JR West partners with JAL and ANA

Railways and airlines have traditionally been competitors, competing for the same passengers. However, in recent years, collaboration has been increasing alongside the growth of inbound tourism demand in Japan.

For example, in 2021, overseas JAL Mileage Bank members became able to exchange their miles for the JR-WEST RAIL PASS. This marked one of the initiatives jointly promoted by JR West and JAL to encourage travel across western Japan.

Looking ahead to the 2030s, the two companies are working to directly integrate their booking systems, allowing travelers to arrange both rail and air transportation in a single booking process.

Previously, travelers needed to book flights first and then separately reserve Shinkansen or limited express trains. With this new system, international visitors to Japan will be able to organize their entire journey on one platform.

As an early example, dynamic package products combining flights between Haneda and Nanki-Shirahama with JR West’s Limited Express Kuroshio and regional rail passes are already being introduced.

While flights are generally slightly faster in terms of travel time, how do they compare on price?

For example, on the Osaka–Fukuoka route, last-minute airfare and the standard Shinkansen fare are roughly similar, both costing around ¥16,000. However, if flights are booked early and outside peak travel periods, airfare can sometimes drop to around ¥9,000, making air travel the cheaper option depending on the conditions.

Under the Japanese government’s goal of attracting 60 million international visitors by 2030, stronger integration between transportation and tourism is becoming increasingly important.

One key challenge will be how to combine and coordinate relatively stable Shinkansen fares with airline prices, which can fluctuate significantly depending on timing and demand.

Currently, around 70% of inbound travelers’ overnight stays are concentrated in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kansai, and Nagoya, making regional distribution another major issue.

Attention is now focused on whether collaboration between railways and airlines can help solve this challenge by encouraging international visitors to travel beyond Japan’s major urban centers.

2026年5月2日
鉄旅ライフ編集部
過去のコラムはこちら

Tohoku Shinkansen Fare Chart – Quick Reference (March 2026 Update)

Top row Base fare
Bottom row: Shinkansen surcharge (reserved seat)

Hayabusa & Komachi Shinkansen Fare Chart – Quick Reference

Fares and surcharges are shown separately.
Add the top and bottom amounts to get the total price.

Distance from
Tokyo (km)
Station NameTokyoUenoOmiyaSendaiFurukawaKurikoma-KogenIchinosekiMizusawaesashiKitakamiShin-HanamakiMoriokaIwate-NumakunaiNinoheHachinoheShichinohe-TowadaShin-AomoriOkutsugaru-ImabetsuKikonai
3.6 Ueno200
2,400
30.3 Omiya620
2,610
530
2,400
351.8 Sendai6,270
5,360
6,270
5,150
5,940
5,150
395.0 Furukawa6,930
5,360
6,930
5,150
6,600
5,150
810
2,500
416.2 Kurikoma-Kogen7,260
6,000
7,260
5,790
6,930
5,250
1,230
2,500
440
2,500
445.1 Ichinoseki7,810
6,000
7,810
5,790
7,260
5,790
1,790
2,500
1,040
2,500
530
2,500
470.1 Mizusawaesashi8,030
6,000
8,030
5,790
7,480
5,790
2,090
3,380
1,410
2,500
1,040
2,500
440
2,500
487.5 Kitakami8,360
6,000
8,360
5,790
7,810
5,790
2,420
3,380
1,790
3,380
1,410
2,500
810
2,500
350
2,500
500.0 Shin-Hanamaki8,360
6,000
8,360
5,790
8,030
5,790
2,750
3,380
2,090
3,380
1,600
2,500
1,040
2,500
530
2,500
260
2,500
535.3 Morioka9,020
6,430
9,020
6,220
8,690
5,890
3,520
3,380
2,750
3,380
2,090
3,380
1,790
2,500
1,230
2,500
910
2,500
720
2,500
566.4 Iwate-Numakunai9,570
6,430
9,570
6,220
9,020
6,220
3,850
4,270
3,190
3,380
2,750
3,380
2,420
3,270
1,790
2,500
1,410
2,500
1,230
2,500
620
2,400
601.0 Ninohe10,230
6,430
10,230
6,220
9,570
6,220
4,620
4,270
3,850
4,270
3,520
3,380
2,750
3,270
2,420
3,270
2,090
3,270
2,090
3,270
1,230
2,400
620
2,400
631.9 Hachinohe10,230
6,800
10,230
6,590
10,230
6,590
5,390
4,270
4,180
4,270
3,850
4,270
3,520
3,270
3,190
3,270
2,750
3,270
2,420
3,270
1,790
2,400
1,230
2,400
620
2,400
668.0 Shichinohe-Towada10,450
6,800
10,450
6,590
10,230
6,590
5,720
5,040
5,060
4,270
4,620
4,270
4,180
4,160
3,520
3,270
3,520
3,270
3,190
3,270
2,420
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,230
2,400
720
2,400
713.7 Shin-Aomori10,780
7,330
10,780
7,120
10,780
6,590
6,600
5,040
5,720
5,040
5,390
4,270
5,060
4,160
4,620
4,160
4,180
4,160
3,850
4,160
3,190
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,600
2,400
910
2,400
752.2 Okutsugaru-Imabetsu11,350
8,660
11,350
8,450
11,350
7,920
7,390
6,370
6,510
6,370
6,180
5,600
5,960
5,490
5,520
5,490
5,190
5,490
4,860
5,490
4,090
4,500
3,760
4,500
2,990
4,500
2,630
3,730
1,810
2,740
920
2,560
827.0 Kikonai12,320
10,180
12,320
9,970
11,990
9,440
8,470
7,890
7,920
7,890
7,700
7,120
7,370
7,010
6,710
7,010
6,380
7,010
6,380
7,010
5,830
6,020
5,500
6,020
4,730
6,020
4,040
5,250
3,240
4,260
2,530
3,380
1,800
2,560
862.5 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto12,870
11,330
12,870
11,120
12,650
10,590
9,460
9,040
8,800
9,040
8,580
8,270
8,030
8,160
7,590
8,160
7,370
8,160
7,370
8,160
6,710
7,170
6,160
7,170
5,830
7,170
5,030
6,400
4,340
5,410
3,520
4,530
2,530
3,380
920
2,560

Hayate, Yamabiko & Nasuno Shinkansen Fare Chart – Quick Reference

Fares and surcharges are shown separately.
Add the top and bottom amounts to get the total price.

Distance from
Tokyo (km)
Station NameTokyoUenoOmiyaOyamaUtsunomiyaNasushiobaraShin-ShirakawaKoriyamaFukushimaShiroishizaoSendaiFurukawaKurikoma-KogenIchinosekiMizusawaesashiKitakamiShin-HanamakiMoriokaIwate-NumakunaiNinoheHachinoheShichinohe-TowadaShin-AomoriOkutsugaru-ImabetsuKikonai東京Tokyo
3.6 Ueno200
880
上野Ueno
30.3 Omiya620
※1,090
530
※880
大宮Omiya
80.6 Oyama1,600
2,610
1,410
2,400
1,040
※1,000
小山Oyama
109.5 Utsunomiya2,090
3,040
2,090
2,830
1,410
2,400
530
※880
宇都宮Utsunomiya
157.8 Nasushiobara2,750
3,380
2,750
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,410
2,400
910
※880
那須塩原Nasushiobara
185.4 Shin-Shirakawa3,520
3,380
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,410
2,400
530
※880
新白河Shin-Shirakawa
226.7 Koriyama4,180
4,270
4,180
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,230
2,400
810
※880
郡山Koriyama
272.8 Fukushima5,060
4,270
5,060
4,060
4,620
4,060
3,520
3,170
3,190
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,600
2,400
910
※880
福島Fukushima
306.8 Shiroishizao5,720
5,040
5,720
4,830
5,060
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,600
2,400
620
※880
白石蔵王Shiroishizao
351.8 Sendai6,270
5,040
6,270
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,060
4,060
4,620
4,060
3,520
3,170
3,190
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,410
2,400
810
※880
仙台Sendai
395.0 Furukawa6,930
5,040
6,930
4,830
6,600
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,390
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,190
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,600
2,400
810
※880
古川Furukawa
416.2 Kurikoma-Kogen7,260
5,580
7,260
5,370
6,930
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,720
4,830
4,620
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,230
2,400
440
※880
くりこま高原Kurikoma-Kogen
445.1 Ichinoseki7,810
5,580
7,810
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,600
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,390
4,060
4,620
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,190
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,790
2,400
1,040
1,000
530
※880
一ノ関Ichinoseki
470.1 Mizusawaesashi8,030
5,580
8,030
5,370
7,480
5,370
6,930
4,830
6,600
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,390
4,060
4,620
4,060
3,520
3,170
3,190
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,410
2,400
1,040
2,400
440
※880
水沢江刺Mizusawaesashi
487.5 Kitakami8,360
5,580
8,360
5,370
7,810
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,600
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,060
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,790
2,400
1,410
2,400
810
※880
350
※880
北上Kitakami
500.0 Shin-Hanamaki8,360
5,580
8,360
5,370
8,030
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,930
4,830
6,270
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,060
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,600
2,400
1,040
2,400
530
2,400
260
※880
新花巻Shin-Hanamaki
535.3 Morioka9,020
5,910
9,020
5,700
8,690
5,370
7,810
5,370
7,480
5,370
6,600
4,830
6,270
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,060
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,790
2,400
1,230
2,400
910
※880
720
※880
盛岡Morioka
566.4 Iwate-Numakunai9,570
5,910
9,570
5,700
9,020
5,700
8,360
5,370
7,810
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,930
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,390
4,060
4,620
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,190
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,790
2,400
1,410
2,400
1,230
2,400
620
〔880〕
いわて沼宮内Iwate-Numakunai
601.0 Ninohe10,230
5,910
10,230
5,700
9,570
5,700
9,020
5,700
8,360
5,370
7,810
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,600
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,390
4,060
4,620
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,520
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,420
3,170
2,090
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,230
2,400
620
〔880〕
二戸Ninohe
631.9 Hachinohe10,230
6,280
10,230
6,070
10,230
6,070
9,350
5,700
9,020
5,700
8,030
5,370
7,810
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,270
4,830
5,940
4,830
5,390
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,520
3,170
3,190
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,420
3,170
1,790
2,400
1,230
2,400
620
〔880〕
八戸Hachinohe
668.0 Shichinohe-Towada10,450
6,280
10,450
6,070
10,230
6,070
9,900
5,700
9,350
5,700
8,690
5,700
8,360
5,370
7,810
5,370
6,930
4,830
6,600
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,060
4,060
4,620
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,520
3,170
3,520
3,170
3,190
3,170
2,420
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,230
2,400
720
〔880〕
七戸十和田Shichinohe-Towada
713.7 Shin-Aomori10,780
6,810
10,780
6,600
10,780
6,070
10,230
6,070
10,230
6,070
9,350
5,700
9,020
5,700
8,360
5,370
7,810
5,370
7,260
5,370
6,600
4,830
5,720
4,830
5,390
4,060
5,060
4,060
4,620
4,060
4,180
4,060
3,850
4,060
3,190
3,170
2,750
3,170
2,090
3,170
1,600
2,400
910
〔880〕
新青森Shin-Aomori
752.2 Okutsugaru-Imabetsu11,350
8,140
11,350
7,930
11,350
7,400
10,690
7,400
10,690
7,400
10,140
7,030
9,810
7,030
9,150
6,700
8,270
6,700
8,050
6,700
7,390
6,160
6,510
6,160
6,180
5,390
5,960
5,390
5,520
5,390
5,190
5,390
4,860
5,390
4,090
4,500
3,760
4,500
2,990
4,500
2,630
3,730
1,810
2,740
920
〔1,330〕
奥津軽いまべつOkutsugaru-Imabetsu
827.0 Kikonai12,320
9,660
12,320
9,450
11,990
8,920
11,660
8,920
11,330
8,920
11,000
8,550
11,000
8,550
10,670
8,220
9,790
8,220
9,460
8,220
8,470
7,680
7,920
7,680
7,700
6,910
7,370
6,910
6,710
6,910
6,380
6,910
6,380
6,910
5,830
6,020
5,500
6,020
4,730
6,020
4,040
5,250
3,240
4,260
2,530
3,380
1,800
〔1,520〕
木古内Kikonai
862.5 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto12,870
10,810
12,870
10,600
12,650
10,070
12,320
10,070
11,990
10,070
11,660
9,700
11,330
9,700
11,000
9,370
10,670
9,370
10,120
9,370
9,460
8,830
8,800
8,830
8,580
8,060
8,030
8,060
7,590
8,060
7,370
8,060
7,370
8,060
6,710
7,170
6,160
7,170
5,830
7,170
5,030
6,400
4,340
5,410
3,520
4,530
2,530
3,380
920
〔1,330〕

Tohoku Shinkansen Train Types

Hayabusa

Hayabusa is the fastest service, connecting Tokyo with Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.
It operates at speeds of up to 320 km/h, making it the fastest train in Japan.
All seats are reserved, and there are no non-reserved seats.

Yamabiko


Yamabiko is the standard service, running mainly to Sendai and Morioka.
It stops at major stations and offers both reserved and non-reserved seats.

Nasuno

Nasuno is a local service that stops at all stations, mainly serving Nasushiobara and Koriyama.
It is commonly used by commuters and has a larger number of non-reserved seats.

Komachi

Komachi runs through to the Akita Shinkansen.
It operates coupled with Hayabusa up to Morioka, then continues to Akita.
All seats are reserved.

Special Rules

Special Seating Rules (Hayabusa & Komachi)

Although all seats are reserved, a special standing ticket may be available when trains are fully booked.
This ticket does not include a seat, and passengers are expected to stand in areas such as the deck.

Special Rule North of Morioka

On sections north of Morioka (such as Morioka to Shin-Aomori), there is a special rule.
Even on all-reserved trains like Hayabusa, passengers with a standing ticket may use empty reserved seats if they are available.

Green Car & Gran Class Fares – Major Shinkansen Lines in Japan (Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu & Hokuriku)

Distance (km) Up to 100 Up to 200 Up to 300 Up to 400 Up to 500 Up to 600 Up to 700 701 and over
Green Car Fare 1,300 yen 2,800 yen 4,190 yen 4,190 yen 5,400 yen 5,400 yen 5,600 yen 6,600 yen
Gran Class Fare Gran Class (A) 8,300 yen 9,800 yen 11,190 yen 11,190 yen 12,400 yen 12,400 yen 12,600 yen 13,600 yen
Gran Class (B) 4,450 yen 5,950 yen 7,340 yen 7,340 yen 8,550 yen 8,550 yen 8,750 yen 9,750 yen