The E2 Series: Riding a Shinkansen Veteran Before It Retires

Some trains bow out with fanfare, and others simply grow rarer on the departure board. The E2 Shinkansen carried crowds towards the 1998 Nagano Olympics, then spent years running the Tohoku and Joetsu lines. This JRPass guide tells its story and shows how to catch one before the last run.

Quick Answer — What Is the E2 Series?

The E2 Series is a JR East bullet train introduced in the late 1990s that opened the Nagano (Hokuriku) line and served the Tohoku and Joetsu lines. It is now being progressively retired as the E5 and E7 series take over. A small number of sets still run, mainly on Tohoku Shinkansen services. Check current workings with JR East before planning a ride.

Special update: You can now buy single rail tickets for Japan’s Golden Route on JRPass.com - single fares, one-way, fully digital, including the Shinkansen 'bullet' train. 

The Train That Opened the Nagano Line

The E2 Series opened the Nagano Shinkansen on 1 October 1997, just months before the Winter Olympics arrived.

Visitors heading to the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics rode these trains straight into the mountains, and the time savings were dramatic:

• Before 1997: Tokyo to Nagano typically took close to three hours by limited express.
• After 1997: The fastest Asama services on the shinkansen cut that to around 80 minutes.

Its Nagano sets ran as eight-car trains until the last E2 Asama in March 2017. The line has since grown into the Nagano and Hokuriku Shinkansen, now stretching to Kanazawa and Tsuruga.

Built for Mountains

The E2 Series was designed to climb, which few bullet trains of its era had to do. Its Nagano sets were built around three demands:

• Steep gradients: Gradients reach 30 per mille, so the track rises 30 metres per kilometre on the steepest stretches.
• Power and braking: The climb towards Karuizawa needed strong motors and dependable braking on the way down.
• Two power supplies: The line switches between Japan's 50 Hz and 60 Hz grids near Karuizawa, so the sets run on both.

Its successor, the E7 Series, inherited the same gradients and heavy snow, and alongside JR West's near-identical W7, it now runs every service on the line.

From Hayate to Yamabiko

The E2 ran both the Hayate and the Yamabiko on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and the Yamabiko is how most travellers meet one today. It started in 1997 on Yamabiko trains coupled to Akita-bound E3 Komachi units.

• Hayate: When the line reached Hachinohe in December 2002, JR East lengthened its Tohoku sets to ten cars for the new Hayate.
• Yamabiko: The E2 became a familiar sight on these stopping trains between Tokyo, Sendai, and Morioka.
• Toki and Tanigawa: It also ran Toki trains to Niigata and Tanigawa trains to Echigo-Yuzawa on the Joetsu Shinkansen until March 2023.

Today the remaining sets usually work Yamabiko trains to Sendai and shorter Nasuno runs to Nasushiobara and Koriyama. The corridor is covered by the nationwide JR Pass and by JR East's own JR EAST PASS.

Being Replaced

The E5 and E7 series replaced the E2, and its retirement began with the first withdrawals in 2013. Of the 53 sets built, just six ten-car sets were still running after the March 2026 timetable revision.

Put the E2 beside the E5, and you'll see why:

• Speed: The E5 arrived in 2011 and reached 320 km/h by 2013, against 275 km/h for the E2.
• Flagship role: Its long nose, shared with JR Hokkaido's H5 twin, now fronts every Hayabusa service, the fastest train on the Tohoku line.

The handover has come in stages:

• 2014 to 2017: The E7 took over the former Nagano line, and the E2 left the Hokuriku Shinkansen route for good.
• Around 2030: JR East's new E10 series is expected to replace both the E2 and the E5.

No date has been set for the last E2 run, so treat online timelines as provisional.

Catching One Today

You can still ride an E2 on selected Yamabiko and Nasuno services out of Tokyo, and the JR Pass covers them like any other shinkansen. The catch is knowing which trains use one, as JR East can swap sets at short notice.

• Check the timetable: E2 workings change with each timetable revision, so check shortly before your trip.
• Ask when you reserve: Ticket office staff can usually confirm the train type when you book your free seat reservation.
• Know the look: The E2 has a white upper body, a deep blue lower body, a pink stripe, and a short, rounded nose.
• Try a short hop: A Nasuno to Nasushiobara takes roughly 70 to 80 minutes, so a morning out and back works well.
• Stay connected: A pocket Wi-Fi router keeps timetable apps loading if workings change on the day.

If you're staying in eastern Japan, regional rail passes such as the ¥35,000 five-day JR EAST PASS may work out cheaper than the nationwide JR Pass.

The E2's final years have made it a favourite quarry for train photographers, so expect a few cameras on the platform. Stand behind the yellow line and leave room for passengers with heavy suitcases.

Where Retired Shinkansen Go

Most retired shinkansen are scrapped, and the E2 is no exception, but two lead cars survive outside JR East:

• Sanwa Tekki Utsunomiya Works, Tochigi: One lead car is displayed at this company site, so confirm access first.
• The Hirosawa City's Yumenoba, Chikusei, Ibaraki: You can step inside this car, and the park is about 5 km from Shimodate Station by bus or taxi.

For retired bullet trains closer to Tokyo, the Railway Museum in Omiya is the natural place to meet the E2's ancestors:

• Getting there: Allow 40 to 50 minutes from Tokyo, changing at Omiya for the New Shuttle to Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station by the entrance.
• Admission: Adult tickets typically cost ¥1,600.
• Collection: The exhibits trace Shinkansen design from the 0 Series onwards.

It's also a good nudge to ride the E2 itself while you can.

FAQs

These answers cover the questions that come up most when travellers plan a ride:

Q: Is the E2 still running?
A: Yes, a few E2 sets still run on the Tohoku Shinkansen, but the fleet is being progressively retired.

Q: What replaced the E2 Shinkansen?
A: The E5 took over its fastest Tohoku duties, and the E7 replaced it on the Hokuriku line.

Q: Can I ride the E2 with the JR Pass?
A: Yes, any scheduled service using an E2 is covered by the JR Pass, including a free seat reservation.

Q: What is the E2 Shinkansen?
A: It is a late-1990s JR East bullet train that opened the Nagano line and served the Tohoku and Joetsu lines.

Q: Where can you still ride the E2?
A: Remaining sets usually run Yamabiko and Nasuno trains from Tokyo, but confirm the current timetable first.

Q: When will the last E2 Shinkansen run?
A: JR East has not announced a final date, though the E10 series is expected to replace it around 2030.

Q: How fast is the E2 Shinkansen?
A: The E2 has a top operating speed of 275 km/h on the Tohoku Shinkansen.

Q: How can I tell an E2 from an E5?
A: The E2 has a short nose and a white and blue body, while the E5 is green and white with a much longer nose.

Q: Did the E2 run on the Joetsu Shinkansen?
A: Yes, it ran Toki services to Niigata and Tanigawa services to Echigo-Yuzawa until March 2023.

Q: Is there a preserved E2 you can visit?
A: A few cars survive, including one at the Hirosawa City theme park in Chikusei, Ibaraki.