Limited Express Shiosai. Access to Choshi from Tokyo.

Limited Express Shiosai by newer E257 series

Limited Express Shiosai (しおさい) is operated between Tokyo (東京) and Choshi (銚子), Naruto (成東), Sakura (佐倉). Choshi is located at the mouth of Tone river. This city is very well know as home of soy sauce. And also Choshi is one of the biggest fishing port. There are lots of fresh seafood, like sardines, bonito, and tuna.

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

Route, schedule and travel time

8 round trips of Shiosai are operated. But some of Shiosai is operated as commute train. It is operated on weekdays only and trip to Sakura or Naruto. And also there is one trip to Shinjuku (新宿).

Inubosaki lighthouse is the icon of Choshi. (C) JNTO

Tokyo – Choshi : 6 trips to Choshi, 5 trips to Tokyo (daily)
Tokyo – Naruto : 1 round trip (1 trip to Tokyo only on weekend)
Tokyo – Sakura : 1 trip to Tokyo (weekday only)

This train departs from Tokyo station Sobu line platform. This platform is located in the underground and same place as Narita Express. There are two underground platforms in Tokyo station. Please refer the post, “Tokyo station guide. How to change the trains, Shinkansen, Narita Express and other local trains.” to get the details.

If you take this train to Shinjuku, the train does not stop at Tokyo station. Please make sure before on board.

This train connects Tokyo with Choshi in 1 hour 50 minutes and Tokyo with Naruto in 1 hour 10 minutes.

Limited Express Shiosai makes a stop at these stations:
Tokyo (東京) – Kinshicho (錦糸町) – Funabashi (船橋)* – Tsudanuma (津田沼) – Chiba (千葉) – Yotsukaido (四街道)* – Sakura (佐倉) – Yachimata (八街) – Naruto (成東) – Yokoshiba (横芝) – Yokaichiba (八日市場) – Asabi (旭) – Iioka (飯岡)* – Choshi (銚子)

And also the train depart to Shinjuku makes a stop at Akihabara (秋葉原) after stop at Kinshicho. Some of the trains stop at the stations with * mark.

Accommodation and train formations

Hotels in Choshi
Hotels in Itako

Shiosai 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 960 mm and the seat configuration is 2+2.

Train formation
10 cars formation by E257 series. There is no reserved seats.

5 cars formation by E257 series

*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.

*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