JR East (East Japan Railway Company) — SAPHIR ODORIKO luxury limited express
Japan
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The Journey
Navigate from Tokyo Station (JR East Tōkaidō Shinkansen / conventional interchange, 0 m) — CBD terminus to Izukyū-Shimoda Station (JR East Itō Line terminus, 5 m) — Izu Peninsula southern tip across a span of 158km.
Scenery Highlights
Sagami Bay — broad coastal bay visible from Atami to Kawazu segment
Mount Fuji — iconic cone visible on clear days (best December–February winter clarity) from Atami Station approach and Kawazu northward views
Izu Peninsula volcanic coastline — forested hillsides, rocky headlands, and sandy beaches from the train's panoramic windows
Atami waterfront — hot-spring resort town approached from the seaward side
Kawazu River winter cherry blossoms — early-blooming kawazu-zakura (January–February) visible from the train as it passes the Kawazu River bridge
Ito seaside — coastal town approached from the north with sea views on right/east side
Sagami-Numa wetlands — protected wetlands area near the Tōkaidō corridor east of Atami
Quick Facts
Duration
2.5 hours
Distance
158 km
Est. Price
Premium limited express — Green Standard from JPY 10,060 per person (Tokyo–Shimoda); Premium Green from JPY 12,460 per person (Tokyo–Shimoda); Japan Rail Pass Green covers base fare from Tokyo to Ito with supplementary limited-express surcharge
Meals: Cafeteria menu available for purchase (Izu seafood bento, regional bentō, sake and beer, snacks)
Ensuite: No
Meals: Cafeteria orders delivered to seat; snacks and drinks via onboard cafeteria
Ensuite: No
Meals: Cafeteria orders delivered to compartment (group bento packages available)
Ensuite: No
Engine / Locomotive
E261-1000 series electric multiple unit (EMU) — all cars powered; four-motor / four-trailer per consist; 1,500V DC from overhead catenary via pantograph
Locomotive Weight
4-car formation: approximately 196 tonnes (49 tonnes per car average); motor cars ~52 tonnes, trailer cars ~46 tonnes
Track Gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge (JR East narrow-gauge national network)
Braking Technology
Regenerative braking with air-pressure pneumatic backup; JR East ETS (Electronic Train Control System) for precise deceleration on descending grades through the Itō Line mountain segments
Route Engineering Challenges
E261-series all-Green-car formation required complete interior redesign from standard limited-express layout — Premium Green 1+1 seating in cars 1–2 with 120 cm seat pitch and swivelling recliner function demanded structural rethink of underfloor inverter and HVAC routing
Floor-to-ceiling panoramic picture windows and full-width skylights in every car required structural reinforcement of the car body shell while maintaining JR East strict weight-per-axle limits for the Tōkaidō Main Line 110 km/h operational speed
Car-4 forward observation compartment with completely unobstructed forward view required removal of the standard windshield-header structural member — a bespoke frameless acrylic-bonded windscreen designed by JR East Akihabara Works engineering team
Salt-air corrosion mitigation on the coastal Itō Line corridor (Atami–Izukyū-Shimoda) required enhanced anti-corrosion coating specification for the E261 exterior skin and underframe compared to standard JR East limited-express EMU corrosion protection
Onboard 100V AC power supply for cafeteria equipment (refrigeration, rice cooker, hot-water dispenser) required dedicated motor-alternator set within space-constrained underfloor compartment — unique to SAPHIR ODORIKO among JR East EMU fleet
Mandatory-reservation + Eki-Net integration with car-specific seat allocation across 4 different fare classes (Premium Green, Green Standard, Green Private Compartment) required onboard seat display system and conductor terminal software distinct from standard limited-express fleet
Max Speed
110 km/h (JR East Tōkaidā Main Line / Itō Line conventional line speed limit)
Approximately 120 passengers (standard 4-car formation: ~30 Premium Green + ~90 Green)
Launch Date
14 March 2020 (successor to Super View Odoriko E251 series, 1990–2020)
Predecessor Brand
Super View Odoriko (E251 series, nicknamed 'Odoriko') — ran 1990–13 March 2020
Manufacturer
JR East Akihabara Works (East Japan Railway Company's in-house manufacturing division)
Fleet Owner
JR East (East Japan Railway Company)
Operational Depot
JR East Tokyo Department, Atami Station marshalling yard
Operating Season
Year-round (daily; extra services on weekends, holidays, and seasonal peaks)
Languages Onboard
Japanese + English (announcements); multilingual station displays
Currency Onboard
JPY (cash and IC card accepted in cafeteria)
Booking Window
1 month ahead via JR East Eki-Net, station counters (Midori-no-Shokuchi), travel agencies
Track Owner / Operator
JR East (East Japan Railway Company)
Parent Company
JR East (East Japan Railway Company), publicly listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 9020)
Elev. Gain
Low — Izu Peninsula coastal route; highest point approximately 100 m near Ito; no significant mountain passes on the Tōkaidā Main Line / Itō Line alignment
Route Character
Coastal suburban / intercity hybrid; Tōkaidā Main Line urban segment (Tokyo–Atami, 77 km) with frequent intermediate stops, then Itō Line rural coastal segment (Atami–Shimoda, 81 km) with slower regional character
Quick Facts
Duration
2.5 hours
Distance
158 km
Est. Price
Premium limited express — Green Standard from JPY 10,060 per person (Tokyo–Shimoda); Premium Green from JPY 12,460 per person (Tokyo–Shimoda); Japan Rail Pass Green covers base fare from Tokyo to Ito with supplementary limited-express surcharge