The Hokuhoku Line ( ほくほく線 , Hokuhoku-sen ) is a Japanese railway line in Niigata Prefecture that runs from Muikamachi in Minamiuonuma City to Saigata in Jōetsu City . It is the sole railway line operated by Hokuetsu Express ( 北越急行 , Hokuetsu Kyūkō ) . Construction of the line first began in 1968 by the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and was initially referred to as the Hokuetsu-Kita Line ( 北越北線 , Hokuetsu-kita-sen ) . However, the construction of the line was plagued by numerous delays, and was finally completed as a third sector line on 22 March 1997, including the 10,472 m (6.5 mi) Akakura Tunnel, the longest on a non-JR line.
29-655: Unlike most other third sector company lines, the Hokuhoku Line made steady profits after its opening, as the former Hakutaka Limited Express train service, which travelled using the line, served as the principal link between the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Hokuriku region until the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in 2015. The line's former maximum speed limit of 160 km/h (99 mph) allowed
58-484: A limited express service operating between Ueno in Tokyo and Kanazawa via Naoetsu . This was discontinued from 15 November 1982. The Hakutaka name was reinstated from 23 March 1997 for use on new limited express services jointly operated by JR West and Hokuetsu Express connecting Kanazawa with Echigo-Yuzawa on the Joetsu Shinkansen via the newly built Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line , operating at
87-529: A massive tsunami and earthquake damaged homes and caused casualties in the maritime areas of Niigata Prefecture, especially near Sado Island . On July 16, 2007, another earthquake hit the area. Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival , an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It
116-639: A maximum speed of 110 km/h operating on the 160 km/h lines, these trains feature a fast acceleration of 3.0 km/h/s to minimize disruptions of Hakutaka train services. 1 permanent 2-car set known as HK100-100 series entered service in 2003 for the Yumezora video projection and event train together with 2 units of HK100-0 refurbished in 2008 named Yumezora II . 18 cars of 681-2000 series and 9 cars of 683-8000 series trains, nicknamed Snow Rabbit Express (SRE) were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with final assembly at Niigata Transys for operation on
145-612: A maximum speed of 160 km/h (100 mph). Services travelling beyond Naoetsu required a switchback. Hakutaka services operated at approximately hourly intervals between Kanazawa and Echigo-Yuzawa, with one return service daily starting and terminating at Fukui. One return working daily operated between Wakura-Onsen and Echigo-Yuzawa. Services stopped at the following stations. ( Fukui ) – Kanazawa – Takaoka – Toyama – Uozu – Itoigawa – Naoetsu – Echigo-Yuzawa The last Hakutaka limited express service ran on 13 March 2015, replaced by new high-speed shinkansen services from
174-477: Is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan . Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at 12,584.18 km (4,858.78 sq mi). Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Gunma Prefecture to the south, Fukushima Prefecture to the east, and Yamagata Prefecture to
203-538: Is in the 10472m Akakura tunnel. Between Tōkamachi and Matsudai in Tōkamachi, Niigata. It is in the 6199m Yakushitōge tunnel. Between Matsudai and Hokuhoku-Ōshima in Tōkamachi, Niigata. It is in the 9,130 m (29,954 ft) Nabetachiyama tunnel( ja:鍋立山トンネル ). 10 HK100-0 series single-car units were built by Niigata Transys for use on local, rapid and Chō-Rapid Snow Rabbit trains between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naoetsu, and started operation since its opening in 1997. Having
232-641: Is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005. Niigata Prefecture stretches about 240 km (149 mi) along the Sea of Japan , from the southwest to the northeast, with a coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. It also includes Sado Island . Niigata Prefecture could be placed in either the Hokuriku or the Kōshinetsu , both of which are considered parts of
261-868: The Chūbu region . The prefecture is generally divided into four geographical areas: Jōetsu region ( 上越 ) in the south, Chūetsu ( 中越 ) in the center, Kaetsu ( 下越 ) in the north, and Sado Island . The mouth of the Shinano River , the longest river in Japan, is located in Niigata Prefecture. As of 1 April 2014, 25% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely Bandai-Asahi , Chūbu-Sangaku , Nikkō , and Oze National Parks; Echigo Sanzan-Tadami and Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Parks; and thirteen Prefectural Natural Parks. Twenty cities are located in Niigata Prefecture: These are
290-560: The Hakutaka limited express trains between Echigo-Yuzawa and Kanazawa stations. At a operating speed of 160 km/h, this was the fastest train in the country to run on narrow gauge. Following the retirement of the Hakutaka services, the trains were transferred to JR West for operation on Shirasagi limited express services. The Hokuhoku line is entirely in Niigata Prefecture . This article also incorporates material from
319-439: The Hakutaka to become the fastest narrow gauge train service in the country, matched only by the standard gauge Keisei Skyliner services to Narita International Airport as the fastest non-Shinkansen service (also at 160 km/h (99 mph)); however, following the withdrawal of Hakutaka services on the line on 14 March 2015, the maximum speed limit of the line was reduced to 130 km/h (80 mph). Originally,
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#1732780676331348-535: The Myōkōhaneuma Line. The fastest service, which stops only at Tōkamachi , only takes 57 minutes travelling from Echigo-Yuzawa to Naoetsu. There are three passing loops on the Hokuhoku Line. Each has one bi-directional through track to allow full line speed. However, the passing loops has been abandoned since the discontinuation of Hakutaka service. Between Uonumakyūryō and Misashima in Tōkamachi, Niigata . It
377-556: The Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin . He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler. By taking the surname Uesugi, he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control. The city of Niigata is now the third largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan, after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu . It was
406-529: The ceiling of the train when the trains are going through a tunnel. Since the discontinuation of Hakutaka in 2015, required trip time is reduced by 10 minutes. Through-trains to and from JR Lines do not stop at some stations of the Jōetsu Line and Shin'etsu Main Line . Snow Turtle is a special service with irregular schedules and available for rental by organizations. Being a comical counterpart of Snow Rabbit,
435-512: The corresponding article in the Japanese Misplaced Pages Hakutaka#March 1997 – March 2015 The Hakutaka ( はくたか , "white hawk") is a high-speed shinkansen train service jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Tokyo and Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line in Japan. The shinkansen service was introduced on 14 March 2015, but
464-404: The first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry . It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea . A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once a month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country. The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka ,
493-903: The line acted as a connecting route to the Jōetsu Shinkansen at Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Upon the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen on 14 March 2015, the limited express services Hakutaka of the line, which had run from 1997 with an average daily ridership of 6,900 passengers, were withdrawn. Since then, a daily special rapid service Snow Rabbit has been served, instead of Hakutaka, until 18 March 2023, where all rapid service has been discontinued. Trains from Muikamachi are described as down-bound, whereas those from Saigata are described as up-bound. 17 return trips are operating each day, with additional 1 service operating on weekends and holidays. Two return trips running on Sundays are designated as Yumezora, in which movies will be played on
522-840: The name was first used for a limited express service operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) from 1965 until 1982, and later by JR West and Hokuetsu Express between 1997 and March 2015. As of 16 March 2024 , the Hakutaka service sections are as follows: Trains operate at a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph). Hakutaka services stop at the following stations. Not all trains stop at stations marked with an asterisk. Hakutaka services are operated using JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series 12-car train sets based at Nagano and Hakusan depots respectively. Limited express services from March 1997 until March 2015 were operated with 6- or 9-car (6+3-car) 681 series or 683-8000 series EMU trains owned by JR West or Hokuetsu Express. Green (first class) car accommodation
551-536: The northeast. Niigata is the capital and largest city of Niigata Prefecture, with other major cities including Nagaoka , Jōetsu , and Sanjō . Niigata Prefecture contains the Niigata Major Metropolitan Area centered on Niigata with a population of 1,395,612, the largest metropolitan area on the Sea of Japan coast and the twelfth-largest in Japan. Niigata Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region and features Sado Island ,
580-412: The prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake , senbei , mochi , and arare . In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures. The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi . Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing
609-468: The production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture , it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country. Crude oil is produced in Niigata Prefecture, although Japan relies heavily on petroleum imported from other countries. Kerosene heaters are also produced for use in the cold Niigata winters. Kinzan, on Sado Island , was an active gold mine until it was closed in 1989. Sanjō and Tsubame produce 90 percent of all
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#1732780676331638-405: The silverware made in Japan. The two cities are second after Osaka in the production of scissors , kitchen knives , nail clippers and wrenches . Niigata Prefecture may have been the first area in Japan to produce knitted textiles , although the earliest products may have been imported from China. A nuclear power plant , which formerly had the highest energy output in the world, is located in
667-614: The sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island . Until after the Meiji Restoration , the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province (on the mainland) and Sado Province . During the Sengoku period , the Nagao clan , who were at times vassals to the Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of
696-480: The start of the revised timetable introduced the following day. From 14 March 2015, the name Hakutaka was transferred to new shinkansen services operating between Tokyo and Kanazawa following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen beyond Nagano. Since the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga on 16 March 2024, Hakutaka service has been extended past Kanazawa and now reaches Tsuruga Niigata Prefecture Niigata Prefecture ( 新潟県 , Niigata-ken )
725-581: The tiny village of Kariwa . It has been closed since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster . In the Census of 2003, Niigata ranked as the 14th most populous. Niigata is known for the following regional specialities: Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing , especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa , and going to onsen . Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata
754-482: The towns and villages in each district : The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaidō in rice output. The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan. Rice-related industries are also very important to
783-443: The trains run at a very low speed, as slow as 10 km/h (6.2 mph), to give passengers a chance to experience winds while opening the side doors of the trains. Meals are also provided during the four-hour journey. Two down-bound and three up-bound trains are operating each day between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naoetsu. Two down-bound and one up-bound trains are operating each day, and one of the down-bound train runs through to Arai of
812-602: Was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in the 1960s and 1970s. These included the Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo. On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and was measured at Shindo 6+ at Ojiya . On January 9, 2006, a heavy winter storm struck the prefecture and its neighbors. At least 71 people died and more than 1,000 were injured. Also in 2006,
841-422: Was provided in car 1. Hakutaka shinkansen services use 12-car JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series trainsets, formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo (southern) end. Cars 1 to 10 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, car 11 is a "Green" car with 2+2 seating, and car 12 is a "Gran Class" car with 2+1 seating. All cars are no-smoking. The Hakutaka service was first introduced on 1 October 1965 as
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