Resort Shirakami


The Resort Shirakami is a limited-stop "Rapid" service operated by the East Japan Railway Company as a sightseeing train along the scenic coastal Gono Line in the north of Japan since March 1997.

Operations

The train service operates between and via the Ou Main Line and Gono Line, with the journey taking approximately 5 hours. Three return services run daily, with one service operating between Akita and only, and the other two reversing at Hirosaki.

Rolling stock

Services are operated by three dedicated four-car diesel multiple unit sets based at Akita Depot, named Aoike, Buna, and Kumagera, converted from former KiHa 48 DMU cars. The original KiHa 48 Aoike trainset was replaced by a new HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set, which entered service on 4 December 2010. An additional four-car HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set was built for use on Buna services from July 2016, replacing the KiHa 48 DMU set previously used. The exterior livery and interior design was overseen by Ken Okuyama Design.
All cars are no-smoking, and all seats require advance seat reservations.

KiHa 48 ''Aoike''

This was the first Resort Shirakami trainset introduced, converted from former KiHa DMU cars at JR East's Tsuchizaki Works, and entering service in March 1997. It was initially formed as a four-car set, as shown below. The end cars were built with new cab ends, while the two inner cars retained their original driving cabs. The name Aoike was added in March 2003 to distinguish it from the second Resort Shirakami.
Car No.1234
NumberKiHa 48 533KiHa 48 1521KiHa 48 1543KiHa 48 540
Seating capacity40323240

From March 2006, the set was reduced to three cars, as shown below, with car KiHa 48 1521 repainted and inserted into the newly created Kumagera trainset.
Car No.123
NumberKiHa 48 533KiHa 48 1543KiHa 48 540
Seating capacity403240

The end cars had large panorama windows and featured conventional unidirectional seating, with a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The two inner cars each had eight four-person semi-open compartments.
This set was replaced in 2010 by a new 4-car HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set, and was reformed as a two-car trainset for use on other lines from February 2011, branded as Cruising Train.

KiHa 48 ''Buna''

Following the popularity of the original Resort Shirakami trainset, a second set was built in March 2003, from former KiHa 40 DMU cars at JR East's Tsuchizaki Works, and named. This train entered service on 1 April 2003, and was initially formed as a 3-car set as shown below.
Car No.123
NumberKiHa 48 701KiHa 48 1701KiHa 48 702
Seating capacity393240

In December 2010, it was lengthened to four cars with the addition of KiHa 1543, formerly part of the original Aoike set, and formed as shown below.
Car No.1234
NumberKiHa 48 701KiHa 48 1701KiHa 1543KiHa 48 702
Seating capacity39323240

The former identities of the rebuilt cars are as follows.
Current numberFormer number
KiHa 48 701KiHa 40 506
KiHa 48 1701KiHa 40 507
KiHa 48 1543KiHa 48 1543
KiHa 48 702KiHa 40 510

As with the earlier Aoike set, the end cars have large panorama windows and feature conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, with a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The inner car has semi-open compartments with seats that can pulled out to create a flat seating space. It also included a smoking compartment.

KiHa 48 ''Kumagera''

This was the third Resort Shirakami trainset to be built, entering service on 18 March 2006. The name Kumagera is the Japanese name for the black woodpecker, which lives in the Shirakami-Sanchi area, a World Heritage Site. This train was initially formed as a 3-car set as shown below. Car KiHa 48 1521 was originally included in the Aoike trainset.
Car No.123
NumberKiHa 48 703KiHa 48 1521KiHa 48 704
Seating capacity393240

In December 2010, it was lengthened to four cars, formed as shown below.
Car No.1234
NumberKiHa 48 703KiHa 48 1521KiHa 1503KiHa 48 704
Seating capacity39324040

The former identities of the rebuilt cars are as follows.
Current numberFormer number
KiHa 48 702KiHa 40 506
KiHa 48 1521KiHa 48 1521
KiHa 48 1503KiHa 48 1503
KiHa 48 704KiHa 40 510

As with the earlier trainsets, the end cars have large panorama windows, ten rows of conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, and a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The inner car has eight semi-open compartments with seats that can pulled out to create a flat seating space.

HB-E300 series ''Aoike''

This is a four-car hybrid DMU set, which replaced the original KiHa 48 Aoike set and entered service from 4 December 2010.
The trainset is formed as shown below.
Car1234
NumberHB-E301-1HB-E300-101HB-E300-1HB-E302-1
Seating capacity34364044

The end cars have conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, and a small lounge space behind the driving cabs. The inner cars have semi-open compartments.

HB-E300 series ''Buna''

This is a four-car hybrid DMU set introduced on 16 July 2016, replacing the original KiHa 48 Buna set.
The trainset is formed as shown below.
Car1234
NumberingHB-E301-5HB-E300-105HB-E300-5HB-E302-5

Cars 1, 2, and 4 have conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, while car 3 has semi-open compartments.

History

The Resort Shirakami service was introduced in March 1997, coinciding with the opening of the Akita Shinkansen.　It replaced the locomotive-hauled Nostalgic View Train, formed of three converted 50 series coaches, which previously operated as a sightseeing train on the Gono Line.
A new HB-E300 series 4-car hybrid DMU trainset entered service as the Resort Shirakami - Aoike from 4 December 2010, replacing the original KiHa 48 DMU set, and coinciding with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to.