The Yamagata Shinkansen is a JR East train that connects Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station and Shinjo Station. Between Tokyo Station and Fukushima Station, the trains operate together with the Tohoku Shinkansen, with the exception of some trains.

The JR Group’s train lines are broadly divided into two categories: Shinkansen lines, which have wide tracks and operate at speeds of over 200 km/h, and other conventional lines. Strictly speaking, the Yamagata Shinkansen is not a Shinkansen train. For the line between Tokyo Station and Fukushima Station it operates on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, but when it goes further north of Fukushima Station it operates on the Ou Main Line, which is a conventional line. The Yamagata Shinkansen began service in 1992 and was improved to be smaller than regular Shinkansen so that it could directly operate on both Shinkansen and conventional lines.

The section between Fukushima Station and Yamagata Station/Shinjo Station, which runs on conventional lines, is characterized by the breathtaking scenery that can be viewed from the Shinkansen’s windows, including gorgeous views of the Fukushima basin and the Zao mountain range that straddles Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. In addition to being able to see Hakuryu Lake and Yamagata’s famed cherry orchards, between Yamagata Station and Murayama Station you may also be able to see the main peak of the Dewa Sanzan (the three mountains of Dewa), which has been an object of worship and veneration since ancient times.

The new E8 series Shinkansen made its debut in March 2024. In addition to power outlets for all seats, space for wheelchairs has also been added, thereby making the interiors barrier-free. The coloring for the carriages carries on the legacy of the E3 series’ design, with purple representing oshidori mandarin ducks from Yamagata Prefecture; white representing snow in Zao, famous for its ski resorts and frost-covered “snow monster” fir trees; and yellow representing safflower, the Yamagata prefectural flower. The interior design also evokes the climate of Yamagata and its many charms, with the seats in the Ordinary Car carriages being safflower-colored, the seats in the Green Car carriage being a moquette representing the rich coniferous forests of Mt. Gassan, and the passageways featuring a pattern based on a Mogami River motif. All of these heighten expectations for the journey ahead.

Green Car

Ordinary Car

The following amenities are available:

• ・Free Wi-Fi
• ・Power outlets on all seats
• ・Toilets with hot water washlet functionality
• ・Washrooms
• ・Wheelchair accommodations