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I'm sure many of you are familiar with the opening line of Sayuri Ishikawa's single "Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki" (Tsugaru Strait Winter Scenery), released in 1977
Although it is a beautiful song that incorporates scenes of travel into its short lyrics, the "night trainfrom Ueno to Aomori" described in the song no longer exists,the Aomori-Hakodate ferry servicealso ceased operations even earlier than the night train to Aomori.
This time, we will focus on what kind of train the "night train from Ueno to Aomori" was
The role played by the night train from Ueno to Aomori
The sleeper express "Akebono" that ran between Ueno and Aomori
The overnight train from Ueno to Aomori was first introducedin 1891during the Meiji era, when the railway line from Ueno Station to Aomori Station, which is now the Tohoku Main Line, opened.
There was a direct train from Ueno Station to Aomori Station from the very beginning, andthe journey took a staggering 26 and a half hours, soit was naturally an overnight train that ran through the night.
When "Tsugaru Strait - Winter Scenery" was released in 1977, the Tohoku Shinkansen had not yet opened, and airfares were expensive. It was common knowledge at the time that traveling between Tokyo and Aomori Prefecture took about nine hours by express train
It would have been a waste to spend this much time traveling during the day, so there was still considerable demand for night trains that allowed people to travel while they slept
Furthermore, the Seikan Tunnel, which runs under the Tsugaru Strait between Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido, didn't open until 1988, so until then, Aomori Station was the northernmost destination for overnight trains from Honshu. The Seikan Ferry was responsible for transporting people from Aomori Station to Hokkaido, and in fact, the novel "Tsugaru Strait: Winter Scenery" depicts a journey to Hokkaido by Seikan Ferry.
From the opening of the Tohoku Main Line until the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Seikan Tunnel, the overnight train from Ueno to Aomori was the main link connecting Kanto with Tohoku and Hokkaido for many years
Night trains from Ueno to Aomori had various routes
From here on, I will be using the timetable from the famous Go-San-To timetable revision that took place in October 1978, the year after "Tsugaru Kaikyo Winter Scenery" was released, as a base. Although it is generally called an overnight train departing from Ueno and heading to Aomori, there are actually many different routes along the way, and as of 1978 there were three types
After leaving Ueno Station, the train enters the Joban Line and passes through Mito, Taira (now Iwaki), Sendai, Morioka and other stations before arriving at Aomori Station
This train leaves Ueno Station and heads north on the Tohoku Main Line, passing through stations such as Omiya, Utsunomiya, Fukushima, Sendai, and Morioka before arriving at Aomori Station
The train from Ueno Station to Fukushima Station travels via the Tohoku Main Line, then enters the Ou Main Line and passes through Yamagata, Shinjo, Akita, Odate and other stations before arriving at Aomori Station
In addition, in later years, trains that run via the Takasaki Line, Joetsu Line, Uetsu Main Line, and Ou Main Line, as well as trains that pass through stations such as Omiya, Takasaki, Nagaoka, Sakata, Akita, and Odate, also appeared. In the next section, we will introduce night trains connecting Ueno and Aomori by route
Trains via the Joban Line (via Mito, Taira, and Sendai)
The main route for night trains heading towards Tohoku was the Joban Line, not the Tohoku Main Line
Before the Tohoku Shinkansen existed, the Tohoku Main Line, the main artery connecting Kanto and Tohoku, had a high frequency of trains even during the nighttime hours. Therefore, overnight trains, which did not require particularly high speed, tended to take the Joban Line route, even though it was a slightly longer route.
Among the trains that run via the Joban Line, the first one that should be introduced is the sleeper express"Yuzuru." As of October 1978, there were as many as seven of these trains running per day, including three extra trains.
Yuuzuru No. 1, 3 and 5 were operated by 583 series electric trains, which could be used as both sleeper cars at night and seat cars during the day (during the daytime, they were used for the Hatsukari limited express train, which also ran between Ueno Station and Aomori Station)
Yuzuru trains 7, 9, 11, and 13 were the so-called "Blue Trains ," using blue-painted sleeping cars
Most night trains bound for Aomori were scheduled so that passengers could transfer to the Seikan Ferry at Aomori Station
For example, Yuuzuru No. 3 departs Ueno Station at 19:53 and arrives at Aomori Station at 5:08 the next morning. If you transfer to the Seikan Ferry departing at 5:25, you'll arrive at Hakodate Station at 9:15 (a time that makes you want to take an extra nap on the ferry)
At Hakodate Station, I transferred to the limited express"Ozora No. 3," whichdeparted at 9:35 and arrived at Sapporo Station at 13:44. After that, the train split into two at Takikawa Station, arriving at Asahikawa Station at 15:36 and Kushiro Station at 19:41.
It takes nearly 18 hours from Ueno Station to Sapporo Station, but at the time, trains were the main means of long-distance travel, so many people would have used it
Another overnight train to Aomori via the Joban Line was the express train"Towada." On its busiest days, it ran as many as four trains, including two extra trains. As an express train, it made more stops than the sleeper express "Yuzuru," and all of these trains took more than 12 hours to travel from Ueno Station to Aomori Station.
Another notable feature was that, with the exception of the Towada No. 3 train departing Ueno Station at 20:50,no sleeping cars were attached.
The lack of sleeping cars meant that passengers had to spend 12 hours sitting in their seats overnight. Not only that, but while there were reserved seats in the coaches, the majority were unreserved. Since unreserved seats meant that it was possible to get on and find that the train was full, it was common for passengers to spend the night lying down on newspapers on the floor during peak periods
Trains via the Tohoku Main Line (via Fukushima and Sendai)
Among the trains that ran via the Tohoku Main Line, there was one that was the first of all the "night trains departing from Ueno (including trains not bound for Aomori)" to depart from Ueno Station at the time
The first train in this line was the express train"Hakkoda." It departed Ueno Station at 19:08 and arrived at Aomori Station at 6:17, meaning the journey took a full 11 hours. Even upon arriving at Aomori Station, the schedule wasn't set to allow for immediate connections to the Aomori-Hakodate ferry; it was primarily a train for accessing northern Kanto and Tohoku.
This train also had no sleeping cars attached, and all cars except for one reserved seat and one green car were unreserved. Looking at it from a modern perspective, it may seem strange why a train with such harsh riding conditions existed, but as it was an express train, the fare was cheaper than a limited express, and as it was a seating car, the fare was cheaper than a sleeping car. In other words, one advantage was that it was much cheaper than a sleeping car express
It was also a popular train because it allowed passengers to use the unreserved seats on Hakkoda if they used a Wide Round Trip Ticket. There was only one regular train on Hakkoda per day, but up to three special trains ran per day, and even so, it was said to be quite crowded during peak passenger periods
Sleeper express "Hakutsuru" operated by 583 series train
Next was the sleeper express"Hakutsuru." Like some of the Yuzuru trains, it used 583 series electric trains.
This train only ran once a day, which suggests that the main sleeper express train to Aomori was the Yuuzuru, which ran via the Joban Line
Trains via the Ou Main Line (via Fukushima, Yamagata, and Akita)
As for overnight trains to Aomori via the Ou Main Line, the first thing that comes to mind is the express train"Tsugaru." Two trains ran daily, and Tsugaru No. 1 also connected with the Aomori-Hakodate Ferry.
The Tsugaru Express had passenger cars including one Green Car and one reserved seat car, as well as three-tiered sleeping cars and more comfortable A-class sleeping cars. For those who had traveled from Tohoku to Tokyo by local train for work, being able to ride in the A-class sleeping car on the Tsugaru Express when returning home was considered a sign of success
And we simply cannot leave out the introduction of the sleeper express train "Akebono." This train consisted entirely of sleeper cars
In 1978, there were two trains per day, Akebono No. 1 bound for Aomori and No. 3 bound for Akita. No. 3 only went as far as Akita, and No. 1 did not connect with the Seikan Ferry at Aomori Station, so perhaps it was more of a train connecting Ueno and Akita than Ueno and Aomori
Although the Akebono's route was later significantly changed, it ultimately continued regular service until March 2014,making it the last "night train from Ueno to Aomori.
The Ou Main Line, which is the route these trains take, is characterized by the fact that for some reason there are many stations with unusual names. There is an explanatory article here, so please take a look
After the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen and Seikan Tunnel
The Tohoku Shinkansen opened between Omiya Station and Morioka Station in 1982, and then between Ueno Station and Omiya Station in 1985, greatly reducing travel times between Kanto and Tohoku. However, the advantage of night trains - being able to travel while you sleep - remained unchanged, so night trains were not immediately abolished, but as time went on, the number of people using airplanes and express buses in addition to the Shinkansen increased, and the number of people using night trains gradually decreased, leading to their decline
First, in 1985, the Towada Express was downgraded from a regular train to a special train, and later ceased operation as a special train as well
In addition, the Seikan Tunnel opened in 1988
Since it became possible to travel from Aomori Station to Hakodate Station without leaving the train, the Seikan Ferry was discontinued. Aomori Station's traditional role as a gateway to Hokkaido was lost, and the scene depicted in the lyrics became a thing of the past
The Yuuzuru Sleeper Express, Hakkoda Express, and Tsugaru Express were subsequently discontinued as special trains in 1993, and later ceased operation entirely. The Hakutsuru Sleeper Express was also discontinued in 2002 when the Tohoku Shinkansen was extended between Morioka Station and Hachinohe Station
Furthermore, the "Hakkoda Maru," a ferry that was actually used as a ferry between Aomori and Hakodate , is preserved as the "Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkoda Maru" just a 5-minute walk from Aomori Station
Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkoda Maru
You can also go inside (for a fee) and walk on the deck, touch the rudder and communication equipment in the wheelhouse, and see the rail cars on board
Address: 112-15 Yanagawa 1-chome, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
Phone number: 017-735-8150
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, last admission at 6:00 PM (April 1st to October 31st) 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, last admission at 4:30 PM (November 1st to March 31st)
Closed: December 31st, January 1st, Monday to Friday of the second week of March
The last night train "Akebono" from Ueno to Aomori
The Akebono was the last overnight train to depart Ueno and head to Aomori
In the 1990s, construction began on a section of the Ou Main Line where the Akebono sleeper express and Tsugaru express trains were operating, to allow the Yamagata Shinkansen to run. This construction widened the gap between the two rails to accommodate the Shinkansen, making it impossible for conventional trains to run
For more information on how the Yamagata Shinkansen (Shinkansen Tsubasa) came to be, please see this article
The Akebono and Tsugaru trains, which could no longer operate on their original routes, continued to operate after changing their routes in 1990. However, the Tsugaru trains were converted into limited service in 1993, shortly after the route was changed to run via the Tohoku Main Line, Senzan Line (a line connecting Sendai Station and Uzen-Chitose Station in Yamagata Prefecture), and Ou Main Line, and operation of the trains was discontinued
At the time, two Akebono trains were running per day, one of which was changed to run via the Tohoku Main Line, Rikuou East Line (a line connecting Kogota Station in Miyagi Prefecture and Shinjo Station in Yamagata Prefecture), and Ou Main Line
The other route was changed to go via the Takasaki Line, Joetsu Line, and Uetsu Main Line, meaning it would pass through Gunma Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, and the Sea of Japan side of Yamagata Prefecture, and the train name was also changed"Chokai".
In 1997, the Akebono route was changed to the same route as Chokai, that is, via the Sea of Japan side, and Chokai was discontinued. There is no parallel Shinkansen line along the Sea of Japan coast from Niigata Prefecture to Aomori Prefecture
Perhaps for this reason, the Akebono continued to exist for a relatively long time after that, and in the meantime all of the night trains that had once headed to Aomori Station together with it disappeared
As for the Akebono, it will inevitably face problems such as competition with other forms of transportation and the aging of its vehicles, and its time will finally come to an end
Regular Akebono service ended with the train departing on March 14, 2014. The last special train service was at the beginning of 2015, and has not been operated since
The "Ueno-bound overnight train to Aomori," which had been running continuously since the Tohoku Main Line was fully completed in 1891, has finallycome to an end after a long history of more than 120 years.
"Blue Train Akebono" where you can stay in an actual sleeping car
Blue Train Akebono
once actually used as the Akebono,て実際に使われていた車両を使用した列車ホテル「ブルートレインあけぼの」has opened on the grounds of the Kosaka Railway Rail Park in Kosaka Town, Kazuno District, Akita Prefecture. It is one of the rare facilities where you can stay in a private sleeping compartment of a "Blue Train," which has now completely disappeared.
The Kosaka Railway Rail Park is a railway complex that utilizes the tracks, facilities, and rolling stock of the Kosaka Railway, which was closed in 2009. This place, which evokes a nostalgic atmosphere and a sense of history, can be enjoyed by people of all ages
As you can see, back when "Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyu Geshiki" was a hit, overnight trains from Ueno to Aomori were taken for granted. I don't think many people could have predicted that they would all disappear. It 's a bit of a sad thought, but there are probably things we take for granted today (not just trains) that will eventually disappear.
However, even though the train may no longer exist, it is also true that the memories of riding it remain in the hearts of many people, including myself. I sincerely hope that readers will experience a memorable journey unique to this era.
![EF65 + Sleeper Express "Akebono"](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAJYAAACWAQAAAAAUekxPAAAAAnRSTlMAAHaTzTgAAAAaSURBVEjH7cExAQAAAMKg9U9tDQ+gAACAdwMLuAABXZHjmQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg== "A former child who loved the picture book "I Took the Blue Train" reflects on the blue train depicted in the book")
![EF65 + Sleeper Express "Akebono"](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/EF651018_Akebono_Kawaguchi_19910816-150x150.jpg.webp "A former child who loved the picture book "I Took the Blue Train" reflects on the blue train depicted in the book")
![Mashu Maru](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2244492_s-150x150.jpg.webp "I read the picture book "I Got on the Train" [Aomori Prefecture]")
