Due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, and the state of emergency affecting Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures, there’s been a significant decrease in passengers on shinkansen and express trains. With fewer travellers, East Japan Railways (JR East) has decided to suspend more than 1,200 shinkansen, limited express and high speed trains that usually operate in addition to the regular timetable during the Golden Week holidays and throughout May.
From May 1 to 31, a total of 923 shinkansen trains and 340 express trains will be suspended. This includes 328 trains on the Tohoku and Hokkaido shinkansen, 99 trains on the Akita shinkansen, 163 trains on the Yamagata shinkansen, 165 trains on the Joetsu shinkansen towards Niigata and Echigo Yuzawa, and 303 trains on the Hokuriku shinkansen towards Kanazawa and Nagano. See the full list here (Japanese only).
However, the timetable of JR East’s regular shinkansen, limited express and high speed trains is not affected, and will continue operating as usual.
For the latest information on the coronavirus situation in Tokyo, click here.
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