JR East will run "Amanecer Komachi," a special train exclusively for tour groups, for the first time on Sunday, December 27, 2026. The train leaves the Tokyo area at night and reaches its destination earlier than the first Shinkansen of the morning.
The train leaves Tokyo Station at night and spends the night at Ichinoseki Station. It departs again at 6:00 AM the next morning, heading for Morioka Station and Akita Station. It arrives at Akita Station earlier than Komachi No. 1, the first train of the day from Tokyo Station. Arriving at Akita ahead of Komachi No. 1, or changing at Morioka Station to Hayate No. 93, lets passengers spend more time in the Akita, Aomori, and Hakodate areas, along with an out-of-the-ordinary overnight Shinkansen ride.
Amanecer Komachi Overview
Name and Origin
"Amanecer" is the Spanish word for "dawn." As JR East's first Shinkansen to depart at night and arrive the next morning, the train carries "Amanecer" in front of the service name "Komachi."
Schedule and Route
- Departure: Sunday, December 27, 2026, 9:44 PM from Tokyo Station
- Arrival: Monday, December 28, 2026, 6:23 AM at Morioka Station and 8:45 AM at Akita Station
| Station | Time |
|---|---|
| Tokyo (boarding) | 9:44 PM departure |
| Ueno (boarding) | 9:50 PM departure |
| Omiya (boarding) | 10:09 PM departure |
| Ichinoseki (overnight stop) | Arrives 11:57 PM on December 27, departs 6:00 AM on December 28 |
| Morioka (alighting) | 6:23 AM arrival |
| Shizukuishi (alighting) | 6:48 AM arrival |
| Tazawako (alighting) | 7:22 AM arrival |
| Kakunodate (alighting) | 7:47 AM arrival |
| Omagari (alighting) | 8:02 AM arrival |
| Akita (alighting) | 8:45 AM arrival |
Timetable for Amanecer Komachi
Times are subject to change.
At Morioka Station, passengers can change to Hayate No. 93, which departs Morioka at 6:54 AM and arrives at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto at 8:58 AM.
Tour Price
Tokyo Station to Akita Station, per person, tax included.
- Standard Class reserved seat plan: ¥22,000 for adults (¥15,000 for children of elementary school age or younger)
- Green Car plan: ¥29,000
Only window seats are sold, in all seat classes. For the Standard Class reserved seat plan, a "Family Car plan" is also available, which is designed to be comfortable for long-distance travel with small children. Inside the family car, passengers can chat freely without worrying about other guests, including at night.
Tour Highlights
Early Arrival in Northern Tohoku and Hakodate
The train arrives at Akita Station earlier than Komachi No. 1, the first train of the day from Tokyo Station. Changing to Hayate No. 93 at Morioka Station also allows a longer stay in the Northern Tohoku and Hakodate areas, making the train handy for trips home or outings.
Itinerary overview from Tokyo to Akita and Hakodate
Original Drawstring Pouch with Amenities
Participants receive amenities in an original drawstring pouch designed after the E6 series Shinkansen. The pouch is a special item available only through this tour, which can be taken home as a souvenir and used at home as well.
NewDays ¥500 Voucher
The tour includes a ¥500 voucher usable at NewDays. It can be spent on drinks, snacks, and souvenirs before boarding.
How to Book
Bookings are made online only, through the "日本の旅、鉄道の旅" (Nihon no Tabi, Tetsudo no Tabi) site run by JR東日本びゅうツーリズム＆セールス, which plans and operates the tour. No tour conductor accompanies the tour.
- Plan departing the Tokyo area for Akita: https://link.jrview-travel.com/q4smq
- Plan with a change to Hayate No. 93: https://link.jrview-travel.com/swvvs
Sales Period
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 2:00 PM to Sunday, December 13, 2026, 11:59 PM
Some courses can be booked in advance by JRE POINT members at Stage 3 or above. The advance sale runs from Wednesday, November 4, 2:00 PM to Thursday, November 5, 1:59 PM. Details are posted on a dedicated site listed in the JRE POINT app coupons from 2:00 PM on November 4. Even if the advance sale sells out, bookings can still be made during the general sale period.
Notes
- The train stays at Ichinoseki Station for about 6 hours, from 11:57 PM until 6:00 AM the next morning. Passengers cannot leave through the ticket gates.
- The doors are opened for about 30 minutes after arrival at Ichinoseki Station and before departure. Under staff guidance, passengers can use the vending machines and smoking area on the platform.
- The Ichinoseki Station concourse level is off limits, and NewDays and other shops are closed. Vending machines may sell out, so buy food and drinks before boarding.
- Maintenance work on tracks and equipment may be carried out at Ichinoseki Station while the train is stopped. Noise and vibration from the work may reach the cars.
- The whole train, including the decks and restrooms, is non-smoking.
- Passengers with large luggage should use the luggage space on the train.
- The cabin lights stay on at all times.
- The tour plan may be changed or canceled. In that case, it is handled according to the rules set for each travel product.
