Japan🇯🇵 Train Trip: Longest-way Limited Express, “Hitachi” to Sendai, Tohoku

Japan🇯🇵 Train Trip: Longest-way Limited Express, “Hitachi” to Sendai, Tohoku

Here is Tokyo-Shingawa staiton in the morning. Already it is busy with many commuter people. Today’s journey starts from Shinagawa and I am heading toward Sendai, Tohoku Area. Today’s train is limited express “Hitachi” taking 5 hours to Sendai. Normally, most of users take Tohoku Shinkansen going to Sendai from Tokyo, but I chose Hitachi Limited Express for a slow and relaxing trip. The train is already announced while I have more than 30 minutes before its departure. Let’s go down to the platform. Hitachi goes on JR Joban Line, through Tokyo-Metropolitan, Prefectures of Chiba, Ibaraki, Fukushima, and Miyagi. Therefore, in Japan, this train is 2nd longest-distance limited express (about 370km). On the platform, a waiting room and some vending machines are available. The train arrives. Before the departure, the inside of train is supposed to be cleaned up. Therefore, we need to wait for a while for boarding. But, this is one of the reasons for high-quality of Japanese train, I think. By the way, this is really nice colour of the train, isn’t it? I heard that there are 3 colours for this train. Today’s one is this pinkish The cleaning is done efficiently. So, let’s get on board! So cool! The body is pinkish, but the seats are dark black. I can feel a taste of luxury and elegancy. As usual, a foldable table and a drink holder are available at each seat (also free Wi-Fi connectable) A power socket is attached at the arm-rest The train departed toward Sendai. As I said, this train goes through Joban Line (the red line in the map), which is different from Tohoku Shinkansen (the bluish line in the map) Some part of the Joban line is along the coastal area, so I would expect to see some nice view of the Pacific Ocean (it is rainy and cloudy, though). After Shinagawa, the train stops at two main stations in Tokyo, which are Tokyo and Tokyo-Ueno. Hitachi’s depart used to be from Tokyo-Ueno, but now Tokyo-Shinagawa because Tokyo-Ueno Line railway service commenced in 2015. Until Tokyo-Ueno, the train runs in a moderate speed (maximum is 120km/h in rural areas). Now arrived at Tokyo (Main) station. At this station, all the lines of Shinkansen are connected. Now, the train is running in Tsuchiura , Ibakaki Prefecture (after Chiba Pref). The name of Hitachi comes from Ibaraki’s ancient name of Hitachi. A bit unclear, but I think you can see some fields with filled water and leaves. These are the farms of lotus root (renkon in Japanese). Tsuchiura is the largest area for lotus root havest. Now, arriving at Mito station. Mito is a capital of Ibaraki Pref. So, commuter trains to this station are quite frequent. Also, Mito is famous by Natto, which is fermented sticky soy beans. If you are interested, just try it:) Now arriving at Hitachi station. Perhaps, you may know HITACHI Ltd., which is a manufacture company. Its original company was founded here, Hitachi. After Hitachi, we are entering Fukushima Pref soon. Between Shinagawa and Iwaki (Fukushima Pref.) stations, a wagon service is available. You can purchase something to drink and eat (light meals and snacks). This kind of service is now gradually vanishing from the Japanese train services. From northern part of Ibaraki (around Hitachi) and Fukushima, it is possible to see some sea side views. To be honest, the chance was a bit less than I expected…but, still scenic (if the weather was good, would be much better, though) Now running in Fukushima Prefecture. It seems that more mountainous areas. Soma is the final stop in Fukushima Pref. and before Sendai terminal. Miyagi Prefecture is quite soon. Crossing the Abukuma River, now we enter Miyagi Prefecture. The railroad in parallel is JR Tohoku Main Line (not Shinkansen), which is a main stream from Tokyo-Ueno to Morioka (Iwate Pref.). Another route from Tokyo to Tohoku area. Tohoku Main line and this Joban line will confluent at Iwanuma Station. After passing Iwanuma, we are arriving at Sendai station in 20 minutes. Comparing to Tohoku Shinkansen, this Joban line has quite less number of tunnels and your scenery-viewing is not often intercepted. So, could be a good other option for trip to Tohoku. Now arriving at Sendai Terminal station. Thanks to the high-quality seat and wagon service, was really relaxing journey of 5 hours. This train also includes Green Car (business class), so might be also worth of trying next time. Before closing this video, I would like to introduce something special at Sendai station. First, I need to get out from the platform through a gate. Sendai is one of 1 mil population city in Japan, so really huge. What I want to show is Ox Tongue’s restaurant here! That is a famous gourmet in Sendai and in the station (3rd floor), there is a Ox Tongue Street where you can find lots of excellent restaurants of Ox Tongue menu. Yea, full of long queues…. Luckily, I found relatively quiet restaurant (but, after me, it got crowded!) named “Kisuke”. Let’s try this! Their served menu are quite diverse! Grilled ox tongue’s slice, ox-tongue curry, tongue stew, sausage,..etc, really hard to decide which one! Then, I ordered thick-sliced grilled tongue set (4 slices). With barley rice, ox tail soup, and grated yum potato (tororo in Japanese). So yummy! Please don’t miss it when you come to Sendai! Thank you very much for watching! The trip in Tohoku still continues…..

It is quite common to travel with Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sendai, a capital of Tohoku area, Northern Japan. It takes only 1 hour and a half at fastest.

On the other hand, there is a limited express train (a kind of intercity) service in this route through a different railway, Joban Line, whose name is “Hitachi”.

This time, I rode this Limited Express Hitachi from Tokyo-Shinagawa to Sendai taking about 5 hours seeing the different landscape and scenery that I cannot see from the Shinkansen’s window.

Also, this train is the 2nd longest-distance limited express (apprx. 370km) in Japan, and therefore, the rolling stock’s interior comfortability is quite high.

The price is about 10,000 JPY (100 JPY = 0.69 USD = 0.59 EUR) for reserved seat.
This train might be a good choice for the tourists who want to have a slow and luxury journey.

Sendai is famous by Ox Tongue’s restaurant, at 15:17, (Gyu-Tan in Japanese). In the building of the Sendai Station, we can find several restaurants and of course, I dropped by one of them, should be a great experience in tasting it for tourists as well.

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