Akita Shinkansen "Komachi" The Akita Shinkansen line runs from Morioka Station to Akita via Tazawako Station, Kakunodate Station, and Omagari Station, and is connected to the Tohoku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Morioka Stations.

 All Akita Shinkansen trains are E6 Series "Komachi" trains.

The Akita Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Akita. The line was inaugurated in 1997 after the Tazawako Line and the Ou Main Line between Morioka and Akita were upgraded to allow Shinkansen trains to connect directly. 2014 saw the entire fleet replaced by the E6 Series.

The E6 Series is designed for use on the Akita Shinkansen, a train line that provides "Shin-Zu" direct connection between the Shinkansen and conventional lines without transfers. Therefore, the E6 Series is designed to provide both high-speed running stability at a maximum speed of 320 km/h on the Shinkansen section and curve-passing performance on the conventional line section.

Commercial operation began on March 16, 2013.

What is Komachi?

Komachi is a train nicknamed after Ono Komachi, a Heian period poet said to have been born in Ono, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture.

The train runs approximately once an hour, connecting Morioka Station to Akita Station in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, with the fastest train taking 1 hour and 23 minutes.

There are many curves on the single track within the Tazawako Line, and the direction of travel changes at Omagari Station due to the layout of the tracks, so there is a limit to how much speed can be increased.

To ensure high-speed running stability in the Shinkansen section, the same technologies as the E5 Series are employed, including a long nose nose shape to reduce tunnel micro-pressure waves, low-noise pantograph and pantograph sound insulation plate, bogie cover, sound-absorbing panels, and full-surrounding holo as noise reduction measures. To provide a comfortable ride, the train is equipped with a full active suspension system that reduces side-to-side vibration and a body tilting device that improves ride comfort on curves.

The exterior design is "Akane-iro," an arrangement of the red color that has lived in the Akita region, such as the light of the lanterns of the Kanto Festival and the mask of Namahage, etc., on the upper part of the car body, and "Tobiun White" and "Arrow Silver" on the sides of the car body to show coordination with the E5 Series. The sides of the train body are painted in "flying cloud white" and "arrow silver" to express the grandeur of Akita's silver world with its snowy landscape and the delicate and careful craftsmanship of traditional silver wire work, creating a paint color that is both elegant and bold.

The interior design is based on three key words: "spaciousness," "gentleness," and "your style." The Green Car is designed to resemble a private space furnished in traditional style, with traditional Akita crafts as design motifs. The interior design is based on the image of a private space furnished with traditions, using various shades of blue created by "sea squirt glaze," a glaze made from Narauka porcelain, the brown of lacquer applied over and over to "Kawatsure lacquerware," and the soft hue of beech, while adding the linear beauty of traditional Japanese style to the interior design. The space is designed in the traditional Japanese linear style.

The standard car is designed to evoke the image of the richly harvested land of Akita, with a space that evokes a sense of elation when entering into the richly harvested ears of rice and the bounty of nature. The bright gold-colored seats represent ears of rice in abundance, and the aisle resembles a pathway through the rice paddies, expressing the excitement of feeling the bounty of nature.

The train is equipped with security and universal design features such as a large multi-purpose restroom in Car 12 that can accommodate an improved handle-type electric wheelchair, a large full-color LED information display, and security cameras installed in the passenger compartment and on the deck.

Debut March 2013

Maximum speed: 320km/h

Operating section Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen

Stops of "KOMACHI"

Tokyo Station, Ueno Station, Omiya Station, Sendai Station, Furukawa Station (some trains), Kurikoma-Kogen Station (some trains), Ichinoseki Station (some trains), Mizusawa-Esashi Station (some trains), Kitakami Station (some trains), Shin-Hanamaki Station (some trains), Morioka Station, Shizukuishi Station (some trains), Tazawako Station (some trains), Kakunodate Station (some trains), Omagari Station and Akita Station

Seat type

Regular seats (unreserved and reserved seats) / Green cars (reserved seats only)

[With or without electrical outlets] Seats A and D, front row and back row / All seats