course of Five Rides on the Shinkansen Line

JR East is known for operating five Shinkansen lines, including the Tohoku, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines, as well as the Yamagata and Akita mini-Shinkansen lines, and this second plan is a three-day, two-night tour of various regions, riding all lines and sections.

Day 1

The trip starts with the Hokuriku Shinkansen “Hakutaka No. 553” departing from Tokyo Station at 7:52 a.m. The train departs from Takasaki Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen. The Hokuriku Shinkansen, which branches off from the Joetsu Shinkansen Takasaki Station and runs to Kanazawa Station, is operated by JR East from Takasaki to Joetsu Myoko and by JR West from Joetsu Myoko to Kanazawa. In other words, the East Japan Pass can be used only up to Joetsu Myoko, so please be sure not to make a mistake.

Arrival at Joetsu Myoko is at 9:54. Here, change to the Shirayuki No. 3 limited express connecting the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Niigata. The train departs Joetsu Myoko Station at 10:33 a.m. and arrives at Niigata Station at 12:30 p.m. In Niigata, you will have 2.5 hours to spare, so it would be a good idea to enjoy lunch such as seafood or hegisoba (buckwheat noodles).

Railroad enthusiasts can get off the “Shirayuki 3” at Niitsu Station, one stop before the last stop at Niigata Station, and stop by the Niitsu Railway Museum, which displays a variety of vehicles that have been used in Niigata, including C57 steam locomotives, 485 series limited express trains, Joetsu Shinkansen 200 series trains, and E4 series trains. However, it is 2.1 km away from the station, and walking is not recommended. A bus will get you there in about 5 minutes, but buses are scarce during the daytime, and the 2.5 hours of spare time will be gone in no time. It would be safer to rent a bicycle at the tourist information center at the east exit of the station or call a cab.

Next, take the “Toki No. 330” departing from Niigata Station at 15:37 to Omiya Station and change to the Tohoku, Yamagata, and Akita Shinkansen bullet trains. Arrive at Omiya Station at 5:15 p.m., and take the Yamagata Shinkansen “Tsubasa No. 149” (all reserved seats) departing at 5:25 p.m. to Yamagata Station. Arrival at Yamagata Station is at 19:45. Although it will be a little late, we would like to stay at an inn here to end the first day of the tour.