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Resort Shirakami

HB-E300 series Aoike set in September 2020
Overview
Service type	Rapid/ Sightseeing train
Status	Operational
Locale	Japan
Predecessor	Nostalgic View Train
First service	March 1997
Current operator(s)	JR East
Route
Termini	Akita Hirosaki, Aomori
Stops	23
Distance travelled	235.0 km (146.0 mi)
Average journey time	approx. 5 hours
Service frequency	3 return workings daily
Line(s) used	Ōu Main Line, Gonō Line
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard only
Disabled access	Yes
Seating arrangements	2+2 unidirectional + compartments
Sleeping arrangements	None
Catering facilities	Yes
Observation facilities	Yes
Entertainment facilities	Yes
Other facilities	Toilets
Technical
Rolling stock	KiHa 48, HB-E300 series DMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	None
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Track owner(s)	JR East

The Resort Shirakami (リゾートしらかみ, Rizōto Shirakami) is a limited-stop "Rapid" service operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) as a sightseeing train along the scenic coastal Gonō Line in the north of Japan since March 1997.

Operations

The train service operates between Akita and Aomori via the Ōu Main Line and Gonō Line, with the journey taking approximately 5 hours. Three return services run daily, with one service operating between Akita and Hirosaki only, and the other two reversing at Hirosaki.

Stops

Trains stop at the following stations:

Akita - Oiwake - Hachirōgata - (Moritake) - Higashi-Noshiro - Noshiro - Akita-Shirakami - Iwadate - Jūniko - WeSPa-Tsubakiyama - Fukaura - (Senjōjiki) - Ajigasawa - Mutsu-Morita - Kizukuri - Goshogawara - Mutsu-Tsuruda - Itayanagi - Fujisaki - Kawabe - Hirosaki - Shin-Aomori - Aomori

Stations in brackets () are stations where not all trains stop at or stations which are only called at during certain times of the year.

• Resort Shirakami no. 4, 5, 3 and 6 do not stop at Moritake.
• Trains only stop at Senjōjiki at certain times of the year.

Rolling stock

Services are operated by three dedicated four-car diesel multiple unit sets based at Akita Depot, named Aoike (青池), Buna (橅), and Kumagera (くまげら), converted from former KiHa 48 DMU cars. The original KiHa 48 Aoike trainset was replaced by a new HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set, which entered service on 4 December 2010. An additional four-car HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set was built for use on Buna services from July 2016, replacing the KiHa 48 DMU set previously used. The exterior livery and interior design was overseen by Ken Okuyama Design.

• Aoike KiHa 48 4-car DMU (March 1997 – 2010)
• Buna KiHa 48 4-car DMU (April 2003 – July 2016)
• Kumagera KiHa 48 4-car DMU (since March 2006)
• Aoike HB-E300 series 4-car hybrid DMU (since December 2010)
• Buna HB-E300 series 4-car hybrid DMU (from 16 July 2016)

All cars are no-smoking, and all seats require advance seat reservations.

KiHa 48 Aoike

This was the first Resort Shirakami trainset introduced, converted from former KiHa DMU cars at JR East's Tsuchizaki Works, and entering service in March 1997. It was initially formed as a four-car set, as shown below. The end cars were built with new cab ends, while the two inner cars retained their original driving cabs. The name Aoike was added in March 2003 to distinguish it from the second Resort Shirakami ("Buna").

From March 2006, the set was reduced to three cars, as shown below, with car KiHa 48 1521 repainted and inserted into the newly created Kumagera trainset.

The end cars had large panorama windows and featured conventional unidirectional seating, with a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The two inner cars each had eight four-person semi-open compartments.

This set was replaced in 2010 by a new 4-car HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set, and was reformed as a two-car trainset for use on other lines from February 2011, branded as Cruising Train (クルージングトレイン).

KiHa 48 Buna

Following the popularity of the original Resort Shirakami (Aoike) trainset, a second set was built in March 2003, from former KiHa 40 DMU cars at JR East's Tsuchizaki Works, and named Buna (橅, "Japanese beech"). This train entered service on 1 April 2003, and was initially formed as a 3-car set as shown below.

In December 2010, it was lengthened to four cars with the addition of KiHa 1543, formerly part of the original Aoike set, and formed as shown below.

The former identities of the rebuilt cars are as follows.

As with the earlier Aoike set, the end cars have large panorama windows and feature conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, with a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The inner car has semi-open compartments with seats that can pulled out to create a flat seating space. It also included a smoking compartment.

KiHa 48 Kumagera

This was the third Resort Shirakami trainset to be built, entering service on 18 March 2006. The name Kumagera is the Japanese name for the black woodpecker, which lives in the Shirakami-Sanchi area, a World Heritage Site. This train was initially formed as a 3-car set as shown below. Car KiHa 48 1521 was originally included in the Aoike trainset.

In December 2010, it was lengthened to four cars, formed as shown below .

The former identities of the rebuilt cars are as follows.

As with the earlier trainsets, the end cars have large panorama windows, ten rows of conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, and a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The inner car has eight semi-open compartments with seats that can pulled out to create a flat seating space.

• Interior of Kumagera set looking forward, August 2010
• Interior of Kumagera set car 3, August 2010

HB-E300 series Aoike

This is a four-car hybrid DMU set, which replaced the original KiHa 48 Aoike set and entered service from 4 December 2010.

The trainset is formed as shown below.

The end cars have conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, and a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The inner cars have semi-open compartments.

HB-E300 series Buna

This is a four-car hybrid DMU set introduced on 16 July 2016, replacing the original KiHa 48 Buna set.

The trainset is formed as shown below.

Cars 1, 2, and 4 have conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, while car 3 has semi-open compartments.

History

The Resort Shirakami service was introduced in March 1997, coinciding with the opening of the Akita Shinkansen.　It replaced the locomotive-hauled Nostalgic View Train (ノスタルジックビュートレイン), formed of three converted 50 series coaches, which previously operated as a sightseeing train on the Gono Line.

A new HB-E300 series 4-car hybrid DMU trainset entered service as the Resort Shirakami - Aoike from 4 December 2010, replacing the original KiHa 48 DMU set, and coinciding with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Shin-Aomori.

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan
• Excursion train
• Joyful Train, the generic name for tourist trains in Japan

References

1. ^ JR Timetable (in Japanese), Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha, pp. 674–675, EAN 4910053111034
2. ^ ＪＲがリゾート新型車両を公開 青森、秋田走るしらかみ [JR unveils new resort train "Shirakami" linking Aomori and Akita]. 47 News (in Japanese). Japan: Press Net Japan Co., Ltd. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
3. リゾートしらかみにHB-E300系を追加投入 [Additional HB-E300 series to be introduced on Resort Shirakami]. Tetsudo.com (in Japanese). Japan: Asahi Interactive, Inc. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
4. ^ JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. p. 410. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
5. ^ JR気動車客車編成表 '04年版 [JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations - 2004]. Japan: JRR. 1 July 2004. p. 36. ISBN 4-88283-125-2.
6. ^ JR気動車客車編成表 2013 [JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations - 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 June 2013. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-4-330-37813-8.
7. 「リゾートしらかみ／青池」先頭車が「クルージングトレイン」に ["Resort Shirakami - Aoike" end cars become "Cruising Train"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
8. ^ Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: ＪＲ全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 203. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
9. ^ Nakagami, Masato (September 2010). "HB-E300系" [HB-E300 Series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 50, no. 593. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 61–66.
10. ^ リゾートしらかみ橅 [Resort Shirakami - Buna]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 664. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. August 2016. pp. 50–52.
11. 五能線用リゾート列車「リゾートしらかみ」 ["Resort Shirakami" resort train for the Gono Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 37, no. 432. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. April 1997. p. 49.

External links

• JR East Resort Shirakami

v t e Named trains of East Japan Railway Company
Shinkansen	Asama Hakutaka Hayabusa Hayate Kagayaki Komachi Nasuno Tanigawa Toki Tsubasa Yamabiko
Limited express (daytime)	Akagi Azusa Fuji Excursion Hachiōji Hitachi Inaho Kaiji Kinugawa Kusatsu/Shima Narita Express Nikkō Odoriko Ōme Sazanami Shiosai Shirayuki Shōnan Spacia Kinugawa Saphir Odoriko Tokiwa Tsugaru Wakashio
Rapid	Banetsu Monogatari Holiday Rapid Okutama/Akigawa Holiday Rapid View Yamanashi Resort Shirakami Shimokita Bay Liner (Odakyu)
Local	Musashino Shimōsa
Excursion	TRAIN SUITE Shiki-shima Cassiopeia SL Gunma Minakami
Discontinued Shinkansen	Aoba Asahi
Discontinued Limited express (Daytime)	Akita Relay Ayame Fresh Hitachi Hakuchō Hatsukari Hokuetsu Hometown Tochigi Kamoshika Komakusa Kusatsu Minakami Minori Ohayō Tochigi Soyokaze Super Azusa Super Hakuchō Super Hatsukari Super Hitachi Swallow Akagi Tazawa
Discontinued Limited express (overnight)	Akebono Hokuriku Hokutosei Nihonkai Yume Kūkan
Discontinued Express	Noto
Discontinued Rapid	Airport Jōban Airport Narita Kubikino Moonlight Echigo Myōkō Aizu Liner Moonlight Shinshu Moonlight Nagara
Discontinued Liner	Chūō Liner Ōme Liner Home Liner Chiba Home Liner Odawara Home Liner Zushi Ohayō Liner Shinjuku Ohayō Liner Zushi Shōnan Liner
Discontinued Excursion	SL Ginga

v t e Transit in Akita
Shinkansen	Akita
JR East	Gonō Hanawa Kitakami Oga Ōu Tazawako Uetsu
Other railways	Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Yuri Kōgen Railway Chōkai Sanroku
Bus	Akita Chūō Kōtsū Shūhoku Bus Ugo Kōtsū
Public ferries	Shin Nihonkai Ferry
Terminals	Rail Akita Airports Akita Odate-Noshiro Ports Akita Funagawa Noshiro
Japan transit: Tokyo Keihanshin Chūkyō Fukuoka–Kitakyushu Hakone–Fuji–Izu Hokkaido Aomori Sendai Akita Niigata Toyama Nagano Okayama Hiroshima Shikoku Metro systems Shinkansen trams (list) aerial lifts (list)

• East Japan Railway Company
• Named passenger trains of Japan
• Railway services introduced in 1997
• 1997 establishments in Japan