JR East and JR Central have announced Moonlight Nagara is no longer service on January 22nd, 2021. Since 185 series using for Moonlight Nagara will be retired in March, 2021, this train has been discontinued.
Moonlight Nagara (ムーンライトながら) is the overnight rapid service train that is operated between Tokyo and Ogaki (大垣). This train is operated as the seasonal train. It is usually operated in spring break (two weeks from late March to early April), summer break (late July to the end of August) and Christmas to New Year holidays. These periods are the seasons when “Seishun 18 ticket” is sold. This ticket covers any rapid and local train’s non reserved seat throughout Japan for 5 days at 11,850 yen. This train can be used by this ticket with additional charge for reserved seat fare. Therefore this train runs for busy period only and it is very hard to book.
This train is fully covered by Japan Rail Pass. But online reservation is not available for overseas visitor and ticket is on sale one month prior to departure date. It is very hard to book and not realistic to put this train in your plan.
Anyway it may be considerable for overnight transfer between Tokyo and Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka. Let’s see the details about this train.
Route and timetable
Monterey Hotel Yokohama
Located downtown by the harbour
Tokyu Hotel Nagoya
Located in most popular area Sakae
This train connects Tokyo with Ogaki. Ogaki is 30 minutes away from Nagoya to the west. This train is a rapid service train. That means a kind of local train. But this train stops at only 8 stations. It is very similar to limited express train service.
This train is connected with other local trains to/from Osaka/Kyoto at Ogaki. But if you will use Japan Rail Pass, you can take Shinkansen from/to Nagoya. But if you go to Himeji or other cities to the west from Himeji, Sunrise Seto or Sunrise Izumo is better. This train is a scheduled train, more comfortable and faster. But if you are looking for overnight transfer to Nagoya, this train is better choice. If you want to go to Takayama as soon as possible by Japan Rail Pass, this train is connected with the first Wide View Hida to Takayama that depart from Nagoya at 07:43am.
If you are single ticket traveller, you can take the first Nozomi from Tokyo is connected with Wide View Hida. You don’t need to take overnight train. Japan Rail Pass user can take Hikari or Kodama. The first Hikari is not connected with the first Wide View Hida.
| Stations | |
|---|---|
| Tokyo (東京) | X |
| Shinagawa (品川) | X |
| Yokohama (横浜) | X |
| Odawara (小田原) | * |
| Numazu (沼津) | X |
| Shizuoka (静岡) | X |
| Hamamatsu (浜松) | X |
| Toyohashi (豊橋) | * |
| Nagoya (名古屋) | X |
| Gifu (岐阜) | X |
| Ogaki (大垣) | X |
*Only train to Ogaki stop at Odawara and train to Tokyo stop at Toyohashi.
This train is a seasonal train. It is operated in the peak season only. Please check the most updated schedule and timetable at Seasonal Trains Schedule.
Accommodation and train formations
This train is operated by 185 series. 185 series was used for many limited express train around Tokyo area. At this point, this fleet is used for only Odoriko as limited express train. But this fleet is still very good as the rapid train. All cars are reserved ordinary seat. It does not have any berth, compartment, and even green cars. And this train does not have any non reserved cars either. You need to get a reserved seat before you ride.
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.
Images
Reserved ordinary seat
Train formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
R=Reserved ordinary seat
Comments
Hi Takeshi,
Is it allowed to bring big luggage/suitcase to this train? (29 inch suitcases). We plan on travelling with 4 people
Hi Ganesh,
Yes, you may. But there is no luggage space on this train. You need to keep it on your space. It may be very tight and not recommended.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks. According to this photo, there is an overhead rack to place your suitcase? it\s not very wide though as someone placed their big suitcase in the aisle (I’m guessing that person will be told off by the staff?)
https://andikaikhsan.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/img_0687_resize.jpg
https://andikaikhsan.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/seishun-18-kippu/
Hi Ganesh,
I have never seen the luggage on the isle. This is not recommended at all. If you do so, you may be told to remove it by the conductor. Other passengers are not happy.
Please do not try.
My luggage on the overhead rack was one size bigger than carry-on size. You cannot put the full size suitcase there.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi-san!
How much is the single ticket from Yokohama to Ogaki?
Do the Moonlight nagara train stops in Yokohama?
Hi Katherine san,
Unfortunately I don’t calculate the fare individually. Please use hyperdia to find the fare.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
It stops at Yokohama. Sorry but actually I mentioned it in the post above.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Could you please advise if i can take this train using JR Pass. And can i take this from Takayama to Kyoto on the 26th of Jan 18? And which station should i stop?
Please advise.
Thank you.
Hi IK,
This train does not run on Jan 26. It runs on peak season only.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/seasonal-trains-schedule/schedule-of-2017-18-winter-seasonal-trains-of-japan-railways.html#Overnight_Rapid_Moonlight_Nagara
And this train does not go to Takayama.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
I want to ask one thing. Actually I stay in Yamaguchi. But I plan to ride this moonlight Nagara from Tokyo (or probably from Odawara) by using seishun 18 kippu on this new year day (31st December, 2017). As it is hard to book, I want to know when will it be best time to book for my travel. And also where can I book, Yamaguchi or Tokyo or Odawara? Thank you very much and I will be looking forwards to your reply.
With best regards,
Paw Min
Hi Paw Min san,
It’s on sale at 10:00 am on December 1. You should book it at this time.
You can book at Midori no Madoguchi in most of JR stations. You can do it at Tokyo, Odawara, Yamaguchi or any other major JR stations. Seat fee is same for either from Odawara or Tokyo. So you should book it for from Tokyo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much, Takeshi San. Can I book it at Ubeshinkawa station as it is near to me? But I don’t know whether it is major JR station or not. Thank you very much and I am looking forwards to your reply.
With best regards,
Paw Min
Hi Paw Min san,
Ube Shinkawa has Midori no Madoguchi. But just make sure this station has it or not before booking.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Ok. Thanks a lot, Takeshi San.
No worries, Paw Min san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
If we’re using the Seishun 18 Kippu from Tokyo to Osaka at 23.10 and arrive at 08.00 the next day, is it counted as 1 day or 2 days?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Esterina,
It is 2 days. One day means midnight to midnight. If you intend to take Moonlight Nagara by this ticket, you can purchase single ticket for Tokyo to Odawara at 1,490 yen. It’s cheaper than one day value of Seishun 18 Kippu. Many travelers take this way to save one day of Seishun 18 Kippu.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
We are wondering the train schedule from Gifu train station to Nagoya, and then on to Kyoto.
We will be leaving Gifu for Nagoya after 9:15 pm on May 30, 2017.
Do the trains run all night, of do they stop running some time in the evening?
Hi Sumiko,
In most of places, train starts to run 5:30 am to 6:00 am and stop running around midnight. Please use hyperdia to check the timetable.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
in which website is it possible to reserve a ticket on this train? How is the process to use the seishun 18 kippu in order to make the reservation online?
thanx
Hi lelouch,
Unfortunately there is no way to book online. You have to book it at the window in Japan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi, 5 of uswill be traveling to japan this Dec 13-20, 2016. We’re planning to take the moonlight nagara from tokyo to kyoto on dec 13, then kyoto to tokyo on dec 19. Will this train be operating on the said dates? Is there a chance for us to book the tickets by then? Thanks!
Hi Karen,
This winter’s schedule has not been released yet. But in last year, it started to run on Dec 22. I think it will run on similar dates.
I recommend you to think about different option.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Going to Tokyo on 5th of Jan 2017 with a family of 4, planning to take the Moonlight Nagara from Tokyo to Nagoya on the 8th of Jan. Any chaces of getting the Seishun 18 tickets and book the seats on our arrival on the 5th from Narita Airport? Many thanks! Crystal
Hi Crystal,
First of all, Moonlight may not run on 8th Jan. In this year, it ran until Jan 2nd. I don’t think the operation period will be extended.
Even if it will run on 8th, the chance to book is very slim.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Oh! Thanks for the reply.
Please advise what’s the cheap and best option other then bus in this case?
Regards
Hi Crystal,
Actually there is no affordable train option. Seishun 18 user usually takes local commute trains. But you need to take many local commute trains with 5 to 6 times changing trains. It’s not realistic way for oversea travelers.
Shinkansen (bullet train) is expensive but this is common way.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
Do you know seishun 18 sale date and travel date for march apr 2016? can not find 2016 information anywhere. Thanks
Hi Azi san,
It’s March 1, 2016 to Apr 10, 2016. Ticket will be on sale in Feb 20, 2016 to Mar 31, 2016.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com