JR East announced that it will begin operating a new limited-express train, the “Luna Azul,” designed for overnight service, in early fiscal year 2027.
Initially, the service is scheduled to operate twice a week in the spring and fall (nighttime service between Shinagawa Station and Aomori Station via the Joetsu Line and Uetsu Main Line), and six times a week in the winter (daytime service between Shinagawa Station and Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station).
The Shinagawa–Aomori route runs from Shinagawa around 9:00 PM, arriving in Aomori around 9:30 AM the next day, and from Aomori around 4:00 PM, arriving in Shinagawa around 7:00 AM the next day, with a travel time of approximately 12.5 to 15 hours. The Shinagawa Station to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station route has southbound trains departing around 10:00 a.m. and arriving around 12:30 p.m., and northbound trains departing around 4:30 p.m. and arriving around 7:30 p.m., with a travel time of approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
The train will feature Premium Green private compartments, Green private compartments, and a lounge, and plans are in place to sell drinks and snacks onboard. The fare range is expected to be comparable to that of the Tohoku Shinkansen Green Car plus a premium (for reference, a one-way adult ticket on the Hayabusa between Tokyo Station and Shin-Aomori Station during the regular season costs 24,180 yen).
The company says it will consider adding routes in other service areas and sections in the future.
© Source travel watch