Shinkansen Update to/from Misawa

Misawa is the Radiator Springs of Aomori

Anyone who has children has probably watched Disney’s Cars several times. If you haven’t, Radiator Springs is the sleepy town off Old Route 66 that almost became forgotten when the new highway was built. If it weren’t for the airport, Misawa would too become forgotten.

The opening of the new Shinkansen stations (Shichinohe-Towada and Shin-Aomori) makes Aomori City closer and quicker to Tokyo, but in doing so, leaves Misawa in the slow lane. There are fewer connections between Misawa and Hachinohe. Moreover, the last two bullet trains from Tokyo (Hayate 39 and 41) do not connect to Misawa Train Station via train. Instead, a local bus must be taken from Hachinoe’s West Exit and depart at 21:15, 22:15, and 23:25, which stops at Misawa Train Station and Misawa Airport.

Misawa Train Station Ticket Sales

• Little or no English speakers available
• Limited teller sale window hours for Shinkansen tickets: 10:00-11:50, 13:10-15:40, and 16:00-16:50
• Regular sale window hours for local trains: 06:30-22:00
• Payment Options: YEN only, no foreign currency nor credit cards
• Parking is available 24hrs at ¥100/hour

Hachinohe Train Station

Ticket Sales for Shinkansen or local trains

• Teller sale window hours: 05:30-23:00
• Ticket machine (with English option): 06:10-23:00
• Payment Options: YEN or credit cards both at teller and machine

Parking

• Front of train station: Free for 30 minutes
• East side parking lot: about ¥800 yen per day (Cash only)
• Yutori parking lot: ¥2,400 yen/day (Cash only)

Shichinohe-Towada Train Station

• Ticket Sales are for Shinkansen tickets to Hachinohe and NOT to Misawa
• Teller sale window hours: 06:30-22:00
• Ticket machine (with English option ): 06:10-23:00
• Payment Options: YEN or credit cards both at teller and machine
• About 600 parking spots at South/North exit: Free of charge

I’ve included updated train schedules, which my husband forwarded to me. I’m not sure of its sources, but I’ve checked them for accuracy against the schedules available on-line.

There are two ways to access train schedules on-line. Both websites feature the station stops and times along the train route.

A. Japan Railway Time Table:

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

1. Click on the link above
2. Enter the fields From, To, Date, and Time then click on Search.
3. ADVANTAGE: The format is like searching for a flight on-line. Scheduled stops are easier to read.

B. East Japan Railway Shinkansen:

http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/pc/english/common/timetable/index.html

1. Click on the link above
2. Look for the green square that reads Tohoku Shinkansen
3. Click on either From Tokyo or To Tokyo depending on your destination
4. DRAWBACKS: This site might be confusing if one doesn’t know how to scroll through 16 pages of time timetables.

Note: Winter driving conditions to and from Shichinohe station may be hazardous due to mountainous terrain, poor illumination, and narrow winding roads may make access to this station more challenging than the drive to Hachinohe.

Click on the images for a larger picture

Shinkansen Fares

Revised Shinkansen Schedule

Shinkansen Info

NOTE: Train schedules to and from Misawa and Hachinohe located at the end of this blog entry have been updated because of the new Shinkansen stations and routes to Shichinohe-Towada and Shin-Aomori. Bullet train stops en route to Misawa have not changed.

Please refer to the blog on February 2, 2011 on how to access the most current train schedules.

http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2011/02/shinkansen-update-tofrom-misawa.html

Side note about bullet train rides

An adult may travel with two children ages 3 and under for free of charge, providing they do not occupy a seat. Normally on the bullet train, there is also the option to purchase non-reserved or standing tickets. Non-reserved tickets are limited to special cars, where seats are on the first-come basis. Technically, if a passenger has a non-reserved ticket and a child is sitting on a seat and does not have a non-reserved ticket, s/he may be asked to vacate so an other person with a non-reserved ticket can sit down. Standing tickets are a cheaper way of traveling on the bullet train; passengers may stand in the car designated on their ticket. Unfortunately, all tickets on the Tohoku Shinkansen are for reserved seats; there are no non-reserved or standing tickets available. If you have infants and toddlers and do not buy them a ticket, there is a gamble that they will not have a place to sit.

I know sometimes it's a hassle asking for and collecting maps from different organizations. So, I've compiled and scanned some maps I obtained from different Japan Tourist Information Centers and other on-line sites.

Click on the map for a larger view.

This Blogger site does not support PDF files so I was not able to upload them. If you would like a copy of the map sent to you in PDF format, please e-mail me. These GIFs are smaller for the internet, but original files are about letter or A4 size.

All-Japan Shinkansen Route Map

JR East Shinkansen Routes

JR East extensive Map of Greater Tokyo Area

Information was taken and scanned from the "Welcome to JR East Supplementary Information for Passengers" booklet.

Take out your handy language book because most tellers do not speak English.

If you are unsure about your tickets, just hand all of them to the clerk and s/he will insert the ones you need.

No refunds for missed trains!

Getting to Tokyo from Misawa

How to read train tickets

NOTE: Train schedules to and from Misawa and Hachinohe located at the end of this blog entry have been updated because of the new Shinkansen stations and routes to Shichinohe-Towada and Shin-Aomori. Bullet train stops en route to Misawa have not changed. Please refer to the blog on February 2, 2011 on how to access the most current train schedules.

http://traveling-tengco.blogspot.com/2011/02/shinkansen-update-tofrom-misawa.html

JR Train Schedule from Tokyo to Misawa

JR Train Schedule from Misawa to Tokyo

Train Schedule from Tokyo to Misawa (courtesy of Misawa ITT)

Train Schedule from Misawa to Tokyo (courtesy of Misawa ITT)

Bus Schedule from Misawa to Tokyo

Aomori Prefecture Maps

Aomori-ken Maps

I know sometimes it's a hassle asking for and collecting maps from different organizations. So, I've compiled and scanned some maps I obtained from different Japan Tourist Information Centers and other on-line sites.

Click on the map for a larger view.

This Blogger site does not support PDF files so I was not able to upload them. If you would like a copy of the map sent to you in PDF format, please e-mail me.

Train Schedule from Misawa to Aomori and Hachinohe

Aomori Prefecture Map-01

Aomori-ken Detail Map

Aomori Prefecture Map-02

Hachinohe City Maps

Hachinohe-shi Maps

I know sometimes it's a hassle asking for and collecting maps from different organizations. So, I've compiled and scanned some maps I obtained from different Japan Tourist Information Centers and other on-line sites.

Click on the map for a larger view.

This Blogger site does not support PDF files so I was not able to upload them. If you would like a copy of the map sent to you in PDF format, please e-mail me.

Hachinohe City Map

Hachinohe Line Train Map

Hon-Hachinohe Train Station Map

Hachinohe Hotel List