JR East View Tourism & Sales has launched travel packages using overnight group extra trains to coincide with Japan’s summer fireworks festival season.
The “Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Train” Nagaoka Free Plan is a 2-day itinerary departing on August 2, departing from and arriving at Ueno and Omiya stations, and uses the group extra train “Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Train” for the round trip. The return journey is an overnight train departing from Nagaoka Station at 1:10 a.m., heading back to the Tokyo metropolitan area. This product is intended for those who already have tickets for reserved spectator seats at the “Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks” in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, and includes a 500-yen NewDays voucher that can be used at Ueno, Omiya, and Nagaoka stations. Spectator tickets must be arranged separately.
The “Omagari Fireworks Enjoyment Train” is a 3-day itinerary departing on August 28, departing from and arriving at Ueno Station, and uses the group extra overnight train “Overnight E653 Series Omagari Fireworks Enjoyment Train” for the round trip. Both outbound and inbound journeys involve overnight stays on board the train. The package includes admission to paid reserved spectator seats (chair seats) for viewing the fireworks in Omagari, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, and since the return train departs from Omagari Station at 1:29 a.m., participants can enjoy the fireworks until the very end. Window seats are guaranteed for both outbound and inbound journeys, and for 2-person or 4-person use, face-to-face seating arrangements are possible.
The overnight E257 series “From Shinjuku to Murakami” is a 2-day itinerary departing on August 28, operating from Shinjuku Station via the Joetsu Line, Hakushin Line, and Uetsu Main Line to Niigata and Murakami stations. The late-night departure and early-morning arrival evoke memories of the former overnight train “Moonlight Echigo.” From Sakamachi Station, participants travel by bus to Imaizumi Station on the Yonesaka Line, then return to Omiya and Tokyo stations via the Yamagata Shinkansen through Yonezawa Station. Limited-edition commemorative novelties for passengers are also provided.
All of these tours are sold exclusively through the “Japan by Rail, Journeys by Train” platform.
