Trains - Northern Japan

On our travels between Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido I became aware of the different types of trains one could take. I hadn't noticed this in Tokyo as I was used to going to a specific platform, getting on the train and then getting off at my destination. Rural train stations don't have as many tracks so trains going different places use the same track and it's important to know your train number and its departure time. Also in Tokyo most of the trains are very new looking while in rural areas many trains look older in varying degrees.




It was a chilly morning waiting on the track for our train. Those hot noodles looked good.



A local train (普通) on the track across from where we were waiting.



A newer train on the left and an older rapid train (快速) ,on the track we were waiting at. Not our train. The rapid train is slightly faster than the local train. We were waiting for a limited express train.


A limited express train but not ours as we were going to Hakodate in Hokkaido. I noticed as the trains progressed from local to express they became newer and newer.


The window wiper on this train caught my eye. This car has reserved seating.



Our train, the Hakucho.




A pastry with the shape of Hokkaido Prefecture on it. Tasty too.



Our train traveled through an underwater tunnel and this was our view as we left it and entered Hokkaido.