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The ''Azusa'' ( ja, あずさ) is a
limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common ...
service operated by the
East Japan Railway Company The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
(JR East), which mainly run between and via the
Chūō Main Line The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It connects Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faste ...
and Shinonoi Line. The name ''Azusa'' is taken from the
Azusa River The is a river within the Hida Mountains or ''Northern Japanese Alps'', in the western region of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The river belongs to the Shinano River watershed, and forms the upper section of the Sai River. The name of the river c ...
in
Matsumoto, Nagano is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a core city since 1 April 2021. , the city had a population of 239,466 in 105,207 households and a population density of 240 persons per km2. The total area of the city ...
. On the Chūō Main Line, limited express '' Kaiji'' also runs between / , and / . The ''Super Azusa'' ( ja, スーパーあずさ, links=no) was a former name given to services operated with superior tilt-body rolling stock, namely the
E351 series The was a Tilting train, tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Chuo Main Line ''Azusa (train), Super Azusa'' limited express services in Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in ...
, and the
E353 series The is a DC tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services on the Chuo Main Line since December 2017. A pre-series train, consisting of one nine-car set ...
(prior to 16 March 2019).


Service pattern and stops

As of 16 March 2019, 18 round trips are operated every day. All trains run on the
Chūō Main Line The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It connects Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faste ...
and Shinonoi Line, with few of them also running on the
Sōbu Main Line The is a Japanese railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It connects Tokyo with the east coast of Chiba Prefecture, passing through the cities of Funabashi, Chiba, and Chōshi. Its name derives from the old ...
and
Ōito Line The is a railway line in Japan which connects Matsumoto Station in Nagano Prefecture with Itoigawa Station in Niigata Prefecture. There are two operators on the line: East Japan Railway Company (JR East) operates the section north of Minami-Ot ...
.


Stops

* No brackets denote stations that most or all ''Azusa'' services stop. * Round brackets () denote stations that some ''Azusa'' services stop. * Square brackets【】denote stations / sections that very few ''Azusa'' services stop. * This list is a generalised list, so please check the official timetables for stops of a particular ''Azusa'' service. 【
Chiba Chiba may refer to: Places China * (), town in Jianli County, Jingzhou, Hubei Japan * Chiba (city), capital of Chiba Prefecture ** Chiba Station, a train station * Chiba Prefecture, a sub-national jurisdiction in the Greater Tokyo Area on ...
-
Funabashi is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 644,668 in 309,238 households and a population density of . The total area of the city is . It is the Greater Tokyo Area's 7th most populated city (after p ...
- Kinshichō /
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
】 -
Shinjuku is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world (Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration ...
-
Tachikawa file:Autumn colors in Showa memorial park.jpg, 250px, Showa Memorial Park is a Cities of Japan, city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 184,383 in 93,428 households, and a populat ...
-
Hachiōji is a Cities of Japan, city located in the Western Tokyo, western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 561,344, and a population density of 3000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography ...
-
Ōtsuki Ōtsuki may refer to: *Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, a city in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan *Ōtsuki Station, a railway station in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, Japan *Ōtsuki, Kōchi 270px, Ōtsuki Town Hall is a town in the Hata District, Kōchi Prefecture, Jap ...
-
Kōfu is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households, and a population density of 880 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Overview Toponymy Kōfu's name means "c ...
- ( Nirasaki) - Kobuchizawa -【 Fujimi】 - Chino - Kami-Suwa - 【 Shimo-Suwa】 - Okaya - Shiojiri -
Matsumoto Matsumoto (松本 or 松元, "base of the pine tree") may refer to: Places * Matsumoto, Nagano (松本市), a city ** Matsumoto Airport, an airport southwest of Matsumoto, Nagano * Matsumoto, Kagoshima (松元町), a former town now part of the c ...
- 【 Toyoshina - Hotaka - Shinano-Ōmachi -
Hakuba is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the village had an estimated population of 9,007 in 4267 households, and a population density of 48 persons per km2. The total area of the village is . Hakuba is an internationally renowned ...
- Minami-Otari


Ticketing

A limited express ticket has to be purchased to board an ''Azusa'' train, along with the basic fare ticket. There are two types of such limited express tickets, namely the , and the . The Reserved Seat Ticket enables a specified seat to be reserved for the holder. The reserved status for the seat is signified by a green overhead lamp on top of the corresponding seat. The Unreserved Seat Ticket enables the holder to be seated on any unreserved seat. A red overhead lamp signifies that the seat is unreserved; while a yellow overhead lamp signifies that the seat is reserved for the later part of the journey, implying that one has to give up their seat to the passenger who has reserved the seat, when they board the train later.


Extra services


''Kiso Azusa''

The was an extra limited express service that was operated in 2017 and 2018, as a part of the to boost tourism to
Nagano Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,052,493 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the ...
(Shinshū is an old name for the region). The extra train operated on the
Chūō Main Line The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It connects Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faste ...
between
Shinjuku is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world (Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration ...
to
Nagiso is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 4,111 in 1751 households, and a population density of 19 persons per km². The total area of the town was . Nagiso is listed as one of The Most Beautiful ...
, via Tatsuno. With consideration that tourists would be staying the night around the area, the inbound train to Shinjuku was operated the day after the outbound train to Nagiso has arrived. In 2018, the train operated 2 round trips during the campaign duration.


Stops

Shinjuku is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world (Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration ...
-
Tachikawa file:Autumn colors in Showa memorial park.jpg, 250px, Showa Memorial Park is a Cities of Japan, city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 184,383 in 93,428 households, and a populat ...
-
Hachiōji is a Cities of Japan, city located in the Western Tokyo, western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 561,344, and a population density of 3000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography ...
-
Kōfu is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households, and a population density of 880 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Overview Toponymy Kōfu's name means "c ...
- Chino - Kami-Suwa - Okaya - Tatsuno - Shiojiri -
Narai King Narai the Great ( th, สมเด็จพระนารายณ์มหาราช, , ) or Ramathibodi III ( th, รามาธิบดีที่ ๓ ) was the 27th monarch of Ayutthaya Kingdom, the 4th and last monarch of the Pr ...
- Kiso-Fukushima -
Nagiso is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 4,111 in 1751 households, and a population density of 19 persons per km². The total area of the town was . Nagiso is listed as one of The Most Beautiful ...


Rolling stock

*
189 series The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West ...
6-car EMUs (Ordinary class, reserved seats only)


Rolling stock

*
E353 series The is a DC tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services on the Chuo Main Line since December 2017. A pre-series train, consisting of one nine-car set ...
EMUs (since 23 December 2017) File:E353 Super Azusa Kokubunzhi Station 20180407.jpg, An E353 series train in April 2018 From 23 December 2017, new
E353 series The is a DC tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services on the Chuo Main Line since December 2017. A pre-series train, consisting of one nine-car set ...
EMUs were introduced on ''Super Azusa'' services. By March 2018, all ''Super Azusa'' services were replaced by E353 series trains, and the
E257 series The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated in Japan for limited express services by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and built jointly by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, and Tokyu Car Corporation. Variants * E257-0 series: ''Azu ...
trainsets used on ''Azusa'' services by 16 March 2019. Following the unification of all ''Super Azusa'' and ''Azusa'' services into E353 series, the name ''Super Azusa'' was abolished.


Rolling stock previously used

*
181 series The (and the earlier 151 and 161 series variants) was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) type operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Variants * 151 series * 161 series * 181 series The 151 series trains were introd ...
10-car EMUs (from 1966) *
183 series The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West ...
EMUs (from 1972) *
165 series The was an express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1963 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). History During the early 1960s, the Chūō Main Line and Shinetsu Line were electrified, requiring new EMUs for the express serv ...
EMUs (from 1966) *
E351 series The was a Tilting train, tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Chuo Main Line ''Azusa (train), Super Azusa'' limited express services in Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in ...
EMUs (''Super Azusa'', from December 1993 to March 2018) *
E257 series The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated in Japan for limited express services by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and built jointly by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, and Tokyu Car Corporation. Variants * E257-0 series: ''Azu ...
EMUs (from December 2001 to 16 March 2019, still used on extra services) *
189 series The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West ...
EMUs (from 1975) File:181 Azusa 8 Shinjuku 19750119.jpg, A 181 series EMU on an ''Azusa'' service in 1975 File:165 M3 Kaiji Mitaka 20030712.jpg, A 165 series EMU File:JR east E351.jpg, An
E351 series The was a Tilting train, tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Chuo Main Line ''Azusa (train), Super Azusa'' limited express services in Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in ...
EMU on a ''Super Azusa'' service in July 2010 File:JR East E257 Limited Express Azusa.jpg, An
E257 series The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated in Japan for limited express services by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and built jointly by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, and Tokyu Car Corporation. Variants * E257-0 series: ''Azu ...
EMU on an ''Azusa'' service in January 2008


Formations


Current formation


''Azusa'' (E353 series)

All ''Azusa'' services (E353 series) are formed of nine cars as shown below, numbered 4 to 12, with car 4 at the Shinjuku end.


Past formations


''Azusa'' (E257 series)

''Azusa'' services (E257 series) were formed of 2+9-car or 9-car sets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern (Chiba/Tokyo/Shinjuku) end. All cars were no-smoking.


''Super Azusa'' (E353 series)

From March 2018 to March 2019, ''Super Azusa'' services were formed of 3+9-car E353 series trainsets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern (Tokyo/Shinjuku) end. All cars were no-smoking. There were days when car 3 operates as a reserved seating car.


History

The ''Azusa'' service began on 1 October 1957 as a semi express operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto. This operated until 24 April 1960 when it was absorbed into ''Hakuba'' semi express services. The ''Azusa'' name was revived from 12 December 1966 for use on limited express services operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto. The premier ''Super Azusa'' service commenced on 3 December 1994 with the delivery of the first new
E351 series The was a Tilting train, tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Chuo Main Line ''Azusa (train), Super Azusa'' limited express services in Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in ...
tilting EMUs. New
E257 series The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated in Japan for limited express services by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and built jointly by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, and Tokyu Car Corporation. Variants * E257-0 series: ''Azu ...
EMUs were introduced on ''Azusa'' services from the start of the revised timetable on 1 December 2001. Smoking was prohibited in all cars from 18 March 2007. From 16 March 2019 onwards, with the replacement of E257 series trains to E353 series trains on all Azusa services, the name ''Super Azusa'' were discontinued and were integrated with ''Azusa'' services.


See also

*
List of named passenger trains of Japan This article contains lists of named passenger trains in Japan. Shinkansen (bullet trains) Daytime trains Limited express (partial list) Express Rapid Night trains Limited express Express Rapid See also * Rail transp ...
* '' Kaiji'', another limited express service operated on the Chuo Line


References


External links


JR E257 ''Azusa/Kaiji''


{{JR East trains Named passenger trains of Japan East Japan Railway Company Railway services introduced in 1957