Limited Express Sazanami. Access to Kimizu and Tateyama in Boso peninsula from Tokyo

Limited Express
Limited Express Sazanami by newer E257 series
Limited Express Sazanami by newer E257 series

Limited Express Sazanami by newer E257 series

Limited Express Sazanai (さざなみ) is operated between Tokyo (東京) and Kimizu (君津). This train runs along the west coast of Boso peninsula in Chiba prefecture.

Let’s see this trains’ route, schedule and accommodations.

Route, schedule and travel time

There are two round trips on week days and another 4 round trips on weekend. Moreover there are two more round trips departure from Shinjuku (新宿).

Tokyo to Kimitsu : 5 trips (weekday only)
Kimitsu to Tokyo : 3 trips (weekday only)

This train is operated for commuters on week days. Two trips to Tokyo are operated in early morning and two trips to Tateyama are operated in the evening. Please make sure the timetable when you take this train on weekdays.

And this train departs from Tokyo station Keiyo line platform. This platform is located in the underground. It is in Tokyo station but it is way far from other platforms, like Shinkansen, Yamanote line and Narita Express. Please refer the post, “Tokyo station guide. How to change the trains, Shinkansen, Narita Express and other local trains.” to get the details.

This train connects Tokyo with Kimitsu in 1 hour 10 minutes, Tokyo with Tateyama in 1 hour 55 minutes, and Shinjuku with Tateyama in 2 hours 15 minutes.

Limited Express Sazanami makes a stop at these stations:
Tokyo (東京) – Kaihin-Makuhari (海浜幕張)* – Soga (蘇我) – Goi (五井) – Anegasaki (姉ヶ崎)* – Kisarazu (木更津) – Kimitsu (君津)

Some of the trains stop at the stations with * mark.

Accommodation and train formations

Sazanami is operated by 255 series and E257 series. E257 is newer than 255 series. But it is not much different. E257 series does not have any Green class seat. Usually there are only 1 round trips with Green class seat on week days and two more round trips on weekend. So if you want to take Green seat, please make sure at the time of booking.

E257 series

As I mentioned above, there is no Green class seat on this series. The seat pitch is 960mm and the seat configuration is 2+2.

Train formation
10 cars formation by E257 series. Some trains do not have any reserved seats.

12345678910
NRNRNRNRNRRRNRNRNR

5 cars formation by E257 series. Some trains do not have any reserved seats.

12345
NRRNRNRNR

*R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train.

Images
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.
Ordinary class seat

Sanitary space

Passenger’s deck

255 series

255 series does not look so old.

This fleet is older than E257 series. But the interior is not much older than E257 series. And this fleet has Green class seat and lots of luggage spaces. The seat configuration is 2+2 on both Green and Ordinary. The seat pitch is 970 mm on Ordinary class and 1160 mm on Green class.

Train formation
10 cars formation by 255 series. Some trains do not have any reserved seats.

12345678910
NRNRRGRNRNRNRNRNR

*R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train.

Images
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Green class seat

Ordinary class seat

Sanitary space

Passenger’s deck and luggage space

Comments

  1. Steven Koh says:

    Hi Mr Takeshi,

    On 22 Dec 2019, i am planning a trip as follows:

    Shinjuku Station to Nokogiriyama (Hama Kanaya Station) taking the morning 0750am train

    Nokogiriyama (Hama Kanaya Station) to Chiba station around (Uchibo line) mid afternoon 3/4pm. Then after dinner, Chiba Station to Shinjuku station.

    Can you please advice if the trains are correct and whether that route is ok?

    Steven

  2. Margaret says:

    I cannot find this train on Hypermedia. Is there a website with these train schedules?

    • Hi Margaret,

      This train runs in the morning and evening only. And all trains run on weekdays only. I think that is a reason why you cannot find this train. If you travel daytime, local or rapid train is your choice.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Andrea says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    would you be so kind to help me with this query?

    I’m planning to visit Nokogiriyama next October 2015.

    Will the limited express Sazanami still run from Tokyo station ( or Shinjuku ) to Tateyama? This trip should be covered by the Kanto pass, correct?

    If there isn’t a direct train, what the best option to use the Kanto pass?

    Tokyo > Soga ( Keyo Line ) and Soga > Tateyama (Uchibo Line)?

    Many thanks for your precious advice!

    • Hi Andrea,

      I forgot to update this page. As you guess, Sazanami goes to Kimitsu only and it does not go to Tateyama directly any more other than seasonal operation.

      So if you can catch this express train, you can go to Kimitsu and transfer to local train. Otherwise as you mentioned, Keiyo line and Uchibo line trains are your choice. All trains are covered by Kanto Area Pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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