Train Suite Shiki-Shima

East Japan Railway Company (JR East), JR East Travel Service (Viewt Travel) for package sales
Japan
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The Journey

Navigate from Tokyo Station (Platform 23, Yaesu north side) to Tokyo Station (Platform 23, Yaesu north side) across a span of 1800km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Tohoku fall foliage (koyo) along the Kitakami River in late October
  • Spring sakura along the Kinugawa / Gono Line in April
  • Hokkaido deep-snow winter scenery in February N1 routes
  • Hakodate night-view from Mount Hakodate (one of Japan's three best night views)
  • Aomori Nebuta float gallery at dusk (summer T2 routes)
  • Lake Tazawa deep-blue water at altitude
  • Oirase gorge stream and moss-green birch forest (autumn)
  • Tobacco fields and rice-terraces of rural Iwate / Akita
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    48 hours

  • Distance

    1800 km

  • Est. Price

    Ultra-luxury (USD 6,450–11,200 per suite for 1-night; USD 9,000+ for 3-night N-routes)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals:

Ensuite: No

Meals:

Ensuite: No

Meals:

Ensuite: No

Meals:

Ensuite: No

Meals:

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

JR East E001 series EMU with 10-car formation (E001-1 / E001-2 ultra-luxury cars + E001-3 to E001-10 deluxe/suite/dining/observatory)

Locomotive Weight

~640 t (full formation)

Track Gauge

1435

Braking Technology

Regenerative + electric-pneumatic blended + parking brake; emergency magnetic-rail brake in Shiki-Shima Suite cars

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Tokyo Station Platform 23 dedicated slot (collides with Tōkaidō Shinkansen turnaround)

  • Limited 34-guest capacity imposes strict TREE DINING logistics across the 10-car formation

  • Cypress ofuro plumbing integration in tilting-car E001-1 (1.2° tilt for Tohoku line curves)

  • Tohoku Shinkansen diversion under JR East Tōhoku line capacity (Tsubame predecessor route)

  • Seikan Tunnel undersea passage under 23.3 km heavy-catenary (limited radio + GPS)

  • Hokkaido branching at Hakodate within JR Hokkaido gauge-mismatch boundary

  • Lottery-only reservation preventing real-time capacity swings (overbooking risk)

  • Okuyama Series-F refresh integration with 2017 base (re-cladding without dismantling cypress-bath plumbing)

Route length

~1,800 km across 9 prefectures (1-night to 3-night circuits)

Gauge

1435 mm standard gauge

Electrification

25000 V AC 50 Hz overhead catenary

Maximum permitted speed

110 km/h (limited by Observatory-lounge structural loading)

Capacity

34 guests / 17 suites per departure

Formation

10-car EMU (E001-1 / E001-2 ultra-luxury + E001-3 to E001-10 deluxe/suite/dining/observatory)

Operator

East Japan Railway Company (JR East), JR East Travel Service (Viewt Travel) for package sales

Designer

Kiyoyuki (Ken) Okuyama (Ferrari Enzo, G-1 Mark II, E001 series)

Launched

1 May 2017 (JR East 30th-anniversary gift of 1987 privatisation)

Manufacturer

Hitachi + Kawasaki Heavy Industries (E001 series)

Currency

JPY

Reservation system

JR East Viewt Travel lottery (6-12 months advance)

Annual itineraries

5 spring/summer + 3 autumn/winter = 8 cycles/year

Cuisine

Tohoku kaiseki by chef Kenichiro Sekiya (TREE DINING)

First-class

Shiki-Shima Suite with private cypress ofuro bath (E001-1 / E001-2 cars only)

Tatami flooring

Deluxe Suite only (D001 / D002 cars)

Heritage

JR East 30th-anniversary gift (1987 privatisation → 2017 launch)

Inspector

JR East Shiki-Shima Quality Control Office

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    48 hours

  • Distance

    1800 km

  • Est. Price

    Ultra-luxury (USD 6,450–11,200 per suite for 1-night; USD 9,000+ for 3-night N-routes)

Official Booking Provider