The "Hinabi" Joyful Train
Joyful "Hinabi" at Iwate (Toretabi)
Discovering Iwate's rural lines
JR East has just launched a Joyful train in northern Honshu, offering rides departing from Morioka. If you book in advance, you can sample local specialties as you travel through the beautiful landscapes of Iwate and Aomori prefectures.
The beautiful "Hinabi
This new Joyful train began service in winter 2023 in Iwate Prefecture. JR East aims to showcase the wild beauty of the lines around Morioka, with the "Hinabi" taking various routes to Kamaishi, Miyako or Shimokita in Aomori.
The Joyful Hinabi train is dressed in red and white, the traditional colors of Morioka, which have always been found on its local trains. A huge mountain sits at the center of the train's two carriages, with river flows and cherry blossom petals fluttering in the pure northern Tohoku air on the sides.
The train itself is a state-of-the-art hybrid diesel-electric unit, as environmentally friendly as possible.
Car no. 1 is a compulsory reservation car, the equivalent of Green Class, with seats or benches arranged face-to-face around a large table, for two or four people, plus three solo seats facing the landscape. The aim of the Hinabi is to share a good meal while looking out over the region's beautiful landscapes.
Car no. 2 is open access, with comfortable 2+2 reclining seats in the beautiful traditional red 'Morioka iro' fabric.
The windows are large enough to take in the view, and there are two panoramic lounges behind the driver's seats at either end of the car, so you can enjoy your trip to the full.
Don't forget your meal!
Up to 5 days before your trip aboard the Hinabi, you must reserve your packed lunch, as nothing will be sold to you on board at the last minute. You'll need to go to the dedicated website and flash the QR code with your smartphone to make your reservation. You'll have a choice of menus, bento boxes and an 'Omusubi Box' (1,200yen) featuring the finest regional produce, two Tono Yuya 'onigiri' rice dumplings, salads, condiments and a drink.
During your journey, your meal will be delivered to you at the Tono station stop, where it has been freshly prepared. A must not to be missed!
If you haven't been able to book in advance, or are planning to buy before departure in Morioka, you'll find everything you need in this large station, or you can try Tono station, where there's a small counter selling local products and bento, but beware of limited choice and out-of-stock conditions.
Several destinations to choose from
The route of the Joyful Hinabi train varies from day to day. It runs mainly at weekends and on public holidays. Take a close look at the website
The most common route is from Morioka (10:40 a.m.) to Kamaishi (1:24 p.m.), on the Pacific coast, with a stop in Tono (12:09-12:30 p.m.). Return journey: Kamaishi 16h27, Tono 17h35-17h59, Morioka 19h40.
On some days, the train leaves Morioka at 9:45 a.m. and arrives in Kamaishi at 1:24 p.m., with an extended stop at Tono (11:42-12:30 p.m.).
The rarer Hinabi Miyako takes you along the Yamada line, departing from Morioka at 8:51 a.m. and arriving in Miyako at 11:19 a.m. You won't be eating on board the train, but in Miyako's pretty harbor. Return journey: Miyako 14h47, Morioka 17h22.
And finally, a very different journey that takes you up to the north of Honshu, in Aomori prefecture, aboard theHinabi Shimokita, departing from Hachinohe station (Tohoku Shinkansen connection) at 10:50 a.m. and arriving in Ominato at 12:40 p.m., where you can also enjoy fresh seafood in the town's restaurants. Return: Ominato 15h59, Hachinohe 17h53.
JR Joyful train Hinabi guide map (JR East)
