Day train
GranClass
GranClass is the first-class car on JR East's E5/H5 and E7/W7 Shinkansen trains: 18 seats in a car of their own, with an attendant serving a light meal and drinks on Hayabusa trains from Tokyo to Morioka, Aomori and Hokkaido and on Kagayaki trains to Kanazawa and Tsuruga.
On other trains the same seats are sold without service.
From
¥17,990 per person
Japan
We apply for you
Tell us the journey and the season. Our team in Japan watches the ballots and application dates, applies with the route and suite you want, settles your requests with the operator, and arranges the nights before and after at places we know. At the operator’s own fare.
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Have it reviewed for USD 85The routes (3)
A day
Hayabusa, Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen
Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto · Omiya, Sendai, Morioka, Shin-Aomori
Daily, all year; full service with an attendant on Hayabusa running Tokyo to Morioka, Shin-Aomori or Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto; seat only on Hayabusa running only Tokyo to Sendai, on Hayabusa between Sendai, Morioka or Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, on all Nasuno, Hayate and Yamabiko, and on some extra trains
A day
Kagayaki, Hokuriku Shinkansen
Tokyo to Tsuruga · Omiya, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa
Daily, all year; full service on Kagayaki running Tokyo to Kanazawa or Tsuruga; seat only on all Hakutaka and Asama
A day
Joetsu Shinkansen (E7 trains)
Tokyo to Niigata · Omiya, Takasaki, Echigo-Yuzawa
Toki and Tanigawa trains run with E7 sets; seat only, no attendant
The special cars
GranClass (with beverage and light meal service)
18 on board
A car of 18 seats with wide seat pitch, leather seats with electric recline to 45 degrees, its own attendant, a choice of Western or Japanese light meal, more than ten drinks including alcohol, tea sweets on request and amenities; ticket holders leaving Tokyo may use the View Gold Lounge there from 90 minutes before departure.
GranClass (no beverage or light meal service)
18 on board
The same seat and car without an attendant, food, drinks or hot towels; blankets in the hat rack.
Before you go
Dining
On full-service trains the attendant serves a 'refreshment', a light meal chosen between a Western and a Japanese menu of seasonal ingredients that changes with the season, with more than ten drinks, alcohol among them, and tea sweets on request; all included in the GranClass charge.
How it is booked
Tell us your dates and our team in Japan reserves the seats and any meal for you, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
Good to know
On seat-only trains the call button at the seat does not bring an attendant or trolley service.
Every fare
GranClass charge (full service) ¥17,990 per person, Tokyo to Kanazawa on a Kagayaki, or ¥20,400 Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto on a Hayabusa, on top of the fare and the limited express charge; meal and drinks included (JR East charge tables from 14 March 2026). The seat-only GranClass charge is lower (¥13,600 Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto).
About the train
On the E5 series, in car 10: wood and metallic tones, leather seats and wool carpet, with fully electric seats reclining to 45 degrees; first in service on the Hayabusa from 5 March 2011.
Run by JR East, since 2011.
Stay before or after
Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga
RyokanBeniya Mukayu
べにや無何有
Kaga Onsen station, 15 minutes from the inn by its shuttle, is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the line where GranClass has full service on Kagayaki trains.
Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga
RyokanThe Kayotei
かよう亭
Twenty minutes by taxi from Kaga Onsen station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo.
Hoshino area, Karuizawa
HotelHoshinoya Karuizawa
星のや軽井沢
Karuizawa is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo, where GranClass is sold seat only on the Asama and Hakutaka trains that stop there.
Q&A
Tell us your dates and our team in Japan reserves the seats and any meal for you, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
GranClass charge (full service) ¥17,990 per person, Tokyo to Kanazawa on a Kagayaki, or ¥20,400 Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto on a Hayabusa, on top of the fare and the limited express charge; meal and drinks included (JR East charge tables from 14 March 2026). The seat-only GranClass charge is lower (¥13,600 Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto).
Hayabusa, Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen: Daily, all year; full service with an attendant on Hayabusa running Tokyo to Morioka, Shin-Aomori or Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto; seat only on Hayabusa running only Tokyo to Sendai, on Hayabusa between Sendai, Morioka or Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, on all Nasuno, Hayate and Yamabiko, and on some extra trains. Kagayaki, Hokuriku Shinkansen: Daily, all year; full service on Kagayaki running Tokyo to Kanazawa or Tsuruga; seat only on all Hakutaka and Asama. Joetsu Shinkansen (E7 trains): Toki and Tanigawa trains run with E7 sets; seat only, no attendant.