Azusa (train)


The Azusa is a limited express service operated by the East [Japan Railway Company], which mainly run between and via the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line. The name Azusa is taken from the Azusa River in Matsumoto, Nagano. On the Chūō Main Line, limited express Kaiji also runs between /, and /.
The name Super Azusa was used for services operated with tilting rolling stock, namely the E351 series, and the E353 series.

Service pattern and stops

As of March 2025, 16 round trips are operated every day. All trains run on the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line, with few of them also running on the Sōbu Main Line and Ōito Line. Prior to March 2025, the trip currently terminating at instead traveled four stations further to.

Stops

  • No brackets denote stations at which most or all Azusa services stop.
  • Parentheses denote stations at which some Azusa services stop.
  • Square brackets【】denote stations at which very few Azusa services stop.
【Chiba - Funabashi - Kinshichō / Tokyo】- Shinjuku - Tachikawa - Hachiōji -【Ōtsuki - Enzan - Yamanashishi - Isawa-Onsen】- Kōfu - - Kobuchizawa -【Fujimi】- Chino - Kami-Suwa -【Shimo-Suwa】- Okaya - Shiojiri - Matsumoto -【Toyoshina - Hotaka - Shinano-Ōmachi - Hakuba】

Ticketing

A limited express ticket has to be purchased to board an Azusa train, along with the basic fare ticket. There are two types of such limited express tickets, namely the Reserved Seat Ticket, and the Unreserved Seat Ticket.
The Reserved Seat Ticket enables a specified seat to be reserved for the holder. The reserved status for the seat is signified by a green overhead lamp on top of the corresponding seat.
The Unreserved Seat Ticket enables the holder to be seated on any unreserved seat. A red overhead lamp signifies that the seat is unreserved; while a yellow overhead lamp signifies that the seat is reserved for the later part of the journey, implying that one has to give up their seat to the passenger who has reserved the seat and change to another vacant seat, when they board the train later.

Extra services

''Kiso Azusa''

The Kiso Azusa was an extra limited express service that was operated in 2017 and 2018, as a part of the Shinshū Destination Campaign to boost tourism to Nagano Prefecture. The extra train operated on the Chūō Main Line between Shinjuku to Nagiso, via Tatsuno. With consideration that tourists would be staying the night around the area, the inbound train to Shinjuku was operated the day after the outbound train to Nagiso has arrived.
In 2018, the train operated 2 round trips during the campaign duration.

Stops

- Tachikawa - Hachiōji - Kōfu - Chino - Kami-Suwa - Okaya - Tatsuno - Shiojiri - Narai - Kiso-Fukushima - Nagiso

Rolling stock

Rolling stock

From 23 December 2017, new E353 series EMUs were introduced on Super Azusa services. By March 2018, all Super Azusa services were replaced by E353 series trains, and the E257 series trainsets used on Azusa services by 16 March 2019. Following the unification of all Super Azusa and Azusa services into E353 series, the name Super Azusa was abolished.

Rolling stock previously used

Formations

Current formation

''Azusa'' (E353 series)

All Azusa services are formed of nine cars as shown below, numbered 4 to 12, with car 4 at the Shinjuku end.
Car No.123456789101112
NumberingKuMoHa E353-0MoHa E353-1000KuMoHa E352-0KuHa E353-0MoHa E353-500MoHa E352-500MoHa E353-2000SaHa E353-0SaRoHa E353-0MoHa E353-0MoHa E352-0KuHa E352-0
AccommodationReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedGreenReservedReservedReserved
FacilitiesToiletToiletToiletToiletToiletToiletToilet

Past formations

''Azusa'' (E257 series)

Azusa services were formed of 2+9-car or 9-car sets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern end. All cars were no-smoking.

''Super Azusa'' (E353 series)

From March 2018 to March 2019, Super Azusa services were formed of 3+9-car E353 series trainsets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern end. All cars were no-smoking. There were days when car 3 operates as a reserved seating car.
Car No.123456789101112
NumberingKuMoHa E353-0MoHa E353-1000KuMoHa E352-0KuHa E353-0MoHa E353-500MoHa E352-500MoHa E353-2000SaHa E353-0SaRoHa E353-0MoHa E353-0MoHa E352-0KuHa E352-0
AccommodationReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedReservedGreenReservedReservedReserved
FacilitiesToiletToiletToiletToiletToiletToiletToilet

History

The Azusa service began on 1 October 1957 as a semi express operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto. This operated until 24 April 1960 when it was absorbed into Hakuba semi express services.
The Azusa name was revived from 12 December 1966 for use on limited express services operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto.
The premier Super Azusa service commenced on 3 December 1994 with the delivery of the first new E351 series tilting EMUs.
New E257 series EMUs were introduced on Azusa services from the start of the revised timetable on 1 December 2001.
Smoking was prohibited in all cars from 18 March 2007.
From 16 March 2019 onwards, with the replacement of E257 series trains to E353 series trains on all Azusa services, the name Super Azusa were discontinued and were integrated with Azusa services.