Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto

, ja-stalink|Niimi, ja-stalink|Yonago, ja-stalink|Yasugi, ja-stalink|Matsue and ja-stalink|Shinji.

Between Okayama and Takamatsu, the 7-car "Sunrise Seto" train stops at ja-stalink|Kojima and ja-stalink|Sakaide.

Accommodations and fees

The "Sunrise Izumo" and "Sunrise Seto" consist of type "A" and type "B" accommodations. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥6,300 for a type "B" compartment or solo room to ¥13,300 for a type "A" Single Deluxe room (for one person) and ¥14,700 for a type "B" twin room (for two people).

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.

A shower is located in one carriage of each of the two segments, and can be used for ¥310 (a towel kit costs an additional ¥200). Passengers who stay in the type "A" Single Deluxe rooms can use the dedicated showers in their carriage for free.

History

Before "Sunrise Seto" and "Sunrise Izumo" were introduced in 1998, "Seto" and "Izumo" operated as separate Blue train services connecting passengers from Tokyo to Shikoku and the San'in region, respectively.

However, these trains were becoming less popular as equipment became outdated, and air and bus transportations attracted more passengers. "Sunrise Seto" and "Sunrise Izumo" were intended to attract more passengers to train transportation by introducing newly designed trains and by reducing the time to travel.

With the introduction of "Sunrise Seto"/"Sunrise Izumo", the older "Seto" service was discontinued but the older "Izumo" remained as a separate service until 2006; it served the Sanin Main Line between ja-stalink|Kyoto and Tottori Prefecture, most of which was not electrified and thus inaccessible by the electric "Sunrise" trains. But "Izumo" was discontinued on March 13, 2006 due to continuing decline in ridership, leaving "Sunrise Izumo" as the only overnight train service between the San'in region and Tokyo.

Sunrise trains have an advantage over airline in that it arrives in destination cities in the morning before the first airline flights, and do not require travel between the airport and city centers. Sunrise trains are also used by passengers who missed the Shinkansen super express that runs along with Sunrise Izumo between Okayama and Tokyo but ceases operation at night.

Route

The "Sunrise Izumo" and "Sunrise Seto" run over the following routes, operated by the following companies:

Surise Izumo/Sunrise Seto combined train (Tokyo - Okayama)

JR East
* Tōkaidō Main Line, Tokyo - Atami

JR Central
* Tōkaidō Main Line, Atami - Maibara

JR West
* Tōkaidō Main Line, Maibara - Kobe
* Sanyō Main Line, Kobe - Okayama

Sunrise Izumo segment (Okayama - Izumoshi)

JR West
* Sanyō Main Line, Okayama - Kurashiki
* Hakubi Line, Kurashiki - Hōki-Daisen
* Sanin Main Line, Hōki-Daisen - Izumo-Shi

Sunrise Seto segment (Okayama - Takamatsu)

JR West
* Seto-Ohashi Line, Okayama - Kojima

JR Shikoku
* Seto-Ohashi Line, Kojima - Utazu
* Yosan Line, Utazu - Takamatsu
* Yosan Line, Takamatsu - Matsuyama (Peak seasons only)