Direct Shinkansen from Tokyo to Akita and Yamagata Temporarily Suspended

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Direct Shinkansen services from Tokyo to Akita and Yamagata have been temporarily suspended after a train decoupling incident on March 6, 2025. To travel to Akita from Tokyo, Shinkansen users need to transfer at Morioka Station, while Yamagata travelers need to transfer at Fukushima Station.

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Important information for travelers heading to Tohoku, Japan! Due to the detachment of connections between the Hayabusa and Komachi Shinkansen, the operation of several Shinkansen services has been affected, leading to adjustments in direct services.

According to JR East Japan, around 11:30 AM on March 6, the Shinkansen trains Hayabusa and Komachi operating on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line suddenly decoupled, causing the trains to stop on the tracks near Nishi Nippori Station in Tokyo.

As a result, various Shinkansen lines including Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku temporarily ceased operation, but full service was restored around 2:30 PM.

Current Situation of the Akita Shinkansen Line

All services between Tokyo and Morioka are suspended, and only the Morioka to Akita section will operate.

This means that if you need to travel from Tokyo to Akita, you must first take a Shinkansen train to Morioka and then transfer to another Shinkansen or a shuttle bus to head to Akita.

Current Situation on the Yamagata Shinkansen Line

Most services between Tokyo and Yamagata are suspended, with operations limited to the Fukushima - Shinjo (Yamagata) section.

However, the first Shinkansen heading to Tokyo in the day (Yamabiko 121) and the last Shinkansen heading to Yamagata in the day (Yamabiko 160) can still operate the entire section from Tokyo to Shinjo, as they are not affected by the connection issue.

Travel Schedule After March 7 (Update from March 6 at 20:30)

In response to this incident, JR East Japan has stated that it will completely suspend the connection operations of trains such as the Hayabusa, Komachi, Yamabiko, and Tsubasa until the cause is identified and necessary measures are implemented.

This means that travelers heading to Yamagata must transfer to the Yamagata Shinkansen at Fukushima Station, while those traveling to Akita must transfer to the Akita Shinkansen at Morioka Station.

In addition, the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen will only operate within their respective sections for specific services. If you're heading to Tohoku, please be aware of these changes.

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All pictures from Pixta

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MATCHA-NEWS

Let MATCHA share with you the latest information on Japan travel, tourist attractions, food, and entertainment.

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