Experience the thrill of Japan’s “Mini-Shinkansen” with a journey on the Akita Shinkansen Komachi. This sleek, ruby-red bullet train seamlessly connects the neon lights of Tokyo to the snowy landscapes and samurai history of Akita Prefecture. Named after the legendary Heian-period poet Ono no Komachi (小野小町), this high-speed marvel is unique for its ability to travel on both dedicated Shinkansen tracks and converted narrow-gauge lines, offering passengers a front-row seat to the stunning rural scenery of Tohoku. So, if you plan to see the cherry blossoms in Kakunodate, indulge in the healing waters of Nyuto Onsen, or participate in the vibrant Akita Kanto Festival, read on! Our guide covers everything from onboard amenities to which seat to choose!
Akita Shinkansen Komachi Guide
- About Akita Shinkansen
- Which Stations Does the Akita Shinkansen Stop at
- How Much Does It Cost to Ride the Akita Shinkansen
- The Best Scenery Along Akita Shikansen
- The Best Seats on Akita Shinkansen/Komachi
- Seats With a Charging Socket/Outlet on Akita Shinkansen
- The Best Carriage for Wheelchair Users and Those Who Travels With Infants
- Seats With the Largest Seat Table
- How to Save Money When Taking the Akita Shinkansen
About Akita Shinkansen
The Akita Shinkansen runs between Morioka Station (盛岡駅) and Akita Station (秋田駅) via Tazawako Station (田沢湖駅), Kakunodate Station (角館駅), and Ōmagari Station (大曲駅). The section between Tokyo Station and Morioka Station is run by the Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線), which Akita Shinkansen links to at Morioka Station.
All Akita Shinkansen use the 7-car E6 series. Many Akita Shinkansen are linked with the 10-car Tōhoku Shinkansen, Hayabusa (はやぶさ) at Morioka Station. If you take the train in Tokyo, the bullet train decouples at Morioka Station.
Note that the scene can’t be seen if you are on either the Hayabusa or the Komachi. Hayabusa arrives first at the station. The train doors will be closed before it is connected with Komachi. Passengers on Komachi can only leave the train after the connection process is complete.
If you take the bullet train from Tokyo, carriages 11 to 17 are the Akita Shinkansen, Komachi.
A simple way to tell if you are in the right carriage is to check the train’s color. Hayabusa has green carriages, whereas all Komachi carriages are red.
Important: All carriages are reserved only.
A special thing about Komachi is that the direction of travel changes at Ōmagari Station (大曲駅). Thus, if you board the train between Akita Station and Ōmagari Station, the seats face in the opposite direction to the train’s travel.
The direction reversal might surprise first-time Akita Shinkansen passengers. They might wonder whether they overslept or whether the train is traveling in the opposite direction!
Which Stations Does the Akita Shinkansen Stop at
Komachi Shinkansen is operated on a 60-minute interval.
Taking the fastest Komachi Shinkansen takes around 3 hours and 40 minutes to travel from Tokyo to Akita. The train stops at Tokyo (東京), Ueno (上野), Ōmiya (大宮), Sendai (仙台), Morioka (盛岡), Ōmagari (大曲), and Akita (秋田).
A slower version of the Akita Shinkansen also has stops at Tazawako (田沢湖) and Kakunodate (角館) after Morioka, before reaching Ōmagari. The train also stops around four times a day at Shizukuishi (雫石) between Morioka and Tazawako.
The first and last Komachi trains have additional stops at Furukawa (古川), Kurikomakogen (くりこま高原), Ichinoseki (一ノ関), Mizusawaesashi (水沢江刺), Kitakami (北上), and Shin-Hanamaki (新花巻) after departing from Sendai and before reaching Morioka.
How Much Does It Cost to Ride the Akita Shinkansen
At the time of updating this article, it costs 18,020 yen to travel take a bullet train from Tokyo to Akita.
You can use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to find out the costs to travel between stations in Japan.
The Best Scenery Along Akita Shikansen
The scenery is the most stunning between Shizukuishi Station (雫石駅) and Tazawako Station (田沢湖駅).
In this section, nature is mostly unexplored, and the view has the least artificial elements!
The Best Seats on Akita Shinkansen
If you board the Komachi Shinkansen from Tokyo, deciding on which seat to reserve is hard. From Tokyo and Morioka, the best views are from the left side of the train.
However, from Morioka and Ōmagari, the beautiful rural landscape stretches to the right on the train.
You can refer to JR East’s Japanese Website to see the seat map. Click the green “座席表を見る+” button to open the seat map.
Tip: If you have a JR Pass, you can book your seats separately without extra costs. The first leg is between Tokyo and Morioka. The second leg is between Morioka and Akita.
Important: If you plan to travel in the opposite direction from Akita to Tokyo, please sit on the opposite side of the train.
The Scenery from Komachi Shinkansen’s Window from Tokyo (東京) to Sendai (仙台)
- The mountain view of your train trip starts from around Utsunomiya Station (宇都宮駅).
- The mountain close to the station is Mt. Nantai (男体山) in the Nikkō National Park in Tochigi Prefecture.
- The mountains close to Nasushiobara Station (那須塩原駅) are Mt. Nasu (那須岳) and Mt. Sanbonyaridake (三本槍岳). Because the area is mountainous, the train will go through several tunnels.
- This section of the train ride is where you can see snowy mountains up close in the winter.
- Mt. Nasu is a group of volcanoes located in the northeast part of Nikkō National Park.
- Mt. Sanbonyaridake is located at the northern end of the Nasu Volcano Group on the border of Fukushima and Tochigi Prefecture.
- Passing the Kōriyama Station (郡山駅), you will see Mt. Adatara (安達太良山).
- You can see the mountain’s foothills clearly from the train.
- Mt. Adatara is a stratovolcano in Fukushima Prefecture.
- The scenery of Mt. Azuma (吾妻山), close to Fukushima Station (福島駅), is the best between Tokyo and Sendai. Fukushima City is surrounded by mountains, so you can see the snow-capped mountains in winter from the bullet train rather clearly!
Tip: When spring snow starts to melt, the remaining snow often makes the top of Mt. Azuma look like a rabbit. The locals thus named the view “Snow Rabbit (雪うさぎ)”. So don’t be glued to your phone when the train is in the long tunnel. The Snow Rabbit appears as soon as the train comes out of the long tunnel!
- Mt. Zao (蔵王山脈) is close to Shiroishizao Station (白石蔵王駅). From the window, you can see the magnificent mountains clearly. The train will pass through several tunnels in this area.
The Scenery from Komachi Shinkansen’s Window from Sendai (仙台) to Morioka (盛岡)
- If the weather is good, you can see the mountains around Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉) when the train is around Furukawa Station (古川駅).
- Shortly after passing Ichinoseki Station (一ノ関駅), paddy fields spread along the train tracks.
- The scenery is especially beautiful during the spring rice planting and autumn rice harvesting seasons.
- You can see the paddy fields no matter which side of the train you sit on.
- You can see the mountains around Geto Kogen (夏油高原) when the train is close to Kitakami Station (北上駅).
- The area has one of the heaviest snowfall areas in the Tōhoku region.
The Scenery from Komachi Shinkansen’s Window from Morioka (盛岡) to Tazawako (田沢湖)
- From Morioka and Ōmagari, the seats on the left would face south. Depending on the season, the side of the train receives more sunlight during the day.
- Because the famous mountains in the area, such as Mt. Iwaki (岩木山) and Mt. Akita-Komagatake (秋田駒ヶ岳), are on the train’s right, the best seats are on the train’s right.
- Soon after the train leaves Morioka Station (盛岡駅), the mountain on your right is Mt. Iwate (seethe 1st photo in the IG post).
- When the train is approaching Shizukuishi Station (雫石駅), Mt. Akita-Komagatake will be visible (see the 2nd photo in the IG post).
- On the train’s right, you will see two mountains linked to each other. The mountain on the left is Mt. Akita-Komagatake. The one on the right, which appears slightly taller, is Mt. Takakura (高倉山).
- Mountains also spread on the train’s left. One is also called Mt. Takakura. Apparently, more than 40 mountains in Japan are named Takakura.
- Akabuchi Station (赤渕駅) and Tazawako Station (田沢湖駅) are around 18km away. There are no train stations between them. The area before and after the 2,544m Sengen Tunnel (仙岩トンネル) is among the least explored in Japan.
- Due to the aging rail track and tunnels, a new tunnel is currently being built. It is expected to be completed by 2032. Therefore, the scenery that you can see now from the Akita Shinkansen will change in the future.
The Scenery from Komachi Shinkansen’s Window from Tazawako (田沢湖) to Akita (秋田)
- Soon after the train leaves Tazawako Station (田沢湖駅), Obonai Power Plant (生保内発電所) is on the right.
- The white power plant, completed in 1940, looks like a large cottage. Utilizing Lake Tazawa’s water, it generates the most electricity in Akita Prefecture.
Seats With the Largest Seat Table on Akita Shinkansen
The seat tables for the front seats are the biggest. If the table size matters to you, reserve those seats.
That said, there should be enough space for your laptop on any bullet train seat table.
Seats With a Charging Socket/Outlet on Akita Shinkansen
The bullet trains manufactured before 2015 don’t have charging sockets for all seats. If this feature is important to you, reserve a window seat or the seats in the front row.
The front-row seats also have sockets/outlets underneath the tables.
The Best Carriage for Wheelchair Users and Those Who Travels With Infants on Akita Shinkansen
- Carriage 12 on the Akita Shinkansen is the most wheelchair-friendly. It has seats and toilets specifically for wheelchair users.
- If you are travelling with infants, carriage 12 has baby beds, a toilet with a diaper changing table, and a Multipurpose Room.
Look for the Wheelchair Icon on the carriage map HERE and reserve a wheelchair-friendly seat. The carriage with a Multipurpose Room is marked by the icon “多” on the Carriage Map.
Seats Close to the Luggage Space on Akita Shinkansen
Most carriages in the Akita Shinkansen have luggage space. When reserving your seat online, you will notice that a few first-row seats (e.g., 1D and 1E, or 1C and 1D, depending on the train type) are missing from the seat map. This is because the space has been turned into a luggage space.
If you want to sit close to the luggage area, we recommend booking seats around it.
There are also smaller luggage spaces on some carriages close to the carriage’s door for you to utilize, as shown in the Instagram post above.
You can refer to JR East’s Japanese Website to see the seat map. Click the green “座席表を見る+” button to open it.
If luggage space has run out on the train, you can secure your luggage using the handrail as shown in the photo.
How to Save Money When Taking the Akita Shinkansen
Getting a Return Akita Shinkansen Ticket
If you plan to return from Tokyo to Akita, get a return ticket instead of two one-way tickets. Because the travel distance for a one-way trip is more than 600km, the ticket is 10% cheaper if you purchase a return ticket.
Specified Super Express Ticket (特定特急券)
While the Akita Shinkansen is a reserved-only train, if there are vacant seats in cars 12 to 17 between Morioka and Akita, you can take it by purchasing the Specified Super Express Ticket (特定特急券) and the base fare ticket (乗車券). This method is around 500 yen cheaper than purchasing a reserved seat ticket (指定席特急券).
The Best Seats on the Tōhoku Shinkansen
Besides the Akita Shinkansen, you might also ride the Tōhoku Shinkansen to explore other prefectures in the Tōhoku region. If that is the case, you will find our The Best Seats on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hokkaidō article useful.
The article provides tips on what seats offer the best scenery along the train line and also explains what view you can expect!
Do I Need a JR Pass & Is the JR Pass Worth It?
Once you have a rough idea of which prefectures and cities you want to visit during your next Japan trip, it is time to determine whether you need a JR Pass. Not all itinerary requirements require one!
Our Guide to Do I Need a JR Pass & Is the JR Pass Worth It article covers everything you need to know about the nationwide and regional JR Passes. It also covers other factors that can help you decide if a JR Pass is worth your upcoming trip!
How to Buy a Bullet Train Ticket and Ride the Shinkansen
Now that you know which seat is the best on the bullet trains travelling between Tokyo and Akita, it is time to reserve your ticket!
Refer to our article on How to Buy a Bullet Train Ticket and Ride the Shinkansen for everything you need to know about the train ticket and how to take a bullet train in Japan!
