Twilight Express

The EF81 electric locomotive with headboard is used on the portion of the Twilight Express overnight service between Osaka and Aomori.

The Twilight Express (トワイライトエクスプレス) is the longest overnight train service operating in Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company, East Japan Railway Company and Hokkaido Railway Company, it runs between Osaka in Kansai and the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaidō. The one-way journey lasts between 21 and 23 hours.

Trains for Sapporo depart Osaka at precisely noon, and call at Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, Tsuruga, Fukui, Kanazawa, Takaoka, Toyama, Naoetsu and Nakaoka, with the final passenger pick-up made at Niitsu at 7:40 p.m.. The first stop in Hokkaidō is at Toya at 6:45 a.m.. The train then makes four more stops before arriving at Sapporo at 9:07 a.m..

The same stops are made in the reverse, with the Twilight Express departing Sapporo at 2:05 p.m. and making its final pickup at Toya at 4:19 p.m.. The first stop at Niitsu is made at 4:37 a.m. with the train eventually making its way to Kyoto at 12:14 p.m. and finally arriving at Osaka at 12:52 p.m..

The Twilight Express consists of type "A" and "B" accommodations, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥9,000 for a "B" single twin room to about ¥17,000 for a "B" twin room or an "A" royal room, up to ¥51,000 for the suite room.

The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For foreign tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid.

Trains depart several times per week, with more departures during holiday periods. Nihonkai trains make two daily round-trip runs between Osaka and Aomori, with ongoing connections to Sapporo.

Route

The Twilight Express runs on the following rail lines:

JR West

• JR Kyoto Line (Tokaido Main Line), Osaka - Yamashina
• Kosei Line, Yamashina - Omi-Shiotsu
• Hokuriku Main Line, Omi-Shiotsu - Naoetsu

JR East

• Shinetsu Main Line, Naoetsu - Niitsu
• Uetsu Main Line, Niitsu - Akita
• Ou Main Line, Akita - Aomori^

JR Hokkaido

• Tsugaru Kaikyo Line, Aomori - Goryokaku^
• Hakodate Main Line, Goryokaku - Oshamambe
• Muroran Main Line, Oshamambe - Numanohata
• Chitose Line, Numanohata - Shiroishi
• Hakodate Main Line, Shiroishi - Sapporo

^ train reversal point

The Tsugaru Kaikyo Line runs over the tracks of the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyo Line, Esashi Line and Hakodate Main Line.

Timetable (As of October, 2006)

(NOTE: For the Osaka departure, read down. For the Sapporo departure, read up.)

Down (下り)	Station Name	Up (上り)
Dp 12:00 (Track 10) ↓	Osaka (大阪)	Ar 12:52 (Track 3)
Ar 12:05 (Track 12) Dp 12:10	Shin-Osaka (新大阪)	Dp 12:48 (Track 17) Ar 12:47
Ar 12:37 (Track 0) Dp 12:38	Kyoto (京都)	Dp 12:19 (Track 7) Ar 12:14
Ar 13:43 Dp 13:45	Tsuruga (敦賀)	Dp 10:52 Ar 10:36
Ar 14:40 (Track 1) Dp 14:40	Fukui (福井)	Dp 09:55 (Track 5) Ar 09:54
Ar 15:36 (Track 7) Dp 15:40	Kanazawa (金沢)	Dp 08:50 (Track 1) Ar 08:48
Ar 16:14 Dp 16:15	Takaoka (高岡)	Dp 08:18 Ar 08:17
Ar 16:30 (Track 5) Dp 16:31	Toyama (富山)	Dp 08:02 (Track 2) Ar 08:01
Ar 17:57 Dp 17:59	Naoetsu (直江津)	Dp 06:27 Ar 06:25
Ar 18:56 Dp 19:00	Nagaoka (長岡)	Dp 05:29 Ar 05:17
Ar 19:38 Dp 19:40	Niitsu (新津)	Dp 04:40 Ar 04:37
↓	(Overnight via Seikan Tunnel)	↑
Ar 06:43 Dp 06:43	Toya (洞爺)	Dp 16:19 Ar 16:19
Ar 07:17 Dp 07:19	Higashi-Muroran (東室蘭)	Dp 15:46 Ar 15:44
Ar 07:33 Dp 07:34	Noboribetsu (登別)	Dp 15:30 Ar 15:29
Ar 08:03 Dp 08:04	Tomakomai (苫小牧)	Dp 15:00 Ar 14:59
Ar 08:23 Dp 08:24	Minami-Chitose (南千歳)	Dp 14:39 Ar 14:39
Ar 09:07 (Track 5)	Sapporo (札幌)	↑ Dp 14:05 (Track 4)
Down (下り)	Station Name	Up (上り)

External links

• Dream Rail Trip on Twilight Express 2004 promotional video for the Twilight Express. (Windows Media, in English)
• Twilight Express Train Gallery Twilight Express train route and composition information. (In Japanese)