Shinkansen Timetable and Stations

JR Hokkaido announced that it will operate Hokkaido Shinkansen faster than usual during the obon holidays, from August 12th, 2021 to August 16th, 2021. Currently, the fastest Shinkansen takes 3 hours 57 minutes from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station (or Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Tokyo Station). During the obon holidays in 2021, some Hokkaido Shinkansen will take 3 hours 54 minutes, 3 minutes less than the current fastest operation, between Tokyo Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. This time saving will be achieved by operating faster in the Seikan Tunnel, from 160 km/hour to 210 km/hour.  The same operation was done during the golden week holidays, from the end of April to the early May in 2021. This operation will be applied to in the total 14 trains, 7 trains from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and 7 trains from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Tokyo. From Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Hayate No.91 Hayate No.93 Hayabusa No.95 Hayabusa No.1 Hayabusa No.7 Hayabusa No....

Tohoku Shinkansen suspended operation for safety inspection and resumed operation 5 hours later. Due to the earthquake on May 1st at 10:27, Tohoku Shinkansen suspended operation for safety inspection. It resumed operation on all lines by about 3:30 pm on the same day. Because of this suspension, 88 trains were suspended and about 35700 people were affected. Akita Shinkansen and Yamagata Shinkansen also suspended operation. Akita Shinkansen resumed operation by 3 pm. Yamagata Shinkansen suspended operation between Omiya Station and Fukushima Station and resumed operation by 3:30 pm.

Tohoku Shinkansen will operate on the normal timetable from 26th of March, 2021. Due to the earthquake occurred on 13th of February, Tohoku Shinkansen has been operating on a temporary schedule. Its operation will be on the normal timetable from 26th of March as all restoration work will be completed.

Tohoku Shinkansen operation has resumed on all lines from February 24th. Tohoku Shinkansen was suspended from operation between Nasushiobara Station and Ichinoseki Station due to the Fukushima earthquake on February 13th. JR East announced that restoration work and safety has been ensured in all sections of Tohoku Shinkansen. It also announced that it is necessary to slow down between Nasushiobara Station and Ichinoseki Station for the time being, therefore Tohoku Shinkansen is operated with the temporary timetable with reduced the number of trains, about 80% of the normal timetable.  Due to the temporary timetable, it takes additional 1 hour from Tokyo to Sendai or Morioka. Please check the latest timetable before your trip.

Due to the earthquake on February 13th, Tohoku Shinkansen has been suspended from operation between Nasushiobara Station and Ichinoseki Station. According to JR East Japan Railway Company, it will take about 10 days to resume the operation of all lines of Tohoku Shinkansen. Since the suspended line is between Tokyo and Sendai in Miyagi prefecture, there is no direct Shinkansen access from Tokyo area to Tohoku and Hokkaido. JR East Japan Railway Company operates a special train on Joban Line from Tokyo are to Sendai.

JR Central Japan Railway Company announced that it will review the operation plan of Tokaido Shinkansen based on the current social situation and the status of use by COVID-19. Until March 3rd, 2021, there will be no additional trains. Also, it announced that Tokaido Shinkansen will suspend the sale of reserved seats on additional trains from April for the time being.