Mizuho (train)
Encyclopedia
The is a limited-stop shinkansen
service operated between Shin-Ōsaka
and Kagoshima
in Japan since 12 March 2011, following the completion of the Kyūshū Shinkansen
.
sleeper train service, which ran from Tokyo
to Kumamoto
in Kyūshū
. This train was discontinued from 3 December 1994.
On 20 October 2010, it was formally announced by JR West and JR Kyushu that the Mizuho name would be used once again from 12 March 2011 for the new limited-stop shinkansen
services operating between Shin-Ōsaka
and Kagoshima-Chūō
using new JR West and JR Kyushu N700-7000 and N700-8000 series 8-car trainsets with a fastest journey time of 3 hours 45 minutes, some 25 minutes faster than the Sakura
services. Trains stop at Shin-Kobe
, Okayama
, Hiroshima
, Kokura
, Hakata
, and Kumamoto
only, running at a maximum speed of 300 km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen
and 260 km/h on the Kyushu Shinkansen
. The services are aimed primarily at the business market, with two return services in the morning and two in the evening.
Like the Nozomi service that operates on the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen, the Mizuho is not valid for tourists traveling with a Japan Rail Pass
.
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
service operated between Shin-Ōsaka
Shin-Osaka Station
is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service....
and Kagoshima
Kagoshima-Chuo Station
is the main railway station in Kagoshima, Japan. It is the southern terminus of the Kyūshū Shinkansen and is located on the Kagoshima Main Line, and Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line...
in Japan since 12 March 2011, following the completion of the Kyūshū Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
.
History
The Mizuho was first introduced on 1 October 1961 as a limited expressLimited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
sleeper train service, which ran from Tokyo
Tokyo Station
is a train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the Ginza commercial district....
to Kumamoto
Kumamoto Station
is the central railway station in the city of Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Kyushu Railway Company .In front of the station is a tram stop of the tram operated by Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau named Kumamoto-Ekimae Station.- Lines :Kumamoto is an intermediate station...
in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. This train was discontinued from 3 December 1994.
On 20 October 2010, it was formally announced by JR West and JR Kyushu that the Mizuho name would be used once again from 12 March 2011 for the new limited-stop shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
services operating between Shin-Ōsaka
Shin-Osaka Station
is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service....
and Kagoshima-Chūō
Kagoshima-Chuo Station
is the main railway station in Kagoshima, Japan. It is the southern terminus of the Kyūshū Shinkansen and is located on the Kagoshima Main Line, and Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line...
using new JR West and JR Kyushu N700-7000 and N700-8000 series 8-car trainsets with a fastest journey time of 3 hours 45 minutes, some 25 minutes faster than the Sakura
Sakura (train)
The is a high-speed shinkansen service operated between and Kagoshima in Japan since 12 March 2011. It was formerly a limited express sleeper train service operated by JR Kyushu, which ran from to and in Kyūshū, Japan...
services. Trains stop at Shin-Kobe
Shin-Kobe Station
is a train station located on the Sanyō Shinkansen line serving the city of Kobe, Japan and the surrounding area. It is located to the north of Kobe city centre, at the foot of Mount Rokkō. The Shinkansen trains mostly run inside tunnels under the mountains in this area...
, Okayama
Okayama Station
is a railway station located in the ward of Kita-ku, city of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The station is operated by West Japan Railway Company ....
, Hiroshima
Hiroshima Station
is a JR West railway station located in Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima Station is the terminal station for several lines, and all Sanyō Shinkansen trains stop here.-History:...
, Kokura
Kokura Station
in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. It is part of the JR Kyushu network and the Sanyo Shinkansen stops here. It is the second largest station in Kyūshū with 120,000 users daily...
, Hakata
Hakata Station
Hakata Station , located in Hakata-ku, is the main railway terminal of the city of Fukuoka, Japan. It is the largest and busiest station on Kyūshū, and is a gateway to other cities in Kyūshū for travellers from Honshū. The Sanyō Shinkansen from Osaka ends at this station...
, and Kumamoto
Kumamoto Station
is the central railway station in the city of Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Kyushu Railway Company .In front of the station is a tram stop of the tram operated by Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau named Kumamoto-Ekimae Station.- Lines :Kumamoto is an intermediate station...
only, running at a maximum speed of 300 km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen
Sanyō Shinkansen
The is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Ōsaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan...
and 260 km/h on the Kyushu Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
. The services are aimed primarily at the business market, with two return services in the morning and two in the evening.
Like the Nozomi service that operates on the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen, the Mizuho is not valid for tourists traveling with a Japan Rail Pass
Japan Rail Pass
The is a railpass for overseas visitors sold by the Japan Railways Group, and is good for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group, with a few exceptions. The Rail Pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country....
.