A quick update from JR East which will be good news for travelers in Japan: Narita Express trains will return to their full timetables on September 3, while bullet trains operating north of Tokyo on the Tohoku, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen lines will return to normal on September 23. You’ll be able to enjoy the full benefits of these services such as timely departures of the Narita Express and maximum operating speeds on the Shinkansen.

There is no word yet from Keisei regarding the resumption of the full Skyliner service timetable out of Narita Airport.

In this post I will update you on the Tohoku Shinkansen and I will let you know about some offers and deals for travel to Japan. Remember that the issues at the nuclear power plant in Japan have curtailed the available power supply. If demand for power exceeds supply, especially as the hot summer months pass, there may be issues with transportation as well as some inconveniences. I encourage you to pay close attention to the situation and be prepared for a Plan B if something doesn’t exactly go your way.

First, the Tohoku Shinkansen – which is operational while undergoing repairs – will be changing to a new timetable on July 9. These timetable changes will lift the speed restrictions imposed on some sections of the line. On average the end-to-end travel times will shorten up by as much as 30 minutes. Of course, the timetable is only available in Japanese, which you can view here. Also, with this timetable change, services on the Yamagata Shinkansen will return to normal operating frequencies and running times.

Now for some offers from travel companies to try to entice people to visit Japan once again:

Delta is once again offering a double/triple mileage offer for flights to and from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which are being restarted this month. Members of Delta’s frequent flier program, Skymiles, will get double mileage for flights in Economy Class and triple mileage for flights in Business Class.  This promotion expires on September 30, and you must register with Delta by September 15. This offer is similar to what Delta offered when flights to/from Haneda first started. There are pros and cons – the bad news is that you’ll be landing in Tokyo at a late hour, and late-night transportation options will be limited. On the other hand, if you flew in Economy on Delta’s nonstop service from Detroit to Haneda (set to resume mid-June), you would earn 25,588 miles on your Frequent Flier account (6,397 miles * two trips * double mileage), which will give you enough mileage for a FREE basic round-trip economy award on Delta within the 48 states. Ta-da!

JTB USA has special Ganbare Nippon (Good Luck Japan) travel packages which include round-trip airfare, four nights hotel accomodations in Tokyo and round-trip airport limousine bus transfers. If you live in Los Angeles and travel in a limited time range in July (July 21-26), you can take this trip for as low as $1,100 per person double occupancy! You can look up more of JTB’s offers on their website.

Another offer is a far time away… but if you live in Boston or New England, start planning! Japan Airlines is planning to start nonstop air service from Boston’s Logan Airport to Tokyo’s Narita Airport in April of 2012. This service will be operated by Boeing’s long-awaited 787-8 “Dreamliner” airplane, and you can book your seats NOW if you wanted to. The service will operate 4 times a week initially, departing Boston at 1:20 PM and arriving in Tokyo the next day at 4:00 PM. The return leaves Tokyo at 11:30 AM and arrives in Boston the same day at 11:20 AM. American Airlines will codeshare on this new service. One thing you can enjoy about the trip: the exterior look… Japan Airlines, or JAL for short, will be introducing its famous crane logo once again as part of its bankruptcy restructuring. More details here.

Finally, once you are in Japan, head on over to the Kansai region and check out the new look of the area around JR Osaka station, Osaka Station City. The area includes new and refurbished department stores, almost 200 smaller stores, and a movie cinema. Read more about it on the official Osaka Station City website. Remember, Osaka station is one stop away by JR train from Shin-Osaka, the stop served by the bullet trains.

Ganbare Nippon!

JTrains’ Douso has once again pointed out something to me, which makes me wonder if the East Japan Railway Company really cares about its foreign visitors!

As you know already, several of JR East’s services have been disrupted as a result of March 11th’s Earthquake and Tsunami. A reduced amount of available power in the Tokyo area is forcing many companies to conserve. JR and Keisei are doing that by reducing the number of premium train services that run out of Narita Airport – those being the Narita Express and Skyliner respectively.

Keisei has a PDF flyer on their website listing timings for the Skyliner service in English and several other languages, which is how it’s keeping its visitors informed about the changes in their service.

If you want to use the Narita Express and look up their timetables, you can generally do so by going to the JREast Shinkansen Reservation website.

But alas, the Narita Express timetable, as well as the timetables for several other services such as the Tohoku Shinkansen, are all gone.

So now if you speak English, you have only two options available to find out the schedules of the trains: Either wait until you travel to Japan and call JR East’s English Helpline during regular business hours, or learn enough Japanese to understand the revised timetables, which are only available on the Japanese JR East website.

To my knowledge, the only place where you can look up timetables in English is Jorudan, which has implemented all revised timetables in its Train Route Finder search engine.

But what about JR East’s website, which used to list all of the Narita Express trains in an easy-to-read fashion on their English website? In my opinion, and I’m sure in Douso’s too, the lack of English information provided by JR East themselves is frustrating, and not fair.

For those interested in finding out when the Narita Express trains operate, I’ll be happy to offer some translations. So be sure you have the Japanese Language fonts installed in your browser!

The official Narita Express timetables, in Japanese, are located here: http://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/pdf/nex_timetable.pdf Scroll down this document to the second page, where you will see the timetables for the Narita Express.

The top of the page lists trains traveling TO the airport, and the bottom of the page lists trains FROM the airport. All of the Narita Express’ currently suspended services are reflected here.

Let’s go to the bottom half of the page and read the stations listed at the top row, going from left to right:

成田空港　Narita Aiport　(Terminal 1)

空港第二ビル　Airport Terminal 2

成田　Narita (Narita City)

四街道　Yotsukaido

千葉　Chiba

東京　Tokyo

品川　Shinagawa

渋谷　Shibuya

新宿　Shinjuku

池袋　Ikebukuro

大宮　Omiya

武蔵小杉　Musashi-Kosugi

横浜　Yokohama

戸塚　Totsuka

大船　Ofuna

吉祥寺　Kichijoji

三鷹　Mitaka

国分寺　Kokubunji

立川　Tachikawa

八王子　Hachioji

高尾　Takao

Some services, as you can see, run in two sections. Take Train #16 for example. Once it reaches Tokyo, the train splits, with one section going to Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, and the other going to Shinagawa, Musashi-Kosugi and Yokohama. Services similarly combine at the top of the page, for trains going TO Narita Airport.

If you see a gray bar with something like this

１４号は運休

That means that particular service is NOT operating. 運休 is pronounced “Unkyuu”, which in Japanese is used to signify suspended train service.

If you see a blue bar with something like this

東京-新宿間運休

That means the section that normally operates between Tokyo and Shinjuku is suspended. You will see this notation next to a few other trains, with some other cities listed.

I hope this helps people who want to use the Narita Express for travel.

The Tohoku Shinkansen is expected to return to normal about a month from now, and their special timetable, like the Narita Express timetable, is ONLY available in Japanese right now. If enough people want me to explain the Tohoku Shinkansen services, or any other service not listed on JR East’s English website, I’ll be glad to write another post about it when time permits 🙂 Or you can go to Jorudan’s website to look up those times.

Posted May 13, 2011
Updated May 15, 2011 (Resumption of “Cassiopea” and “Hokutosei” trains)

It’s been quite a while since I wrote the most recent update, and now with Golden Week completely out of the way, plus some new information that I’ve received, I think it’s about time to write an update. Special thanks to Douso, a member of the JTrains group, for providing me with the information.

As with my previous posts, my opinions and recommendations for visiting certain areas of Japan will come first, then the actual updates themselves.

Non-essential travel should be avoided to the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. This includes areas along the eastern coast of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures where disaster cleanup continues, and within a 20 km (12 mile) radius of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, where a no-entry zone has been imposed by the Japanese government.

Travel to major cities near the disaster-affected regions, such as Sendai and Fukushima cities, can be done but you should remain vigilant and cautious due to the chance of aftershocks.

Major tourism areas that were affected by the disaster are returning to normal, the most important of which is Matsushima. Senseki Line trains from Sendai have resumed to Higashi-Shiogama, near one of the ports where Sightseeing boats to the bay islands departs from, and later this month service will be restored to Matsushima-Kaigan station, in the heart of the city. Sightseeing boats have all resumed operations.

Travel to the greater Kanto region, including Tokyo, is more or less normal now. However, there may be some inconveniences due to the lack of available power, and rolling blackouts could return as the summer months approach and greater stress occurs on the power grid. You should remain cautious, vigilant, and keep up to date with the latest information when it comes to traveling around the area or visiting certain attractions. Some restaurants and stores may still be closed or operate at reduced hours.

Travel to the rest of Japan: Hokkaido, WEST of the Kanto region, including Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe), Chugoku (Okayama, Hiroshima), Shikoku, Kyushu and part of Chubu, is fine as of now with little to no problems. Most of the areas in western Japan operate on a 60 Hz power supply, compared to Kanto and all points north, which operate on 50 Hz. The 50 Hz power supply in eastern Japan has been disrupted by the nuclear power plant issues, whereas the 60 Hz power supply in western Japan is operating normally. Hokkaido’s power plants are mainly located on Hokkaido and are currently providing an ample supply of power.

As far as air travel is concerned, all airports are open and operational, but you should check your airline for the status of your flights.

Shinkansen status

The Tohoku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Aomori), Akita Shinkansen (to Akita) and Yamagata Shinkansen (to Yamagata/Shinjo) operate on what is known as a “RINJI DAIYA”, which means Special Timetable. They offer a near full complement of the services they normally offer, including the fastest service, the Hayabusa. Parts of the Tohoku Shinkansen are still under repair, however, and therefore journey times north of Tokyo will take much longer than usual. Here are the new travel times on the Special Timetable compared to the normal timetable:

Tokyo-Sendai via Hayate:
Normal Timetable: 1 hour 40 minutes
Special Timetable: 2 hours 10 minutes

Tokyo-Morioka via Hayate:
Normal Timetable: 2 hours 25 minutes
Special Timetable: 3 hours 15 minutes

Tokyo-Akita via Komachi:
Normal Timetable: 4 hours 10 minutes
Special Timetable: 5 hours

Tokyo-Shin Aomori via Hayabusa:
Normal Timetable: 3 hours 10 minutes
Special Timetable: 4 hours 5 minutes

It is expected that the Special Timetable for the above lines will be in place until at least June 20. Also note that train numbers are different on the special timetable than on the normal timetable.

All other bullet train lines: the Joetsu, Nagano, Tokaido, San’yo and Kyushu Shinkansen, are normal.

In the Tokyo Area:

Narita Express: JR East has updated the Narita Express timetables following the Golden Week holidays. However, the updated timetables are NOT available in English. Simplified English timetables are posted on the @Wiki page.

You may access the full English timetables from the JR East English Website, but please note the following changes and cancellations:

The following Narita Express trains TO the Airport are suspended: #3, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29, 33, 43, 47, 53.

The following Narita Express trains FROM the Airport are suspended: #4, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 34, 48, 54.

Narita Express #10 and #39 will not operate t0/from Shibuya or Shinjuku stations.

Narita Express #41 and #49 originate at Shinjuku instead of Ikebukuro.

Narita Express #28 terminates at Shinjuku instead of Ikebukuro.

Narita Express #44 will not operate to Musashi-Kosugi, Yokohama, Totsuka or Ofuna. The train will discharge passengers at Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

JR is running their regular commuter trains to/from Narita Airport on an hourly basis. These trains will take longer than the Narita Express would.

Keisei Skyliner: Running about 75% of its services between Ueno/Nippori and Narita Airport. An updated PDF timetable in English has been posted by Keisei on their website.

Keisei commuter trains are running on a modified timetable; morning and evening “peak” trains have almost returned to normal.

Most of JR’s commuter trains in central Tokyo, including the Yamanote Line, are back to normal. There are a few exceptions and, like the rest of the information that I will provide in this particular section on Tokyo, train schedules are subject to change due to the current power situation. Note that many trains have employed power-conserving measures. Air conditioning may be switched off and escalators may not be operating, for example.

For travel to Hakone: Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku have resumed almost all of their services to Odawara and Hakone. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Local Hakone Tozan trains have resumed normal service. Remember, with a Japan Rail Pass you may wish to use the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara and change at Odawara to the Hakone Tozan line, using the Hakone Freepass from Odawara to get around Hakone.

For travel to Kamakura and Enoshima:  Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku have resumed almost all of their services to Enoshima. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Enoshima Tramway trains are running on a regular schedule but some trains may have fewer cars in operation. The Shonan Monorail trains from Ofuna to Enoshima are in operation every 8 minutes during peak hours, every 8-15 minutes during midday hours, and every 15 minutes during evening and night hours. (You can access the Shonan Monorail from Ofuna, which is served by JR.)

For service to Nikko and Kinugawa: Tobu’s “Spacia” services between Asakusa and Kinugawa-Onsen/Tobu-Nikko are back to normal operating frequencies. Regular commuter trains are running on normal schedules, but some cancellations may occur. You can also access Nikko by JR using the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Utsunomiya Station. From there you can take the JR Nikko Line train to JR Nikko station; the JR Nikko line is operating on a normal timetable.

For service to/from Haneda Airport: The Tokyo Monorail is running on a normal timetable. Keikyu trains run on normal timetables during the morning and evening hours, while some trains may be cancelled on mid-day services.

Overnight trains:

Currently the following overnight sleeper trains in northern Japan are operating: The Twilight Express (Osaka/Kyoto-Sappor0), Nihonkai (Osaka/Kyoto-Aomori), Akebono (Tokyo-Aomori) and Hamanasu (Aomori-Hakodate-Sappor0).

Direct overnight trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido – the “Hokutosei” and the “Cassiopeia” – will resume service from May 20 and 21.

Expressways:

The Tohoku Expressway, which is the main road artery running from Tokyo to northern Japan, suffered major damage. Remarkably, the damage has been repaired and the expressway is open once again.

Land travel options from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan:

Once again, travel to areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and areas in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, should be avoided at this time. Travel to areas in far northern Japan, including Hokkaido, should be done during the day, either by train or plane.

With the full re-opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen, detours along the Sea of Japan are no longer necessary. Remember, though, that because repairs are continuing, journeys on the Tohoku Shinkansen will take longer than usual.

Hokkaido: 
With the resumption of “Hokutosei” and “Cassiopeia” services, travel to Hokkaido from the Japanese mainland will become much easier. Remember, though, that space on these trains may be hard to come by since they are usually very popular. Barring travel during the daytime or breaking up your trip into two days, here are the nighttime alternatives:

You can take the Akebono from Tokyo to Aomori then pick up a limited express train into Hokkaido (15 hours to Hakodate, 18 1/2 hours to Sapporo). You can shave off 30 minutes from the trip between Tokyo and Aomori by taking a Joetsu Shinkansen “Max Toki” train that departs later from Tokyo and “catch up” to the Akebono at Takasaki station. The Akebono offers “Goronto Seats” which can be reserve for free with a Japan Rail Pass.

You can also take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka, then take the Twilight Express from there to Sapporo (17 1/2 hours). Remember, the Twilight Express only runs a few times a week.

Conclusion:

This information is as current as I’ve been able to find. All information provided here is subject to the DISCLAIMER (above) and is subject to change at any time. Travel conditions may improve or deteriorate on short notice based on what is happening in northern Japan with the cleanup, repairs, and issues with the power supply. Once again, though, if you go west of Tokyo in the direction of Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, it is business (and leisure) as usual.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note here.

Another web site you can check out is the page on Takeshi Shimomura’s blog which he keeps updated on a regular basis with the latest train operating status.

Once again, thanks to Douso for the updates. Ganbatte Japan!

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED IN MY MAY 13 POST. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS POSTING.

Here is my latest update on the travel situation in Japan. Work on the Tohoku Shinkansen is progressing, and today the section re-opens between Fukushima and Sendai for the first time since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The line will be fully open by April 29, in time for the Golden Week holiday. However, since the repairs are ongoing, trains will have to operate over some parts of the line at reduced speeds, which will increase the travel times.

Based on current conditions, these are my opinions when it comes to traveling to Japan at this time:

Non-essential travel should be avoided to the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. This includes places along the eastern coast of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. The Japanese government has imposed a no-entry zone to all persons within a 20 km (12 mile) radius of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

Travel to major cities near the disaster-affected regions, such as Sendai and Fukushima cities, should be reconsidered as the disaster cleanup continues.

Travel to the greater Kanto region, including Tokyo, is returning to normal now. However, there may be some inconveniences due to the lack of available power, and rolling blackouts could return as the summer months approach. You should remain cautious, vigilant, and keep up to date with the latest information when it comes to traveling around the area or visiting certain attractions. Some restaurants and stores may still be closed or operate at reduced hours.

Travel to the northern island of Hokkaido, including the cities of Sapporo and Hakodate, is now fine if you travel during the day by airplane or by train. Some nighttime train services to Hokkaido are still suspended, but overnight travelers can pick up the Hamanasu in Aomori , which is running normally.

Travel to the rest of Japan WEST of the Kanto region, including Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe), Chugoku (Okayama, Hiroshima), Shikoku, Kyushu and part of Chubu, is fine as of now with little to no problems. Most of these areas operate on a 60 Hz power supply, compared to Kanto and all points north, which operate on 50 Hz. The 50 Hz power supply in eastern Japan has been disrupted by the nuclear power plant issues, whereas the 60 Hz power supply in western Japan is operating normally.

Travel to the entire country of Japan should be reconsidered during Golden Week, the group of holidays between late April and early May, when the Japanese vacation around the country and availability on public transit services will be limited.

As far as air travel is concerned, all airports are open and operational, but you should check your airline for the status of your flights.

Shinkansen status

The Tohoku Shinkansen is now fully open, with the exception of the Sendai-Ichinoseki segment, which will open on April 29 (Regular rapid trains connect Sendai and Ichinoseki in the interim)

As of April 29, the Tohoku Shinkansen operates on what is known as a “RINJI DAIYA”, which means Special Timetable. The Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen (to Akita) and Yamagata Shinkansen (to Yamagata/Shinjo) will offer a near full complement of the services they normally offer, including the fastest service, the Hayabusa. As stated above, however, parts of the Tohoku Shinkansen are still under repair, and therefore journey times north of Tokyo will take much longer than usual. Here are the new travel times on the Special Timetable compared to the normal timetable:

Tokyo-Sendai via Hayate:
Normal Timetable: 1 hour 40 minutes
Special Timetable: 2 hours 10 minutes

Tokyo-Morioka via Hayate:
Normal Timetable: 2 hours 25 minutes
Special Timetable: 3 hours 15 minutes

Tokyo-Akita via Komachi:
Normal Timetable: 4 hours 10 minutes
Special Timetable: 5 hours

Tokyo-Shin Aomori via Hayabusa:
Normal Timetable: 3 hours 10 minutes
Special Timetable: 4 hours 5 minutes

Also note that train numbers are different on the special timetable than on the normal timetable.

All other bullet train lines: the Joetsu, Nagano, Tokaido, San’yo and Kyushu Shinkansen, are normal.

In the Tokyo Area:

Narita Express: Morning and evening runs have resumed between Narita Airport and the Tokyo area, while midday runs remain suspended (you will need to take the regular JR rapid commuter train).

JR East has not published updated English timetables for the Narita Express. You may access the full English timetables from the JR East English Website, but please note the following changes and cancellations:

The following Narita Express trains are suspended: #6, 19 through 38, and 47.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Tokyo and Shinjuku/Ikebukuro: 10, 14, 18, 39, 43, 51.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Shinagawa and Yokohama/Ofuna and make an additional stop at Shinagawa en route to/from Shinjuku: 4, 12, 49, 53.

JR is running their regular commuter trains to/from Narita Airport on an hourly basis. These trains will take longer than the Narita Express would.

The Keisei Skyliner is running about 70% of its services between Ueno/Nippori and Narita Airport. An updated PDF timetable in English has been posted by Keisei on their website. Skyliner trains are available during the mid-day hours, compared to the JR Narita Express which is currently not running during mid-day.

Keisei commuter trains are running on a modified timetable with some runs cancelled.

Most of JR’s commuter trains in central Tokyo, including the Yamanote Line, are back to normal. There are a few exceptions and, like the rest of the information that I will provide in this particular section on Tokyo, train schedules are subject to change due to the current power situation. Note that many trains have employed power-conserving measures. Air conditioning may be switched off and escalators may not be operating, for example.

For travel to Hakone: Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku have restarted with a reduced service, with six round-trips to Hakone during weekdays, and nine round-trips on weekends and holidays. Other romance car trains will terminate at Odawara, requiring a change of trains. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Local Hakone Tozan trains ARE running between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto on a modified timetable (one trip every 15-20 minutes) and you will need to transfer between the Odakyu and Hakone Tozan lines at Odawara. With a Japan Rail Pass you may wish to use the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara (operating normally) and change at Odawara to the Hakone Tozan line, using the Hakone Freepass from Odawara to get around Hakone.

For travel to Kamakura and Enoshima:  Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku have restarted with a reduced service, with two round-trips to Enoshima on weekends and holidays only. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Enoshima Tramway trains are running on a regular schedule but some trains may have fewer cars in operation. The Shonan Monorail trains are in operation every 8 minutes during peak hours, and every 15 minutes off peak. If coming from the eastern part of central Tokyo (i.e. Tokyo, Shinagawa) then I recommend using the JR lines as a means of reaching this area; Tokaido and Yokosuka lines are running their normal timetables. From the western part of central Tokyo (i.e. Shinjuku, Shibuya) you can take the Yamanote Line around to Shinagawa to pick up the Tokaido or Yokosuka lines. Direct Odakyu rapid express train services from Shinjuku to Enoshima can also be taken into consideration.

Romance Car services will operate a near-full timetable for the Golden Week period, April 29 – May 8. After May 8, the status of the Romance Car will be re-evaluated.

For service to Nikko and Kinugawa: Tobu’s “Spacia” services between Asakusa and Kinugawa-Onsen/Tobu-Nikko are back to near-normal operating frequencies. Full “Spacia” timetables will resume at the end of the month. Regular commuter trains are running on normal schedules, but some cancellations may occur. You can also access Nikko by JR using the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Utsunomiya Station. From there you can take the JR Nikko Line train to JR Nikko station; the JR Nikko line is operating on a normal timetable.

For service to/from Haneda Airport: The Tokyo Monorail is running on a normal timetable. Keikyu trains will resume regular timetables on April 18 during the morning and evening hours, while some trains may be cancelled on mid-day services.

Overnight trains:

Currently the following overnight sleeper trains in northern Japan are operating: The Twilight Express (Osaka/Kyoto-Sappor0), Nihonkai (Osaka/Kyoto-Aomori), Akebono (Tokyo-Aomori) and Hamanasu (Aomori-Hakodate-Sappor0).

Direct overnight trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido – the “Hokutosei” and the “Cassiopeia” – have not yet resumed service. JR will provide an update on these trains in a few weeks.

Expressways:

The Tohoku Expressway, which is the main road artery running from Tokyo to northern Japan, suffered major damage. Remarkably, the damage has been repaired and the expressway is open once again.

Land travel options from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan:

Once again, travel to areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and areas in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, should be avoided at this time. Travel to areas in far northern Japan, including Hokkaido, should be done during the day, either by train or plane.

With the full re-opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen, detours along the Sea of Japan are no longer necessary. Remember, though, that because repairs are continuing, journeys on the Tohoku Shinkansen will take longer than usual.

Hokkaido: 
Nighttime journeys from Tokyo to Hokkaido are limited due to the cancellation of the “Hokutosei” and “Cassiopeia” services. You should consider traveling by day, stopping somewhere along the way for an overnight rest (perhaps in Morioka or Aomori), or departing in the evening and connecting to the “Hamanasu” in Aomori. Here are a few other options for traveling by night:

You can take the Akebono from Tokyo to Aomori then pick up a limited express train into Hokkaido (15 hours to Hakodate, 18 1/2 hours to Sapporo).

You can also take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka, then take the Twilight Express from there to Sapporo (17 1/2 hours). Remember, the Twilight Express only runs a few times a week and you have to (be lucky to) get a reservation for BOTH the Akebono and Twilight Express. (Japan Rail Pass users can reserve for free something known as the “Goronto Seat” on the Akebono)

Note with the “Akebono”:
You can shave off 30 minutes from the trip between Tokyo and Aomori by taking a Joetsu Shinkansen “Max Toki” train that departs later from Tokyo and “catch up” to the Akebono at Takasaki station.

Conclusion:

This information is as current as I’ve been able to find. All information provided here is subject to the DISCLAIMER (above) and is subject to change at any time. Travel conditions may improve or deteriorate on short notice based on what is happening in northern Japan with the cleanup, repairs, and issues with the power supply. Once again, though, if you go west of Tokyo in the direction of Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, it is business (and leisure) as usual.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note here.

Another web site you can check out is the page on Takeshi Shimomura’s blog which he keeps updated on a regular basis with the latest train operating status.

Good luck, and let’s keep the people of Japan in our thoughts and prayers.

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED IN MY APRIL 25 POST. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS POSTING.

Here is my latest update on the travel situation in Japan. Several major embassies have cleared their travel warnings for most of Japan, including the United States. Radiation levels are normal outside of a 50 mile radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plants.

Based on current conditions, these are my opinions when it comes to traveling to Japan at this time:

Non-essential travel should be avoided to the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and within a 50 mile radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plants. This includes places along the eastern coast of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

Travel to major cities near the disaster-affected regions, such as Sendai and Fukushima cities, should be reconsidered as the disaster cleanup continues.

Travel to the greater Kanto region, including Tokyo, is returning to normal now. However, there may be some inconveniences due to the lack of available power, and rolling blackouts could return as the summer months approach. You should remain cautious, vigilant, and keep up to date with the latest information when it comes to traveling around the area or visiting certain attractions. Some restaurants and stores may still be closed or operate at reduced hours.

Travel to the northern island of Hokkaido, including the cities of Sapporo and Hakodate, should be done by airplane. Hokkaido is normal because most of Hokkaido’s power is generated within the island itself. Travel by train to Hokkaido should be reconsidered until the disruptions to the train network are cleared up, which is expected to happen next month.

Travel to the rest of Japan WEST of the Kanto region, including Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe), Chugoku (Okayama, Hiroshima), Shikoku, Kyushu and part of Chubu, is fine as of now with little to no problems. I recommend visiting these areas by flying into Nagoya Centrair or Osaka Kansai airports. You can also connect at Tokyo Narita or Tokyo Haneda for flights to these airports. Note that most of these areas operate on a 60 Hz power supply, compared to Kanto and all points north, which operate on 50 Hz. The 50 Hz power supply in eastern Japan has been disrupted by the nuclear power plant issues, whereas the 60 Hz power supply in western Japan is operating normally.

Travel to the entire country of Japan should be reconsidered during Golden Week, the group of holidays between late April and early May, when the Japanese vacation around the country and availability on public transit services will be limited.

As far as air travel is concerned, all airports are open and operational, but you should check your airline for the status of your flights.

Shinkansen status

The Tohoku Shinkansen is open between Tokyo and Fukushima, and between Morioka and Shin-Aomori. Through runs from Tokyo to the Yamagata Shinkansen are also operating.

The services offered are:
– Nasuno/Max Nasuno, Tokyo-Nasu Shiobara (some services to Koriyama), all stations.
– Yamabiko/Max Yamabiko, Tokyo-Fukushima, all stations.
– Tsubasa, stopping at Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Utsunomiya, Koriyama, Fukushima, then all stops to Yamagata or Shinjo.
– Hayate, all stations between Morioka and Shin-Aomori.

Tsubasa services will run on their own, not coupled to any other service.

Generally the frequency is one Nasuno and one Yamabiko service per hour, and one Tsubasa service every two hours. During morning and evening peak travel these frequencies will change.

Yamabiko and Tsubasa trains to Fukushima will connect to Tohoku Main Line trains to Sendai: either a scheduled local, or a rapid service which will be classified as a “Shinkansen Relay” or a “Rinji Kaisoku” (extra rapid). The rapid trains run from Fukushima to Sendai, making just one stop at Shiroishi station.

The Nasuno and Yamabiko will have unreserved seating except for the green car. The Tsubasa will have reserved and unreserved seating.

The rest of the Tohoku Shinkansen will be re-opened as follows, according to JR East:

Fukushima to Sendai: April 27
Sendai to Ichinoseki: End of April ~ beginning of May
Ichinoseki to Morioka: April 24

Akita Shinkansen, between Akita and Morioka, operates 5 round-trip services every day.

All other bullet train lines: the Joetsu, Nagano, Tokaido, San’yo and Kyushu Shinkansen, are normal.

In the Tokyo Area:

Narita Express: Morning and evening runs have resumed between Narita Airport and the Tokyo area, while midday runs remain suspended (you will need to take the regular JR rapid commuter train).

JR East has not published updated English timetables for the Narita Express. You may access the full English timetables from the JR East English Website, but please note the following changes and cancellations:

The following Narita Express trains are suspended: #6, 19 through 38, and 47.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Tokyo and Shinjuku/Ikebukuro: 10, 14, 18, 39, 43, 51.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Shinagawa and Yokohama/Ofuna and make an additional stop at Shinagawa en route to/from Shinjuku: 4, 12, 49, 53.

JR is running their regular commuter trains to/from Narita Airport on an hourly basis. These trains will take longer than the Narita Express would.

The Keisei Skyliner is running about 70% of its services between Ueno/Nippori and Narita Airport. An updated PDF timetable in English has been posted by Keisei on their website. Skyliner trains are available during the mid-day hours, compared to the JR Narita Express which is currently not running during mid-day.

Keisei commuter trains are running on a modified timetable with some runs cancelled.

Most of JR’s commuter trains in central Tokyo, including the Yamanote Line, are back to normal. There are a few exceptions and, like the rest of the information that I will provide in this particular section on Tokyo, train schedules are subject to change due to the current power situation. Note that many trains have employed power-conserving measures. Air conditioning may be switched off and escalators may not be operating, for example.

For travel to Hakone: Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku have restarted with a reduced service, with six round-trips to Hakone during weekdays, and nine round-trips on weekends and holidays. Other romance car trains will terminate at Odawara, requiring a change of trains. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Local Hakone Tozan trains ARE running between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto on a modified timetable (one trip every 15-20 minutes) and you will need to transfer between the Odakyu and Hakone Tozan lines at Odawara. With a Japan Rail Pass you may wish to use the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara (operating normally) and change at Odawara to the Hakone Tozan line, using the Hakone Freepass from Odawara to get around Hakone.

For travel to Kamakura and Enoshima:  Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku have restarted with a reduced service, with two round-trips to Enoshima on weekends and holidays only. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Enoshima Tramway trains are running on a regular schedule but some trains may have fewer cars in operation. The Shonan Monorail trains are in operation every 8 minutes during peak hours, and every 15 minutes off peak. If coming from the eastern part of central Tokyo (i.e. Tokyo, Shinagawa) then I recommend using the JR lines as a means of reaching this area; Tokaido and Yokosuka lines are running their normal timetables. From the western part of central Tokyo (i.e. Shinjuku, Shibuya) you can take the Yamanote Line around to Shinagawa to pick up the Tokaido or Yokosuka lines. Direct Odakyu rapid express train services from Shinjuku to Enoshima can also be taken into consideration.

Note that Romancecar timetables will be re-evaluated for travel from April 29.

For service to Nikko and Kinugawa: Tobu’s “Spacia” services between Asakusa and Kinugawa-Onsen/Tobu-Nikko are back to near-normal operating frequencies. Full “Spacia” timetables will resume at the end of the month. Regular commuter trains are running on normal schedules, but some cancellations may occur. You can also access Nikko by JR using the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Utsunomiya Station. From there you can take the JR Nikko Line train to JR Nikko station; the JR Nikko line is operating on a normal timetable.

For service to/from Haneda Airport: The Tokyo Monorail is running on a normal timetable. Keikyu trains will resume regular timetables on April 18 during the morning and evening hours, while some trains may be cancelled on mid-day services.

Overnight trains:

Currently the following overnight sleeper trains in northern Japan are operating: the Nihonkai (Osaka/Kyoto-Aomori), Akebono (Tokyo-Aomori) and Hamanasu (Aomori-Hakodate-Sappor0).

The Twilight Express (Osaka/Kyoto-Sappor0) was suspended again following the April 7 earthquake; it has now resumed service.

Direct overnight trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido – the “Cassiopeia” and the “Hokutosei” – remain suspended until at least April 27.

Expressways:

The Tohoku Expressway, which is the main road artery running from Tokyo to northern Japan, suffered major damage. Remarkably, the damage has been repaired and the expressway is open once again. A good portion of the expressway is limited to larger vehicles, such as trucks and highway buses; regular cars cannot use these sections. The main point, though, is that the passenger buses operating on this expressway are returning to normal, with some schedule adjustments being made.

Land travel options from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan:

Once again, travel to areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and areas in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, should be avoided at this time. Travel to areas in far northern Japan, including Hokkaido, should be reconsidered unless you fly by plane.

Here are ways you can travel from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan.

Sendai:
*Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko or Tsubasa service to Fukushima (2 hours), then Tohoku Line relay train to Sendai (60-90 minutes).
*Bus from Tokyo to Sendai (5 1/2 hours).

Fukushima:
* Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko or Tsubasa service to Fukushima (2 hours).
* Bus from Tokyo to Fukushima (5 hours).

Yamagata:
* Tohoku Shinkansen Tsubasa service to Yamagata (3 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Yamagata (Overnight, 6 1/2 hours).

Akita:
*Joetsu Shinkansen ”Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita (3 connections per day, about 6 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Akita (Overnight, 8 hours 45 minutes).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Akita (9 1/2 hours).

Morioka:
*Joetsu Shinkansen ”Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita, Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” from Akita to Morioka (3 connections per day, about 8 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Morioka (Overnight, 7 1/2 hours).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Akita, then Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” from Akita to Morioka (11 1/2 hours).

Aomori:
*Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita, Limited Express “Tsugaru” from Akita to Aomori (3 connections per day, about 9-10 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Aomori (Overnight, 9 1/2 hours).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Aomori (9 hours 45 minutes).

Hokkaido:
Rail travel should be reconsidered in favor of air travel until at least the Tohoku Shinkansen is fully restored. Otherwise you should consider taking a route along the sea of Japan and stopping somewhere for a rest before continuing on your journey.

For example, using the route to Aomori as described above, you can leave Tokyo just after 1 PM and arrive in Aomori at just after 10 PM. From here you can take the Hamanasu Express leaving Aomori at 10:42 PM and arriving in Hakodate at 1 AM or Sapporo at 6:07 AM, or you can rest overnight and take the first train to Hokkaido the next morning, which is a Hakodate-bound Hakucho at 8:08 AM.

You can take the Akebono from Tokyo to Aomori then pick up a limited express train into Hokkaido (15 hours to Hakodate, 18 1/2 hours to Sapporo).

You can also take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka, then take the Twilight Express from there to Sapporo (17 1/2 hours). Remember, the Twilight Express only runs a few times a week and you have to (be lucky to) get a reservation for BOTH the Akebono and Twilight Express. (Japan Rail Pass users can reserve for free something known as the “Goronto Seat” on the Akebono)

Note with the “Akebono”:
You can shave off 30 minutes from the trip between Tokyo and Aomori by taking a Joetsu Shinkansen “Max Toki” train that departs later from Tokyo and “catch up” to the Akebono at Takasaki station.

Conclusion:

This information is as current as I’ve been able to find. All information provided here is subject to the DISCLAIMER (above) and is subject to change at any time. Travel conditions may improve or deteriorate on short notice based on what is happening in northern Japan with the cleanup, repairs, and issues with the power supply. Once again, though, if you go west of Tokyo in the direction of Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, it is business (and leisure) as usual.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note here.

Another web site you can check out is the page on Takeshi Shimomura’s blog which he keeps updated on a regular basis with the latest train operating status.

Good luck, and let’s keep the people of Japan in our thoughts and prayers.

A quick update on Tohoku Shinkansen trains, as I posted to the JTrains forum:

April 11, Yamagata Shinkansen services resume between Fukushima, Yamagata and Shinjo.

April 12, Tohoku Shinkansen services resume between Nasu-Shiobara and Fukushima. The timetable for services is here (in Japanese):

http://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/pdf/shinkansen_timetable.pdf

The services offered will be:
Nasuno/Max Nasuno, Tokyo-Nasu Shiobara (some services to Koriyama), all stations.
Yamabiko/Max Yamabiko, Tokyo-Fukushima, all stations.
Tsubasa, stopping at Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Utsunomiya, Koriyama, Fukushima, then all stops to Yamagata or Shinjo.

Tsubasa services will run on their own, not coupled to any other service.

Generally the frequency is one Nasuno and one Yamabiko service per hour, and one Tsubasa service every two hours. During morning and evening peak travel these frequencies will change.

Yamabiko and Tsubasa trains to Fukushima will connect to Tohoku Main Line trains to Sendai: either a scheduled local, or a rapid service which will be classified as a “Shinkansen Relay” or a “Rinji Kaisoku” (extra rapid). The rapid trains run from Fukushima to Sendai, making just one stop at Shiroishi station.

The Nasuno and Yamabiko will have unreserved seating except for the green car. The Tsubasa will have reserved and unreserved seating.

The rest of the Tohoku Shinkansen will be re-opened as follows, according to JR East:

Fukushima to Sendai: April 27
Sendai to Ichinoseki: End of April ~ beginning of May
Ichinoseki to Morioka: April 24
Morioka to Shin-Aomori: April 13

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED IN MY APRIL 16 POST. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS POSTING.

I think that now is a good time to update my blog with a fresh new update on travel in Japan. As some of you know, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7+ affected northern Japan on April 7. This has disrupted the timetable for travel in the region to return to normal.

Based on current conditions, these are my opinions when it comes to traveling to Japan at this time:

Non-essential travel should be avoided to the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and within proximity of the Fukushima nuclear power plants. This includes places along the eastern coast of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

Travel to major cities near the disaster-affected regions, such as Sendai and Fukushima cities, should be reconsidered as the disaster cleanup continues.

Travel to the greater Kanto region, including Tokyo, should be reconsidered until the power situation can be resolved. Some say that Tokyo is “back to normal” and there is “little to no” impact on traveling around the area, but I beg to differ. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced that it would suspend rolling blackouts in the area due to the cooperation of everyone reducing their power consumption. As a result there may be some inconveniences when it comes to getting around Tokyo or visiting certain attractions. There is a possibility that rolling blackouts could be implemented again if the situation becomes critical, especially as the summer months approach. So I would wait and see what happens over the next few weeks and months.

Travel to the northern island of Hokkaido, including the cities of Sapporo and Hakodate, should be done by airplane. Travel by train to Hokkaido should be reconsidered until the disruptions to the train network are cleared up.

Travel to the rest of Japan WEST of the Kanto region, including Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe), Chugoku (Okayama, Hiroshima), Shikoku, Kyushu and part of Chubu, is fine as of now with little to no problems. I recommend visiting these areas by flying into Nagoya Centrair or Osaka Kansai airports. You can also connect at Tokyo Narita or Tokyo Haneda for flights to these airports. Note that most of these areas operate on a 60 Hz power supply, compared to Kanto and all points north, which operate on 50 Hz. The 50 Hz power supply in eastern Japan has been disrupted by the nuclear power plant issues, whereas the 60 Hz power supply in western Japan is operating normally.

Travel to the entire country of Japan should be reconsidered during Golden Week, the group of holidays between late April and early May, when the Japanese vacation around the country and availability on public transit services will be limited.

As far as air travel is concerned, Sendai’s domestic airport is scheduled to re-open on April 13. All other airports are open, but you should check your airline for the status of your flights.

Shinkansen status Updated April 12

The Tohoku Shinkansen is open between Tokyo and Fukushima and through runs from Tokyo to the Yamagata Shinkansen have resumed.

The services offered will be:
– Nasuno/Max Nasuno, Tokyo-Nasu Shiobara (some services to Koriyama), all stations.
– Yamabiko/Max Yamabiko, Tokyo-Fukushima, all stations.
– Tsubasa, stopping at Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Utsunomiya, Koriyama, Fukushima, then all stops to Yamagata or Shinjo.

Tsubasa services will run on their own, not coupled to any other service.

Generally the frequency is one Nasuno and one Yamabiko service per hour, and one Tsubasa service every two hours. During morning and evening peak travel these frequencies will change.

Yamabiko and Tsubasa trains to Fukushima will connect to Tohoku Main Line trains to Sendai: either a scheduled local, or a rapid service which will be classified as a “Shinkansen Relay” or a “Rinji Kaisoku” (extra rapid). The rapid trains run from Fukushima to Sendai, making just one stop at Shiroishi station.

The Nasuno and Yamabiko will have unreserved seating except for the green car. The Tsubasa will have reserved and unreserved seating.

The rest of the Tohoku Shinkansen will be re-opened as follows, according to JR East:

Fukushima to Sendai: April 27
Sendai to Ichinoseki: End of April ~ beginning of May
Ichinoseki to Morioka: April 24
Morioka to Shin-Aomori: April 13

Akita Shinkansen, between Akita and Morioka, operates 5 round-trip services every day.

All other bullet train lines: the Joetsu, Nagano, Tokaido, San’yo and Kyushu Shinkansen, are normal.

In the Tokyo Area:

Narita Express: Morning and evening runs have resumed between Narita Airport and the Tokyo area, while midday runs remain suspended (you will need to take the regular JR rapid commuter train).

JR East has not published updated English timetables for the Narita Express. You may access the full English timetables from the JR East English Website, but please note the following changes and cancellations:

The following Narita Express trains are suspended: #6, 19 through 38, and 47.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Tokyo and Shinjuku/Ikebukuro: 10, 14, 18, 39, 43, 51.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Shinagawa and Yokohama/Ofuna and make an additional stop at Shinagawa en route to/from Shinjuku: 4, 12, 49, 53.

 JR is running their regular commuter trains to/from Narita Airport on an hourly basis. These trains will take longer than the Narita Express would.

The Keisei Skyliner is running about 70% of its services between Ueno/Nippori and Narita Airport. An updated PDF timetable in English has been posted by Keisei on their website. Skyliner trains are available during the mid-day hours, compared to the JR Narita Express which is currently not running during mid-day.

Keisei commuter trains are running on a modified timetable with some runs cancelled.

Most of JR’s commuter trains in central Tokyo, including the Yamanote Line, are back to normal. There are a few exceptions and, like the rest of the information that I will provide in this particular section on Tokyo, train schedules are subject to change due to the current power situation. Note that many trains have employed power-conserving measures. Air conditioning may be switched off and escalators may not be operating, for example.

For travel to Hakone: Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku are currently suspended due to the power situation. These trains will restart with a reduced service on April 16, with six round-trips to Hakone during weekdays, and nine round-trips on weekends and holidays. Other romance car trains will terminate at Odawara, requiring a change of trains. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Local Hakone Tozan trains ARE running between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto on a modified timetable (one trip every 15-20 minutes) and you will need to transfer between the Odakyu and Hakone Tozan lines at Odawara. With a Japan Rail Pass you may wish to use the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara (operating normally) and change at Odawara to the Hakone Tozan line, using the Hakone Freepass from Odawara to get around Hakone.

For travel to Kamakura and Enoshima:  Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku are currently suspended due to the power situation. These trains will restart with a reduced service on April 16, with two round-trips to Enoshima on weekends and holidays only. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Enoshima Tramway trains are running on a regular schedule but some trains may have fewer cars in operation. The Shonan Monorail trains are in operation every 8 minutes during peak hours, and every 15 minutes off peak. If coming from the eastern part of central Tokyo (i.e. Tokyo, Shinagawa) then I recommend using the JR lines as a means of reaching this area; Tokaido and Yokosuka lines are running 90-100% of their regular timetables. From the western part of central Tokyo (i.e. Shinjuku, Shibuya) you can take the Yamanote Line around to Shinagawa to pick up the Tokaido or Yokosuka lines. Direct Odakyu rapid express train services from Shinjuku to Enoshima can also be taken into consideration.

For service to Nikko and Kinugawa: Tobu is operating six daily round-trip “Spacia” services between Asakusa and Kinugawa-Onsen/Tobu-Nikko. The only direct run from Asakusa to Nikko runs at night; To access Nikko by Spacia during the rest of the day you must take a Spacia train to Shimo-Imaichi and change to a local shuttle train for the final run to the Tobu-Nikko station.  Regular commuter trains are running on a weekend schedule. You can access Nikko by JR using the Tohoku Shinkansen, which is currently operating two trains per hour from Tokyo to Utsunomiya Station. From there you can take the JR Nikko Line train to JR Nikko station; the JR Nikko line is operating on a normal timetable.

For service to/from Haneda Airport: The Tokyo Monorail is running on a normal timetable. Keikyu trains are operating on regular timetables with some trains cancelled.

Overnight trains:

Currently the following overnight sleeper trains in northern Japan are operating: the Nihonkai (Osaka/Kyoto-Aomori), Akebono (Tokyo-Aomori) and Hamanasu (Aomori-Hakodate-Sappor0).

The Twilight Express (Osaka/Kyoto-Sappor0) was suspended again following the April 7 earthquake; it has now resumed service.

Direct overnight trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido – the “Cassiopeia” and the “Hokutosei” – remain suspended until at least April 27.

Expressways:

The Tohoku Expressway, which is the main road artery running from Tokyo to northern Japan, suffered major damage. Remarkably, the damage has been repaired and the expressway is open once again. A good portion of the expressway is limited to larger vehicles, such as trucks and highway buses; regular cars cannot use these sections. The main point, though, is that the passenger buses operating on this expressway are returning to normal, with some schedule adjustments being made.

Land travel options from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan (Updated April 12):

Once again, travel to areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and areas in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, should be avoided at this time. Travel to areas in far northern Japan, including Hokkaido, should be reconsidered unless you fly by plane.

Here are ways you can travel from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan.

Sendai:
*Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko or Tsubasa service to Fukushima (2 hours), then Tohoku Line relay train to Sendai (60-90 minutes).
*Bus from Tokyo to Sendai (5 1/2 hours).

Fukushima: 
* Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko or Tsubasa service to Fukushima (2 hours).
* Bus from Tokyo to Fukushima (5 hours).

Yamagata:
* Tohoku Shinkansen Tsubasa service to Yamagata (3 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Yamagata (Overnight, 6 1/2 hours).

Akita:
*Joetsu Shinkansen ”Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita (3 connections per day, about 6 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Akita (Overnight, 8 hours 45 minutes).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Akita (9 1/2 hours).

Morioka:
*Joetsu Shinkansen ”Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita, Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” from Akita to Morioka (3 connections per day, about 8 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Morioka (Overnight, 7 1/2 hours).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Akita, then Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” from Akita to Morioka (11 1/2 hours).

Aomori:
*Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita, Limited Express “Tsugaru” from Akita to Aomori (3 connections per day, about 9-10 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Aomori (Overnight, 9 1/2 hours).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Aomori (9 hours 45 minutes).

Hokkaido:
Rail travel should be reconsidered in favor of air travel until at least the Tohoku Shinkansen is fully restored. Otherwise you should consider taking a route along the sea of Japan and stopping somewhere for a rest before continuing on your journey.

For example, using the route to Aomori as described above, you can leave Tokyo just after 1 PM and arrive in Aomori at just after 10 PM. From here you can take the Hamanasu Express leaving Aomori at 10:42 PM and arriving in Hakodate at 1 AM or Sapporo at 6:07 AM, or you can rest overnight and take the first train to Hokkaido the next morning, which is a Hakodate-bound Hakucho at 8:08 AM.

You can take the Akebono from Tokyo to Aomori then pick up a limited express train into Hokkaido (15 hours to Hakodate, 18 1/2 hours to Sapporo).

You can also take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka, then take the Twilight Express from there to Sapporo (17 1/2 hours). Remember, the Twilight Express only runs a few times a week and you have to (be lucky to) get a reservation for BOTH the Akebono and Twilight Express. (Japan Rail Pass users can reserve for free something known as the “Goronto Seat” on the Akebono)

Note with the “Akebono”:
You can shave off 30 minutes from the trip between Tokyo and Aomori by taking a Joetsu Shinkansen “Max Toki” train that departs later from Tokyo and “catch up” to the Akebono at Takasaki station.

Conclusion:

This information is as current as I’ve been able to find. All information provided here is subject to the DISCLAIMER (above) and is subject to change at any time. Travel conditions may improve or deteriorate on short notice based on what is happening in northern Japan with the cleanup, repairs, and issues with the power supply. Once again, though, if you go west of Tokyo in the direction of Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, it is business (and leisure) as usual.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note here.

Another web site you can check out is the page on Takeshi Shimomura’s blog which he keeps updated on a regular basis with the latest train operating status.

Good luck, and let’s keep the people of Japan in our thoughts and prayers.

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED IN MY APRIL 9 POST. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS POSTING.

It’s been a while since I last made a post here… of course it’s been hectic in the land of the rising sun because of the March 11th Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as for all of the people of Japan. I wish for them to bounce back from this tragedy stronger than ever.

I want to spend this particular article writing about how travel in Japan is affected following this disaster. This is based on the information that I know, provided by news reports and various transportation companies.

Due to the current situation in Japan, and based on my feelings, I think that you should avoid travel to the northern Tohoku region, especially the area around the Nuclear Power Plant and the coastal areas affected by the Tsunami. The issues at the power plant have resulted in rolling blackouts in the greater Tokyo area. It is unclear how long the threat of a blackout will continue, even though over the last few days the people in Tokyo have been able to conserve power to the point that the blackouts did not have to be carried out. Nevertheless I would reconsider travel to the Tokyo region at this time, at least until the issues with the blackouts can be resolved.

Areas west of Tokyo are largely unaffected by the impact of the disaster and the power situation, especially as you move towards Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond. So as of now, I think it’s perfectly fine to visit these areas if you wish. If you want to focus on visiting parts of western Japan, and you can fly into or out of the international airports in Nagoya or Osaka, while reconsidering or avoiding travel to the Tokyo area, I think you will encounter little to no problems. Air connections through Tokyo’s Narita Airport to Nagoya or Osaka should be fine as well.

The Tohoku Shinkansen, which is the bullet train line that runs north from Tokyo through northern Honshu to Aomori, where connections to trains for Hokkaido can be made, is open only in certain sections. It is estimated that it will take another month for services to resume over the entire length of the line. Therefore, unless you travel by PLANE to Hokkaido, you may wish to reconsider travel there as well. At this time you CAN take a route by train that detours along regular tracks along Japan’s west coast (along the sea of Japan), but this will take much longer to the point that you may have to make it a two-day trip and stop to rest somewhere along the way. Overnight trains along the west coast are back up and running again, and you have the option to use those (if there is space and you pay the fare).

As far as air travel is concerned, Sendai’s domestic airport is closed due to damage caused by the Tsunami. All other airports should be open, but you should check your airline for the status of your flights.

In the Tokyo area:

Updated April 7: JR Narita Express trains between Narita Airport and Tokyo have resumed some service.

The following Narita Express trains are suspended: #6, 19 through 38, and 47.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Tokyo and Shinjuku/Ikebukuro: 10, 14, 18, 39, 43, 51.

The following Narita Express trains do not run between Shinagawa and Yokohama/Ofuna and make an additional stop at Shinagawa en route to/from Shinjuku: 4, 12, 49, 53.

 JR is running their regular commuter trains to/from Narita Airport on an hourly basis. These trains will take longer to reach Narita Airport than the Narita Express would.

The Keisei Skyliner is running about 2/3 of its services from Ueno and Nippori to Narita Airport with the following services cancelled: 4, 11, 12, 15, 20, 23, 28, 31, 34, 38, 39, 46, 47, 50.

Keisei commuter trains are running on a modified timetable with some runs cancelled.

Most of JR’s commuter trains in central Tokyo, including the Yamanote Line, are almost normal. There are a few exceptions and, like the rest of the information that I will provide in this particular section on Tokyo, train schedules are subject to change due to the current power situation.

For travel to Hakone: Updated April 8 Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku are currently suspended until April 16 due to the power situation. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Local Hakone Tozan trains ARE running between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto on a modified timetable (one trip every 15-20 minutes) and you will need to transfer between the Odakyu and Hakone Tozan lines at Odawara. With a Japan Rail Pass you should take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara (operating normally) and change at Odawara to the Hakone Tozan line, using the Hakone Freepass from Odawara to get around Hakone.

For travel to Kamakura and Enoshima: Updated April 8 Odakyu Railway Romance Car trains from Shinjuku are currently suspended until April 16 due to the power situation. Regular commuter trains on the Odakyu Railway operate on modified timetables with some services cancelled. Enoshima Tramway trains are running on a regular schedule but some trains may have fewer cars in operation. The Shonan Monorail trains are in operation every 8 minutes during peak hours, and every 15 minutes off peak. If coming from the eastern part of central Tokyo (i.e. Tokyo, Shinagawa) then I recommend using the JR lines as a means of reaching this area; Tokaido and Yokosuka lines are running 90-100% of their regular timetables. From the western part of central Tokyo (i.e. Shinjuku, Shibuya) you can take the Yamanote Line around to Shinagawa to pick up the Tokaido or Yokosuka lines. Direct Odakyu train service can also be taken into consideration; from April 1st, rapid express services on Odakyu’s Enoshima Line have resumed.

For service to Nikko and Kinugawa: Tobu is operating six daily round-trip “Spacia” services between Asakusa and Kinugawa-Onsen/Tobu-Nikko. The only direct run from Asakusa to Nikko runs at night; To access Nikko by Spacia during the rest of the day you must take a Spacia train to Shimo-Imaichi and change to a local shuttle train for the final run to the Tobu-Nikko station.  Regular commuter trains are running on a weekend schedule. You can access Nikko by JR using the Tohoku Shinkansen, which is currently operating two trains per hour from Tokyo to Utsunomiya Station. From there you can take the JR Nikko Line train to JR Nikko station; the JR Nikko line is operating on a normal timetable.

For service to/from Haneda Airport: The Tokyo Monorail is running on a normal timetable. Keikyu trains are operating on a modified weekday timetable, that is to say a weekday timetable with some services cancelled. Some of these trains will have running times adjusted and make additional stops en route to/from Haneda.

Bullet Train services:

The Tohoku Shinkansen, which suffered the brunt of the damage following the earthquake and tsunami (over 1200 separate repairs necessary), is currently operating between Tokyo and Nasushiobara Stations (north of Utsunomiya), AND between Morioka and Shin-Aomori stations in the northern part of Honshu. The timetable to reopen the entire line, which I think is remarkable, is as follows: Morioka south to Ichinoseki on April 8, Nasushiobara north to Fukushima in mid-April, and the rest of the line via Sendai in late April.

The Akita Shinkansen is currently operating five round-trips between Morioka and Akita. Through running services to the Tohoku Shinkansen, for direct access to Tokyo, will not resume until late April at the earliest.

The Yamagata Shinkansen, which branches off of the Tohoku Shinkansen at Fukushima, will resume operation between Fukushima, Yamagata and Shinjo on March 31. Through running services for direct access to Tokyo will not resume until mid-April at the earliest.

The rest of Japan’s bullet trains – The Joetsu Shinkansen (Tokyo-Niigata), Nagano Shinkansen (Tokyo-Nagano), Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka), San’yo Shinkansen (Osaka-Okayama-Hiroshima-Fukuoka) and Kyushu Shinkansen (Fukuoka-Kumamoto-Kagoshima) are all operating normally.

Overnight trains:

Currently the following overnight sleeper trains in northern Japan are operating: the Twilight Express (Osaka/Kyoto-Sappor0), Nihonkai (Osaka/Kyoto-Aomori), Akebono (Tokyo-Aomori) and Hamanasu (Aomori-Hakodate-Sappor0).

Direct overnight trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido – the “Cassiopeia” and the “Hokutosei” – remain suspended until at least April 15.

Expressways:

The Tohoku Expressway, which is the main road artery running from Tokyo to northern Japan, suffered major damage. Remarkably, the damage has been repaired and the expressway is open once again. A good portion of the expressway is limited to larger vehicles, such as trucks and highway buses; regular cars cannot use these sections. The main point, though, is that the passenger buses operating on this expressway are returning to normal, with some schedule adjustments being made.

Land travel options from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan:

Once again, travel to areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and areas in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, should be avoided at this time. Travel to areas in far northern Japan, including Hokkaido, should be reconsidered unless you fly by plane.

Here are ways you can travel from Tokyo to cities in northern Japan.

Sendai (non-essential travel should be avoided):
*Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata (2 hours), then highway bus from Niigata to Sendai (4 hours). 
*Bus from Tokyo to Sendai (5 1/2 hours).

Fukushima (non-essential travel should be avoided): 
* Bus from Tokyo to Fukushima (5 hours).

Yamagata:
*Joetsu Shinkansen “Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, JR Hakushin/Uetsu Line from Niigata to Sakamichi via Shibata, JR Yonesaka Line from Sakamichi to Yamagata (3 connections per day, about 6-7 hours). 
*Bus from Tokyo to Yamagata (Overnight, 6 1/2 hours).

Akita:
*Joetsu Shinkansen “Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita (3 connections per day, about 6 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Akita (Overnight, 8 hours 45 minutes).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Akita (9 1/2 hours).

Morioka:
*Joetsu Shinkansen “Toki/Max Toki” from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita, Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” from Akita to Morioka (3 connections per day, about 8 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Morioka (Overnight, 7 1/2 hours).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Akita, then Akita Shinkansen “Komachi” from Akita to Morioka (11 1/2 hours).

Aomori:
*Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata, Limited Express “Inaho” from Niigata to Akita, Limited Express “Tsugaru” from Akita to Aomori (3 connections per day, about 9-10 hours).
*Bus from Tokyo to Aomori (Overnight, 9 1/2 hours).
*Akebono overnight train from Tokyo to Aomori (9 hours 45 minutes).

Hokkaido:
Rail travel should be reconsidered in favor of air travel until at least the Tohoku Shinkansen is fully restored in late April. Otherwise you should consider taking a route along the sea of Japan and stopping somewhere for a rest before continuing on your journey.

For example, using the route to Aomori as described above, you can leave Tokyo just after 1 PM and arrive in Aomori at just after 10 PM. From here you can take the Hamanasu Express leaving Aomori at 10:42 PM and arriving in Hakodate at 1 AM or Sapporo at 6:07 AM, or you can rest overnight and take the first train to Hokkaido the next morning, which is a Hakodate-bound Hakucho at 8:08 AM.

You can take the Akebono from Tokyo to Aomori then pick up a limited express train into Hokkaido (15 hours to Hakodate, 18 1/2 hours to Sapporo).

You can also take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka, then take the Twilight Express from there to Sapporo (17 1/2 hours). Remember, the Twilight Express only runs a few times a week and you have to (be lucky to) get a reservation for BOTH the Akebono and Twilight Express. (Japan Rail Pass users can reserve for free something known as the “Goronto Seat” on the Akebono)

Note with the “Akebono”:
You can shave off 30 minutes from the trip between Tokyo and Aomori by taking a Joetsu Shinkansen “Max Toki” train that departs later from Tokyo and “catch up” to the Akebono at Takasaki station.

Conclusion:

This information is as current as I’ve been able to find. All information provided here is subject to the DISCLAIMER (above) and is subject to change at any time. Travel conditions may improve or deteriorate on short notice based on what is happening in northern Japan with the cleanup, repairs, and issues with the power supply. Once again, though, if you go west of Tokyo in the direction of Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, it is business (and leisure) as usual.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note here.

Another web site you can check out is the page on Takeshi Shimomura’s blog which he keeps updated on a regular basis with the latest train operating status.

Good luck, and let’s keep the people of Japan in our thoughts and prayers.