List of named passenger trains of Japan

This article contains lists of named passenger trains in Japan.

Shinkansen (bullet trains)

Train name Name meaning Operator Train endpoints Operated Maximum operating speed (km/h) Japan Rail Pass coverage
Aoba Green leaves JR East Tokyo – Sendai 1982–1995 240 Service discontinued
Asahi Morning Sun JR East Tokyo – Niigata 1982–2004 275 Service discontinued
Asama refers to Mount Asama JR East Tokyo – Nagano 1998– 260 Yes
Hakutaka White hawk (legendary white hawk in Tateyama Mountains) JR East / JR-West Tokyo – Kanazawa 2015– 260 Yes
Hayabusa Peregrine falcon JR East / JR Hokkaido Tokyo – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 2011– 320 Yes
Hayate Strong wind JR East / JR Hokkaido Tokyo – Morioka and Morioka – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 2002– 275 Yes
Hikari Light JR Central / JR-West Tokyo – Hiroshima and Nagoya – Hakata 1964–
  • Tokaido Shinkansen: 285
  • Sanyo Shinkansen: 300
 Yes
Hikari Rail Star Light – Rail Star JR-West Shin-Ōsaka – Hakata 2000– 285 Yes
Kagayaki Glitter JR East / JR-West Tokyo – Kanazawa 2015– 260 Yes
Kodama Echo JR Central / JR-West Tokyo – Shin-Ōsaka and Shin-Ōsaka – Hakata 1964– 285 Yes
Komachi Beauty (refers to Ono no Komachi) JR East Tokyo – Akita 1997– 320 Yes
Mizuho Harvest, also an ancient name of Japan JR Kyushu / JR-West Shin-Ōsaka – Kagoshima-Chūō 2011– 300 No
Nasuno refers to Nasu highlands JR East Tokyo – Kōriyama 1995– 275 Yes
Nozomi Hope JR Central / JR-West Tokyo – Shin-Ōsaka, Hakata 1992–
  • Tokaido Shinkansen: 285
  • Sanyo Shinkansen: 300
 No
Sakura Cherry blossoms JR Kyushu / JR-West Shin-Ōsaka – Kagoshima-Chūō 2011– 300 Yes
Tanigawa refers to Mount Tanigawa JR East Tokyo – Echigo-Yuzawa 1997– 240 Yes
Toki Crested ibis JR East Tokyo – Niigata 1982–1997; 2004– 240 Yes
Tsubame Swallow JR Kyushu Hakata – Kagoshima-Chūō 2004– 260 Yes
Tsubasa Wings JR East Tokyo – Shinjō 1992– 275 Yes
Tsurugi refers to Mount Tsurugi JR-West Toyama – Kanazawa 2015– 260 Yes
Yamabiko Mountain spirit JR East Tokyo – Morioka 1982– 275 Yes

Daytime trains

Limited express (partial list)

Train name Name meaning Operator Train endpoints Operated
A-Train refers to Ariake region JR Kyushu Yoshizuka, Hakata – Nagasu 1967–
Aizu Liner refers to Aizu region JR East Kōriyama – Aizu-Wakamatsu 1968–
Akagi / Swallow Akagi refers to Mt. Akagi JR East Ueno, Shinjuku – Takasaki, Maebashi 1982–
Ariake refers to Arikake region JR Kyushu Kumamoto – Misumi 1967–
Asagiri Morning mist Odakyu / JR Central Shinjuku – Gotemba 1991–
Ashizuri refers to Cape Ashizuri JR Shikoku Kōchi – Nakamura 1990–
Ayame Japanese iris JR East Tokyo – Narita, Kashima Jingu, Chōshi 1975–2015
Azusa / Super Azusa refers to Azusa River JR East Shinjuku, Tokyo, Chiba – Matsumoto, Minami-Otari 1966–
Enoshima refers to Enoshima Odakyu Shinjuku – Fujisawa – Katase-Enoshima 1964–
Fujikawa refers to Fuji River JR Central Kōfu – Shizuoka 1996–
Hakone / Super Hakone / Metro Hakone refers to Hakone Odakyu Shinjuku, Kita-Senju – Hakone-Yumoto 1950–
Hakuchō / Super Hakuchō Swan JR East / JR Hokkaido Shin-Aomori, Aomori – Hakodate 2002–2016
Haruka Faraway JR-West Kyoto/Shin-Ōsaka – Kansai Airport 1993–
Hida refers to Hida JR Central Nagoya – Takayama, Toyama 1968–
Hitachi old name of Ibaraki Prefecture JR East Shinagawa – Iwaki 1969–
Hokuto / Super Hokuto Big Dipper JR Hokkaido Hakodate – Sapporo 1965–
Homeway / Metro Homeway - Odakyu Shinjuku, Kita-Senju, Ōtemachi – Machida, Sagami-Ōno, Hon-Atsugi, Odawara, Hakone-Yumoto, Karakida, Fujisawa, Katase-Enoshima 1999–
Huis Ten Bosch - JR Kyushu Hakata – Huis Ten Bosch 1992–
Inaho Rice stalk JR East Niigata – Sakata, Akita 1969–
Inaji Refers to Ina region JR Central Toyohashi – Iida 1996–
Ishizuchi Refers to Mt. Ishizuchi JR Shikoku Takamatsu – Matsuyama, Uwajima 1988–
Kaiji Way to Kai, old name of Yamanashi Prefecture JR East Tokyo, Shinjuku – Kōfu, Ryūō 1988–
Kaio refers to Kaio Hiroyuki, a celebrity sumo wrestler from Nōgata JR Kyushu Hakata – Nōgata 2001–
Kamome Seagull JR Kyushu Hakata – Saga, Hizen-Kashima, Nagasaki and Haiki – Nagasaki 1961–
Kamoshika Japanese serow JR East Akita – Aomori 1997–2010
Kamui Kamuy JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Asahikawa 2007–
Kinosaki refers to Kinosaki Onsen JR-West Kyoto – Kinosaki Onsen 1996–
Kinugawa / Spacia Kinugawa refers to Kinugawa River JR East / Tobu Railway Shinjuku – Kinugawa-Onsen 2006–
Kirameki Glitter JR Kyushu Hakata – Kokura, Mojikō 2001–
Kirishima refers to Mt. Kirishima JR Kyushu Miyazaki – Miyakonojō, Nishi-Miyakonojō, Kagoshima-Chūō and Kokubu – Kagoshima-Chūō 1995–
Kita-Kinki North Kinki JR-West Shin-Ōsaka, Fukuchiyama – Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen 1986–2011
Kounotori Stork JR-West Shin-Ōsaka – Fukuchiyama, Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen 2011–
Kumagawa refers to Kuma River JR Kyushu Kumamoto – Hitoyoshi 2004–
Kuroshio Kuroshio Current JR-West Kyoto, Shin-Ōsaka, Tennōji – Wakayama, Shirahama, Shingu 1965–
Kusatsu refers to Kusatsu Onsen JR East Ueno – Manza-Kagawaguchi 1985–
Lilac - JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Asahikawa 1980–2007; 2017–
Midori Green JR Kyushu Hakata – Sasebo 1976–
Nanki refers to South Kii Peninsula JR Central Nagoya – Shingū Station, Kii-Katsuura 1978–
Nanpū Southern wind JR Shikoku Okayama – Kōchi, Nakamura, Sukumo 1972–
Narita Express - JR East Tokyo area – Narita Airport 1991–
Nikkō / Spacia Nikkō refers to Nikkō JR East / Tōbu Shinjuku – Tōbu-Nikko 2006–
Odoriko / Super View Odoriko refers to The Dancing Girl of Izu JR East / Izukyū / Izuhakone Railway Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro – Itō, Izukyū Shimoda, Shuzenji 1981–
Ohayo Express / Oyasumi Express Good morning express / Good night express JR-West Fukui – Kanazawa
  • Ohayo Express: 2001–
  • Oyasumi Express: 2004–
Ohayo Tochigi / Hometown Tochigi Good morning Tochigi / - JR East Shinjuku – Utsunomiya, Kuroiso 1995–2010
Okhotsk refers to Sea of Okhotsk JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Abashiri 1972–
Relay Tsubame Swallow JR Kyushu Hakata – Shin-Yatsushiro 2004–2011
Sagami / Metro Sagami refers to Sagami, old name of Kanagawa Prefecture Odakyu Shinjuku, Kita-Senju – Machida, Sagami-Ōno, Hon-Atsugi, Odawara 1950–
Sazanami Ripples JR East Tokyo – Kimitsu 1972–
Shimanto refers to Shimanto River JR Shikoku Takamatsu – Kōchi, Sukumo 1988–
Shinano refers to Shinano region, old name of Nagano Prefecture JR Central Ōsaka, Nagoya – Nagano 1968–
Shiokaze Sea breeze JR Shikoku Okayama – Imabari, Matsuyama, Uwajima 1972–
Shiosai - JR East Tokyo, Shinjuku – Sakura, Narutō, Chōshi 1975–
Shirasagi Egret JR-West Nagoya, Maibara – Kanazawa 1964–
Shirayuki White snow JR East Niigata – Jōetsumyōkō 2015–
Skyliner - Keisei Keisei Ueno – Narita Airport 1972–
Sonic - JR Kyushu Hakata – Yanagigaura, Ōita, Saiki (via Nippō Main Line) 1997–
Super Inaba refers to Hare of Inaba JR-West Okayama – Tottori 1993–
Super Matsukaze Pine wind JR-West Tottori – Masuda 2003–
Super Oki refers to Oki Islands JR-West Tottori – Yonago, Shin-Yamaguchi 2001–
Super Ozora Sky JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Kushiro 1961–
Super Soya, Sarobetsu refers to Soya region, refers to Sarobetsu plain JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Wakkanai 2000–
Super Tokachi refers to Tokachi region JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Obihiro 1990–
Super White Arrow - JR Hokkaido New Chitose Airport, Sapporo – Asahikawa 1986–2007
Suzuran Lily of the valley JR Hokkaido Muroran – Sapporo 1992–
Thunderbird - JR-West Ōsaka – Kanazawa, Wakura-Onsen 1995–
Tokiwa old name of Ibaraki Prefecture JR East Shinagawa – Tsuchiura, Katsuta, Iwaki, Takahagi 2015–
Trans-Kyushu Limited Express - JR Kyushu Beppu – Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto 2004–
Tsugaru old name of Aomori Prefecture JR East Akita – Aomori 2002–
Uwakai refers to Sea of Uwa JR Shikoku Matsuyama – Uwajima 1990–
Uzushio refers to Naruto whirlpools JR Shikoku Okayama, Takamatsu – Tokushima 1988–
Wakashio Growing tide from neap tide to spring tide, also another name of Kuroshio Current JR East Shinjuku – Kazusa-Ichinomiya, Katsuura, Awa-Kamogawa 1972–
Tōkai refers to Tokai region JR Central Tokyo – Shizuoka 1996–2007
Yufu / Yufuin-no-mori refers to Yufu Onsen JR Kyushu Hakata – Yufuin, Ōita, Beppu (via Kyūdai Main Line) 1989–
μ Sky - Meitetsu Shin-Unuma, Shin-Kani, Mikakino, Meitetsu Gifu, Meitetsu Nagoya – Central Japan International Airport 2005–

Express

Train name Operator Train endpoints Operated
Chichibuji Chichibu Railway Hanyū, Kumagaya – Kagemori, Mitsumineguchi 1969–
Moriyoshi Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Kakunodate – Takanosu 1989–
SL Express Ōigawa Railway Shin-Kanaya – Senzu 1976–

Rapid

Train name Operator Train endpoints Operated
Acty JR East Tokyo – Atami 1989–
Airport JR Hokkaido Otaru, Sapporo – New Chitose Airport 1992–
Aqua Liner JR-West Yonago – Masuda 2001–
Aterui JR East Mizusawa – Morioka 2001–
Central Liner JR Central Nagoya – Nakatsugawa 1999–2013
Hamayuri JR East Morioka – Kamaishi (via Kamaishi Line) 2002–
Kansai Airport Rapid Service JR-West Tennōji – Kansai Airport (via Ōsaka) 1994–
Karikachi JR Hokkaido Takikawa, Asahikawa – Obihiro 1990–
Kishuji Rapid Service JR-West Tennōji – Wakayama, Kainan, Gobō, Kii-Tanabe (via Ōsaka) 1999–
Kitami JR Hokkaido Asahikawa – Kitami 1998–
Kubikino JR East Arai – Niigata 2002–2015
Marine Liner JR-West / JR Shikoku Okayama – Takamatsu 1988–
Mie JR Central / Ise Tetsudo Nagoya – Toba 1990–
Nayoro JR Hokkaido Asahikawa – Nayoro 1965–
Rabbit JR East Tokyo – Utsunomiya, Kuroiso 1988–
Rias JR East Morioka – Miyako (via Yamada Line) 1988–
Shōnan Liner JR East Tokyo – Odawara (Some of trains pass Tōkaidō Freight Line) 1986–
Tambaji Rapid Service JR-West Ōsaka – Sasayamaguchi 2000–
Tottori Liner JR-West Tottori – Yonago, Izumoshi 2001–
Urban JR East Tokyo – Takasaki, Maebashi 1989–
Yamatoji Rapid Service JR-West Tennōji – Kamo (via Ōsaka) 1989–

Night trains

Limited express

Train name Operator Train endpoints Operated
Akatsuki JR-West Kyoto – Nagasaki 1965 – Mar 2008
Akebono JR East Ueno (Tokyo) – Aomori 1970 – Jan 2015
Asakaze JR-West Tokyo – Shimonoseki 1956 – Mar 2005
Cassiopeia JR East Ueno – Sapporo 1999 – Mar 2016
Dream Nichirin JR Kyushu Hakata – Minami Miyazaki, Miyazaki Airport 1993–2011
Fuji JR Kyushu Tokyo – Ōita 1964 – Mar 2009
Hayabusa JR Kyushu Tokyo – Kumamoto 1958 – Mar 2009
Hokuriku JR East Ueno – Kanazawa 1947 – Mar 2010
Hokutosei JR East / JR Hokkaido Ueno – Sapporo 1988 – August 2015
Izumo JR East Tokyo – Izumoshi (via Tottori) 1972 – Mar 2006
Marimo JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Kushiro 2001–2008
Naha JR Kyushu Kyoto – Kumamoto 1968 – Mar 2008
Nihonkai JR-West / JR East Ōsaka – Aomori 1968 – Mar 2012
Sunrise Izumo JR Central / JR-West Tokyo – Izumoshi (via Okayama) 1998–
Sunrise Seto JR Central / JR-West Tokyo – Takamatsu 1998–
Okhotsk JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Abashiri 1992 – Mar 2006; Daytime service continues
Rishiri JR Hokkaido Sapporo – Wakkanai 2000–2007
Sakura JR Kyushu Tokyo – Nagasaki 1959 – Mar 2005
Suisei JR-West Kyoto – Minami-Miyazaki 1968–2005
Twilight Express JR-West Ōsaka – Sapporo 1989 – Mar 2015
Oze yakō 23:55 / Snowpal 23:55 Tobu Railway Asakusa – Aizukōgen-Ozeguchi 1986–; Climbing and skiing season only

Express

Train name Operator Train endpoints Operated
Daisen JR-West Ōsaka – Yonago (via San'in Main Line) 1968 – Oct 2004
Ginga JR-West Tokyo – Ōsaka 1950 – Mar 2008
Hamanasu JR Hokkaido Aomori – Sapporo 1955 – Mar 2016
Kitaguni JR-West Ōsaka – Niigata 1968 – Jan 2013
Noto JR East Ueno – Kanazawa 1975 – Feb 2012

Rapid

Train name Operator Train endpoints Operated
Moonlight Echigo JR East Shinjuku – Niigata 1986 – May 2014
Moonlight Nagara JR East / JR Central Tokyo – Ōgaki 1996–

See also

References

  • JR Timetable, December 2008
  • ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル (JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File). Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  • 列車名鑑１９９5 (Train Name Directory 1995). Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995.
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