Schedule of 2011 fall seasonal trains of Japan Railway

KIHA183 Niseko Express is used for Furano Koyo Express (C) Sonic Rail Garden

Fall is good season to travel in Japan. JR Group operate lots of seasonal trains during this season. But it is too many to introduce all seasonal trains. So I pick up the popular trains and are operated in the popular spot.

• JR Hokkaido (Hokkaido)
• JR East (Tohoku, Kanto and Hokuriku)
• JR Central (Chubu and Tokai)
• JR West (Kansai, Chugoku and Hokuriku)
• JR Kyushu (Kyushu)

JR Hokkaido (Hokkaido area)

Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko train

This train is operated by “Torokko” (open air type passenger’s car). This is a cruising train that goes through Kushiro marsh. Please refer the detail about this train at Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko train. This train is extended to operate to Kawayu Onsen (Kawayu hot springs) in October.

Operation dates

September 9, 2011 (Fri) to September 30, 2011 (Fri) operation between Kushiro and Toro
October 1, 2011 (Sat) to October 31, 2011 (Mon) operation between Kushiro and Kawayu Onsen

Timetable in September

Timetable in October

This train stop at Higashi-Kushiro, Toya, Kushiro Shitsugen, Hosooka, Toya, Kayanuma, Gojikkoku, Shibecha, Isobunnai, Minami-Teshikaga, Mashu and Biruwa.

If you are looking for more information about Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko train, please see the post, Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko train.

Limited Express Asahiyama Dobutsuen

Limited Express Asahiyama Dobutsuen

This train connects Sapporo with Asahikawa and is operated by Asahiyama Zoo featured train. Asahiyama zoo in the most popular zoo in Japan. This train has only reserved seat. (Japanese site link)

Operation dates
September — every Saturday and Sunday, and September 19 (Mon), 23 (Fri)
October — every Saturday and Sunday, and October 10 (Mon)
November — November 3 (Thu)
*Asahiyama Zoo will closed from November 4 to 17.

Timetable
Sapporo 08:30 – Asahikawa 10:07
Asahikawa 16:05 – Sapporo 17:46
Train makes a stop at Iwamizawa and Takikawa.

Furano Koyo Express

Furano is very popular spot in Hokkaido during fall season too. Only this train takes you to Furano from Sapporo directly. Please refer the detail about this train at Furano Lavender Express / Koyo Express.

Operation dates
Every Saturday and Sunday from September 1 to October 16, 2011 and September 19 (Mon), 23 (Fri), October 10 (Mon) 2011

Timetable

If you are looking for more information about trains for Furano Koyo Express, please see the post, Furano Lavender Express / Koyo Express.

Furano Biei Norokko train

This train is operated by “Torokko” (open air type passenger’s car). This is a cruising train that goes on Furano line. This train is extended to operate to Shintoku in October as “Aki no Minami-Furano Norokko train”. Please refer the detail about this train at Furano Biei Norokko train.

Operation dates
September — Saturday and Sunday, and September 19 (Mon), 23 (Fri) operation between Furano and Biei/Asahikawa
October — 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16

Timetable in September

Timetable in October

*This train stop at Biei, Kamifurano, Nakafurano, Furano and Ikutora

If you are looking for more information about Furano Biei Norokko train, please see the post, Furano Biei Norokko train.

SL Niseko

This train is operated by steam locomotive between Sapporo and Rangoshi.

Operation dates
Every Saturday and Sunday from September 17 to October 30, 2011 and September 19 (Mon), 23 (Fri), October 10 (Mon) and November 3 (Thu)

Timetable

JR East (Tohoku and Kanto area)

Rapid Hiraizumi Sekai Isan

You can use this train to the newest UNESCO World Heritage Hiraizumi from Moroika directly. This train is operated by the specialized train “Kenji” that has the panoramic windows.

Operation dates

September — 3,4,10,11,18,19,23,24,25
October — 1,2,15,16,22,23,29,30
November — 1,2,3,5,6,12,13,19,20,23,26,27

Timetable
Morioka 09:38 – Ichinoseki 10:55
Ichinoseki 16:03 – Morioka 17:25
This train makes a stop at Hanamaki, Kitakami, Mizusawa and Hiraizumi

Rapid Resort Minori

This train connects Sendai with Shinjo via Naruko hot springs resort. This train is operated by the specialized train. This train has only reserved seat.

Operation dates
September 2 to 4, 9 to 11, 16 to 19, 23 to 25 and 30, 2011

Timetable
Sendai 09:25 – Shinjo 12:28
Shinjo 15:00 – Sendai 17:37
This train makes a stop at Matsuhima, Kogota, Furukawa, Iwadeyama, Yubikan, Kawatabi-Onsen, Naruko-Gotenyu, Naruko-Onsen, Nakayamadaira-Onsen, Akakura-Onsen, Mogami and Semi-Onsen.

Some of Resort Shirakami are operated by the newest Hybrid train.

Rapid Resort Shirakami

This train connects Akita with Aomori through Gono line that has one of the greatest scenery. This train is operated by the specialized train or the newest Hybrid train. This train has only reserved seat.

Operation dates and timetable

This train makes a stop at Oiwaki, Hachirogata, Moritake, Higashi-Noshiro, Noshiro, Akita-Shirakami, Iwadate, Juniko, WeSpa-Tsubakiyama, Fukaura, Senjojiki, Ajigasawa, Mutsu-Morita, Kizukuri, Goshogawara, Mutsu-Tsuruta, Itayanagi, Kawabe, Hirosaki and Shin-Aomori. If you need more information about this train, please refer Rapid Resort Shirakami.

SL Banetsu Mogotari

This train is operated by C57 type steam locomotive between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu. This train has only reserved seat. (Japanese site link)

Operation dates
September 19 and 23

Timetable
Niigata 09:43 – Aizu-Wakamatsu 13:31
Aizu-Wakamatsu 15:25 – Niigata 19:00
This train makes a stop at Niitsu, Gosen, Sakihana, Mikawa, Tsugawa, Hideya, Nozawa, Yamato, Kitakata and Shiokawa (to Aizu-Wakamatsu only).

Overnight Rapid Moonlight Shinshu 81

This is very popular and hard to get the seat. This train does not have any non reserved seat. This train is operated by old type Limited Express cars. But there is no berth or compartment.

Operation date
September 2, 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 30, October 7 and 8

Timetable
Shinjuku 23:54 – Hakuba 05:40
*There is no train to Shinjuku from Hakuba
This train makes a stop at Tachikawa, Hachioji, Otsuki, Shioyama, Kofu, Kobuchizawa, Chino, Kamisuwa, Shimosuwa, Okaya, Tatsuno, Shiojiri, Matsumoto, Toyoshina, Hodaka, Shinano-Omachi and Kamishiro.

Overnight Express Noto

This is very popular and hard to get the seat. This train does not have any non reserved seat. This train is operated by old type Limited Express cars. But there is no berth or compartment.

Operation dates
September — 2, 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 30
October and November — Every Friday and October 8

Timetable
Ueno 23:33 – Kanazawa 06:37
Kanazawa 22:29 – Ueno 06:19
This train makes a stop at Omiya, Kumagaya, Takasaki, Naoetsu, Itoigawa, Tomari, Nyuzen, Kurobe, Uozu, Namerikawa, Toyama, Kosugi, Takaoka, Isurugi and Tsubata.

JR Central (Chubu, Tokai and Hokuriku)

Express Iida line hikyo eki train

This train goes on Iida line to Tenryukyo gorge. This train has reserved seat only.

Operation dates
October 8 to 10, November 19 to 27

Timetable
Toyohashi 09:50 – Tenryukyo 15:05
Tenryukyo 16:32 – Toyohashi 19:30

Express Kisoji cruise train

This train goes on Chuo line and stop at the station where is near the post towns in Edo period. This train has reserved seat only.

Operation dates
October 23, 30, November 5, 6, 12, 13

Timetable
Nagoya 08:28 – 09:36 Minami-Kiso 11:05 – 11:30 Kiso-Fukushima 13:33 – 13:48 Narai
Narai 15:10 – 16:17 Nakatsugawa 17:17 – 18:34 Nagoya

*You can enjoy exploring many spots in Kisoji by this train.

Rapid Shukubamachi train 117

This train goes on Chuo line and stop at the station where is near the post towns in Edo period. This train has reserved seat only.

Operation dates
October 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
November 3, 5, 6, 12, 13

Timetable
Nagoya 08:36 – 10:12 Minami-Kiso
Minami-Kiso 16:25 – 18:15 Nagoya

*This train stops at Kanayama, Chigusa, Tajimi and Nakatsugawa

JR West (Kansai, Hokuriku and Chugoku)

SL Yamaguchi

This train is operated by C57 type steam locomotive between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano. This train has only reserved seat. (Japanese site link)

Operation dates
Every Saturday and Sunday from March 19 to November 20, 2011, and the following dates:
September 19,23, October 10, November 3, 2011

Timetable
Shin-Yamaguchi 10:47 – Tsuwano 12:46
Tsuwano 15:20 – Shin-Yamaguchi 17:04
This train makes a stop at Yuda-Onsen, Yamaguchi, Niho (to Tuswano only), Shinome, Nagatokyo, Jifuku (to Tsuwano only), Nabekura and Tokusa.

JR Kyushu (Kyushu)

Limited Express Aso Boy!

This train is operated to Mt. Aso from Kumamoto by the train that have the panoramic windows at the both end. This train has only reserved seat. (Japanese site link)

Operation dates
September 3,4,10,11,17-19,23-25, 2011
October 1,2,8-10,15,16,22,23,29,30
November 3-6,12,13,19,20,23,26,27

Timetable

This train makes a stop at Shin-Suizenji, Suizenji, Higo-Otsu and Akamizu too.

SL Hitoyoshi

This train is operated by 58654 type steam locomotive between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano. This train has only reserved seat. (Japanese site link)

Operation dates
September, 2011 – very Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and September 22
October, 2011 – every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
November, 2011 – every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday until November 27, and November 2 and 3

Timetable

This train makes a stop at Yatsushiro, Sakamoto, Shiraishi and Watari.

Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi

This train goes through Nichinan coastline. Please see the details at my post.

Operation dates
September, 2011 – 19, 23 and every Saturday and Sunday
October, 2011 – 10 and every Saturday and Sunday
November, 2011 – 3,4,23 and every Saturday and Sunday
December, 2011 – 22,23,26,27,29,30,31 and every Saturday and Sunday
January, 2012 – 2,3,5,6,9 and every Saturday and Sunday
February, 2012 – Every Saturday and Sunday

Timetable
Please refer my post, Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi.

A Ressha de Iko (A列車で行こう=Take the ‘A’ train)

This train goes through Nichinan coastline. Please see the details at my post.

Operation dates
October 8-10,15,16,22,23,29,30
November 3-6,12,13,19,20,23,26,27

Timetable

This train makes a stop at Yatsushiro, Sakamoto, Shiraishi and Watari.