Cassiopeia (train)

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Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia at Utsunomiya Station
Service type Limited express
Operator JR East, JR Hokkaidō
Started 1999
Rolling stock E26 series sleeping cars

The Cassiopeia (カシオペア?) is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaidō). It runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaidō. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.

Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at Ōmiya , Utsunomiya, Kōriyama, Fukushima, Sendai, Ichinoseki, and Morioka. The first stop in Hokkaidō is at Hakodate between 04:00 and 04:30 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo just before nine.

On the return trip from Sapporo, the first stop after leaving Hokkaidō is at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day. The arrival time at Ueno station is around 09:30.

The Cassiopeia consists of all type "A" accommodation, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥27,000 for a Cassiopeia Twin room to ¥51,000 for a Cassiopeia Suite.

The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid. However there will be a charge of about ¥3,000 each way for travelling on a section of railroad not owned by Japan Railways between Morioka and Hachinohe.

Trains depart three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods. Hokutosei trains make two daily round-trip runs between Ueno and Sapporo.

[edit] Route

The Cassiopeia runs on the following rail lines:

JR East

IGR Iwate Ginga Railway

Aoimori Railway

JR East

JR Hokkaidō

The train changes direction at Aomori and Hakodate.

[edit] External links


The Tsugaru Kaikyo Line runs over the tracks of the JR Tsugaru Line, JR Kaikyō Line, JR Esashi Line and JR Hakodate Main Line.

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