# List of named passenger trains of Japan

This article contains lists of named passenger trains in Japan.

## Shinkansen (bullet trains)

| Train name | Name meaning | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated | Maximum operating speed (km/h) | Japan Rail Pass coverage |
| Aoba | refers to Aoba Castle | JR East | Tokyo – Sendai | 1982–1995 | 240 | Service discontinued |
| Asahi | Morning Sun | JR East | Tokyo – Niigata | 1982–2004 | 275 | Service discontinued |
| Asama | refers to Mount Asama | JR East | Tokyo – Nagano | 1998– | 275 | Yes |
| Hakutaka | White hawk | JR East / JR-West | Tokyo – Kanazawa | 2015– | 275 | Yes |
| Hayabusa | Peregrine falcon | JR East / JR Hokkaido | Tokyo – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | 2011– | 320 | Yes |
| Hayate | Strong wind | JR East / JR Hokkaido | Morioka – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | 2002– 2002-2019 (Tokyo to Morioka) | 275 | Yes |
| Hikari | Light | JR Central / JR-West | Tokyo – Hiroshima and Nagoya – Hakata | 1964– | Tokaido Shinkansen: 285Sanyo Shinkansen: 300 | Yes |
| Hikari Rail Star | Light – Rail Star | JR-West | Shin-Ōsaka – Hakata | 2000– | 285 | Yes |
| Kagayaki | Glitter | JR East / JR-West | Tokyo – Tsuruga | 2015– | 275 | Yes |
| Kamome | Seagull | JR Kyushu | Nagasaki – Takeo-Onsen | 2022– | 260 | Yes |
| Kodama | Echo | JR Central / JR-West | Tokyo – Shin-Ōsaka and Shin-Ōsaka – Hakata | 1964– | 285 | Yes |
| Komachi | Beauty | JR East | Tokyo – Akita | 1997– | 320 | Yes |
| Mizuho | Harvest, also an ancient name of Japan | JR Kyushu / JR-West | Shin-Ōsaka – Kagoshima-Chūō | 2011– | 300 | No |
| Nasuno | refers to Nasu highlands | JR East | Tokyo – Kōriyama | 1995– | 275 | Yes |
| Nozomi | Hope | JR Central / JR-West | Tokyo – Shin-Ōsaka, Hakata | 1992– | Tokaido Shinkansen: 285Sanyo Shinkansen: 300 | No |
| Sakura | Cherry blossoms | JR Kyushu / JR-West | Shin-Ōsaka – Kagoshima-Chūō | 2011– | 300 | Yes |
| Tanigawa | refers to Mount Tanigawa | JR East | Tokyo – Echigo-Yuzawa | 1997– | 240 | Yes |
| Toki | Crested ibis | JR East | Tokyo – Niigata | 1982–1997; 2004– | 275 | Yes |
| Tsubame | Swallow | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Kagoshima-Chūō | 2004– | 260 | Yes |
| Tsubasa | Wings | JR East | Tokyo – Shinjō | 1992– | 275 | Yes |
| Tsurugi | refers to Mount Tsurugi | JR-West | Toyama – Tsuruga | 2015– | 260 | Yes |
| Yamabiko | Mountain spirit | JR East | Tokyo – Morioka | 1982– | 275 | Yes |

## Daytime trains
### Limited express (partial list)

| Train name | Name meaning | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated |
| A-Train | refers to Ariake region | JR Kyushu | Yoshizuka, Hakata – Nagasu | 1967– |
| Aizu Liner | refers to Aizu region | JR East | Kōriyama – Aizu-Wakamatsu | 1968– |
| Akagi / Swallow Akagi | refers to Mt. Akagi | JR East | Ueno, Shinjuku – Takasaki, Maebashi | 1982– |
| Ariake | refers to Ariake region | JR Kyushu | Kumamoto – Misumi | 1967–2021 |
| Asagiri | Morning mist | Odakyu / JR Central | Shinjuku – Gotemba | 1991–2018 |
| Ashizuri | refers to Cape Ashizuri | JR Shikoku | Kōchi – Nakamura | 1990– |
| Ayame | Japanese iris | JR East | Tokyo – Narita, Kashimajingū, Chōshi | 1975–2015 |
| Azusa | refers to Azusa River | JR East | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Chiba – Matsumoto, Minami-Otari | 1966– |
| Banetsu Monogatari | refers to Banetsu West Line | JR East | Niigata - Aizu-Wakamatsu | 1999– |
| Dinostar | portmanteau derived from the English word "dinosaur" for which Fukui is famous and the word "star" | JR-West | Fukui – Kanazawa | 2015–2024 |
| Enoshima | refers to Enoshima | Odakyu | Shinjuku – Fujisawa – Katase-Enoshima | 1964– |
| Fujikawa | refers to Fuji River | JR Central | Kōfu – Shizuoka | 1996– |
| Hakone / Super Hakone / Metro Hakone | refers to Hakone | Odakyu | Shinjuku, Kita-Senju – Hakone-Yumoto | 1950– |
| Hakuchō / Super Hakuchō | Swan | JR East / JR Hokkaido | Shin-Aomori, Aomori – Hakodate | 2002–2016 |
| Hamakaze | Sea breeze/beach wind | JR-West | Ōsaka – Kasumi, Hamasaka, Tottori | 1972– |
| Haruka | Faraway | JR-West | Kyoto/Shin-Ōsaka – Kansai Airport | 1993– |
| Hashidate | - | JR-West, Willer Trains | Kyoto – Amanohashidate, Toyooka | 1965– |
| Hida | refers to Hida | JR Central | Ōsaka, Nagoya – Takayama, Hida Furukawa, Toyama | 1968– |
| Hitachi | old name of Ibaraki Prefecture | JR East | Shinagawa – Iwaki | 1969– |
| Hitoyoshi | name of Hitoyohi, Kumamoto | JR Kyushu | Kumamoto – Hitoyoshi | 2009– |
| Hokuto | Big Dipper | JR Hokkaido | Hakodate – Sapporo | 1965– |
| Homeway / Metro Homeway | - | Odakyu | Shinjuku, Kita-Senju, Ōtemachi – Machida, Sagami-Ōno, Hon-Atsugi, Odawara, Hakone-Yumoto, Karakida, Fujisawa, Katase-Enoshima | 1999– |
| Huis Ten Bosch | - | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Huis Ten Bosch | 1992– |
| Inaho | Rice stalk | JR East | Niigata – Sakata, Akita | 1969– |
| Inaji | Way to Ina, refers to Ina region | JR Central | Toyohashi – Iida | 1996– |
| Ishizuchi | Refers to Mt. Ishizuchi | JR Shikoku | Takamatsu – Matsuyama, Uwajima | 1988– |
| Iyonada Monogatari | Story of the Iyonada Sea; refers to Iyo, old name of Ehime Prefecture | JR Shikoku | Matsuyama – Iyo-Ōzu, Yawatahama | 2014– |
| Kaiji | Way to Kai, old name of Yamanashi Prefecture | JR East | Tokyo, Shinjuku – Kōfu, Ryūō | 1988– |
| Kaio | refers to Kaiō Hiroyuki, a celebrity sumo wrestler from Nōgata | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Nōgata | 2001– |
| Kamome | Seagull | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Saga, Hizen-Kashima, Nagasaki and Haiki – Nagasaki | 1961– |
| Kamoshika | Japanese serow | JR East | Akita – Aomori | 1997–2010 |
| Kamui | Kamuy | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Asahikawa | 2007– |
| Kawasemi Yamasemi | refers to kingfishers native to the area | JR Kyushu | Kumamoto-Hitoyoshi | 2017- |
| Kinosaki | refers to Kinosaki Onsen | JR-West | Kyoto – Kinosaki Onsen | 1996– |
| Kinugawa / Spacia Kinugawa | refers to Kinugawa River | JR East / Tobu Railway | Shinjuku – Kinugawa-Onsen | 2006– |
| Kirameki | Glitter | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Kokura, Mojikō | 2001– |
| Kirishima | refers to Mt. Kirishima | JR Kyushu | Miyazaki – Miyakonojō, Nishi-Miyakonojō, Kagoshima-Chūō and Kokubu – Kagoshima-Chūō | 1995– |
| Kita-Kinki | North Kinki | JR-West | Shin-Ōsaka, Fukuchiyama – Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen | 1986–2011 |
| Kounotori | Stork | JR-West | Shin-Ōsaka – Fukuchiyama, Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen | 2011– |
| Kumagawa | refers to Kuma River | JR Kyushu | Kumamoto – Hitoyoshi | 2004– |
| Kuroshio | Kuroshio Current | JR-West | Kyoto, Shin-Ōsaka, Tennōji – Wakayama, Shirahama, Shingu | 1965– |
| Kusatsu | refers to Kusatsu Onsen | JR East | Ueno – Manza-Kagawaguchi | 1985– |
| Lilac | - | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Asahikawa | 1980–2007; 2017– |
| Midori | Green | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Sasebo | 1976– |
| Muroto | refers to Cape Muroto | JR Shikoku | Tokushima – Mugi | 1962- |
| Nanki | refers to South Kii Peninsula | JR Central | Nagoya – Shingū, Kii-Katsuura | 1978– |
| Nanpū | Southern wind | JR Shikoku | Okayama – Kōchi, Nakamura, Sukumo | 1972– |
| Narita Express | - | JR East | Tokyo area – Narita Airport | 1991– |
| Nikkō / Spacia Nikkō | refers to Nikkō | JR East / Tōbu | Shinjuku – Tōbu-Nikko | 2006– |
| Noto Kagaribi | Noto fire built in an iron basket | JR-West | Kanazawa – Wakuraonsen | 2015– |
| Odoriko / Super View Odoriko / Saphir Odoriko | refers to The Dancing Girl of Izu | JR East / Izukyū / Izuhakone Railway | Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro – Itō, Izukyū Shimoda, Shuzenji | Odoriko: 1981- Super View Odoriko: 1990–2020 Saphir Odoriko: 2020- |
| Ohayo Express / Oyasumi Express | Good morning express / Good night express | JR-West | Tsuruga – Kanazawa | Ohayo Express: 2001–2024Oyasumi Express: 2004–2024 |
| Ohayo Tochigi / Hometown Tochigi | Good morning Tochigi / - | JR East | Shinjuku – Utsunomiya, Kuroiso | 1995–2010 |
| Okhotsk | refers to Sea of Okhotsk | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Asahikawa - Abashiri | 1972– |
| Relay Tsubame | Swallow | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Shin-Yatsushiro | 2004–2011 |
| Relay Kamome | - | JR Kyushu | Hakata - Takeo-Onsen | 2023- |
| Sagami / Metro Sagami | refers to Sagami, old name of Kanagawa Prefecture | Odakyu | Shinjuku, Kita-Senju – Machida, Sagami-Ōno, Hon-Atsugi, Odawara | 1950– |
| Sarobetsu | refers to Sarobetsu plain | JR Hokkaido | Asahikawa – Wakkanai | 2017– |
| Sazanami | Ripples | JR East | Tokyo – Kimitsu | 1972– |
| Shimanto | refers to Shimanto River | JR Shikoku | Takamatsu – Kōchi, Sukumo | 1988– |
| Shinano | refers to Shinano region, old name of Nagano Prefecture | JR Central | Nagoya – Nagano | 1968– |
| Shiokaze | Sea breeze | JR Shikoku | Okayama – Imabari, Matsuyama, Uwajima | 1972– |
| Shiosai | - | JR East | Tokyo, Shinjuku – Sakura, Narutō, Chōshi | 1975– |
| Shirasagi | Egret | JR-West | Nagoya, Maibara – Tsuruga | 1964– |
| Shirayuki | White snow | JR East | Niigata – Jōetsumyōkō | 2015– |
| Skyliner | - | Keisei | Keisei Ueno – Narita Airport | 1972– |
| Sonic | - | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Yanagigaura, Ōita, Saiki (via Nippō Main Line) | 1997– |
| Soya | refers to Soya region | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Asahikawa - Wakkanai | 2000– |
| Super Hakuto | White hare, i.e. Hare of Inaba | JR-West, Chizu Express | Kyoto – Tottori - Kurayoshi | 1994– |
| Super Inaba | refers to Inaba, old name of Tottori Prefecture. Also Hare of Inaba | JR-West, Chizu Express | Okayama – Tottori | 1993– |
| Super Matsukaze | Pine wind | JR-West | Tottori – Masuda | 2003– |
| Super Oki | refers to Oki Islands | JR-West | Tottori – Yonago, Shin-Yamaguchi | 2001– |
| Ozora | Sky | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Kushiro | 1961– |
| Tokachi | refers to Tokachi region | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Obihiro | 1990– |
| Super White Arrow | - | JR Hokkaido | New Chitose Airport, Sapporo – Asahikawa | 1986–2007 |
| Suzuran | Lily of the valley | JR Hokkaido | Muroran – Sapporo | 1992– |
| Taisetsu | another name of Mt. Daisetsu | JR Hokkaido | Asahikawa - Abashiri | 2017– |
| Thunderbird | - | JR-West | Ōsaka – Tsuruga | 1995– |
| Tōkai | refers to Tokai region | JR Central | Tokyo – Shizuoka | 1996–2007 |
| Tokiwa | old name of Ibaraki Prefecture | JR East | Shinagawa – Tsuchiura, Katsuta, Iwaki, Takahagi | 2015– |
| Trans-Kyushu Limited Express | - | JR Kyushu | Beppu – Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto | 2004– |
| Tsugaru | old name of Aomori Prefecture | JR East | Akita – Aomori | 2002– |
| Umisachi Yamasachi | refers to Hoderi, whose myth supposedly takes place in Southern Kyushu | JR Kyushu | Miyazaki-Nangō | 2009- |
| Uwakai | refers to Sea of Uwa | JR Shikoku | Matsuyama – Uwajima | 1990– |
| Uzushio | refers to Naruto whirlpools | JR Shikoku | Takamatsu – Tokushima | 1988– |
| Wakashio | Growing tide from neap tide to spring tide, also another name of Kuroshio Current | JR East | Shinjuku – Kazusa-Ichinomiya, Katsuura, Awa-Kamogawa | 1972– |
| Yakumo | thick clouds | JR-West | Okayama – Izumoshi | 1972– |
| Yufu / Yufuin-no-mori | refers to Yufu Onsen | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Yufuin, Ōita, Beppu (via Kyūdai Main Line) | 1989– |
| μ Sky | - | Meitetsu | Shin-Unuma, Shin-Kani, Mikakino, Meitetsu Gifu, Meitetsu Nagoya – Central Japan International Airport | 2005– |

### Express

| Train name | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated |
| Chichibuji | Chichibu Railway | Hanyū, Kumagaya – Kagemori, Mitsumineguchi | 1969– |
| Moriyoshi | Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway | Kakunodate – Takanosu | 1989– |
| SL Express | Ōigawa Railway | Shin-Kanaya – Senzu | 1976– |

### Rapid

| Train name | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated |
| Acty [ja] | JR East | Tokyo – Atami | 1989–2023 |
| Airport [ja] | JR Hokkaido | Otaru, Sapporo – New Chitose Airport | 1992– |
| Aqua Liner [ja] | JR-West | Yonago – Masuda | 2001– |
| Aterui | JR East | Mizusawa – Morioka | 2001– |
| Central Liner [ja] | JR Central | Nagoya – Nakatsugawa | 1999–2013 |
| Hamayuri [ja] | JR East | Morioka – Kamaishi (via Kamaishi Line) | 2002– |
| Kansai Airport Rapid Service [ja] | JR-West | Tennōji – Kansai Airport (via Ōsaka) | 1994– |
| Karikachi [ja] | JR Hokkaido | Takikawa, Asahikawa – Obihiro | 1990– |
| Kishuji Rapid Service [ja] | JR-West | Tennōji – Wakayama, Kainan, Gobō, Kii-Tanabe (via Ōsaka) | 1999– |
| Kitami | JR Hokkaido | Asahikawa – Kitami | 1998– |
| Kubikino | JR East | Arai – Niigata | 2002–2015 |
| Marine Liner | JR-West / JR Shikoku | Okayama – Takamatsu | 1988– |
| Mie | JR Central / Ise Tetsudo | Nagoya – Toba | 1990– |
| Nayoro [ja] | JR Hokkaido | Asahikawa – Nayoro | 1965– |
| Rabbit [ja] | JR East | Tokyo – Utsunomiya, Kuroiso | 1988– |
| Rias [ja] | JR East | Morioka – Miyako (via Yamada Line) | 1988– |
| Shōnan Liner | JR East | Tokyo – Odawara (Some of trains pass Tōkaidō Freight Line) | 1986– |
| Sunliner [ja] | JR West | Okayama – Fukuyama | 1989– |
| Sunport [ja] | JR Shikoku | Takamatsu – Matsuyama (some trains to Kotohira via the Dosan Line) | 2002– |
| Tambaji Rapid Service [ja] | JR-West | Ōsaka – Sasayamaguchi | 2000– |
| Tottori Liner [ja] | JR-West | Tottori – Yonago, Izumoshi | 2001– |
| Urban [ja] | JR East | Tokyo – Takasaki, Maebashi | 1989– |
| Yamatoji Rapid Service [ja] | JR-West | Tennōji – Kamo (via Ōsaka) | 1989– |

## Night trains
### Limited express

| Train name | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated |
| Akatsuki | JR-West | Kyoto – Nagasaki | 1965 – Mar 2008 |
| Akebono | JR East | Ueno – Aomori | 1970 – Jan 2015 |
| Asakaze | JR-West | Tokyo – Shimonoseki | 1956 – Mar 2005 |
| Cassiopeia | JR East | Ueno – Sapporo | 1999 – Mar 2016; occasionally operates as a charter train |
| Dream Nichirin | JR Kyushu | Hakata – Minami-Miyazaki, Miyazaki Airport | 1993–2011 |
| Fuji | JR Kyushu | Tokyo – Ōita | 1964 – Mar 2009 |
| Hayabusa | JR Kyushu | Tokyo – Kumamoto | 1958 – Mar 2009 |
| Hokuriku | JR East | Ueno – Kanazawa | 1947 – Mar 2010 |
| Hokutosei | JR East / JR Hokkaido | Ueno – Sapporo | 1988 – August 2015 |
| Izumo | JR East | Tokyo – Izumoshi (via Tottori) | 1972 – Mar 2006 |
| Marimo | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Kushiro | 2001–2008 |
| Naha | JR Kyushu | Kyoto – Kumamoto | 1968 – Mar 2008 |
| Nihonkai | JR-West / JR East | Ōsaka – Aomori | 1968 – Mar 2012 |
| Sunrise Izumo | JR Central / JR-West | Tokyo – Izumoshi (via Okayama) | 1998– |
| Sunrise Seto | JR Central / JR-West | Tokyo – Takamatsu | 1998– |
| Okhotsk | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Abashiri | 1992 – Mar 2006; Daytime service continues |
| Rishiri | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo – Wakkanai | 2000–2007 |
| Sakura | JR Kyushu | Tokyo – Nagasaki | 1959 – Mar 2005 |
| Suisei | JR-West | Kyoto – Minami-Miyazaki | 1968–2005 |
| Twilight Express | JR-West | Ōsaka – Sapporo | 1989 – Mar 2015 |
| Oze yakō 23:55 / Snowpal 23:55 | Tobu Railway | Asakusa – Aizukōgen-Ozeguchi | 1986–; Climbing and skiing season only |

### Express

| Train name | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated |
| Daisen | JR-West | Ōsaka – Yonago (via San'in Main Line) | 1968 – Oct 2004 |
| Ginga | JR-West | Tokyo – Ōsaka | 1950 – Mar 2008 |
| Hakkōda | JR East | Ueno – Aomori(via Tohoku Main Line) | 1961 – Dec 1993 (daily operation) / Aug 1998 (temporary service) |
| Hamanasu | JR Hokkaido | Aomori – Sapporo | 1955 – Mar 2016 |
| Kitaguni | JR-West | Ōsaka – Niigata | 1968 – Jan 2013 |
| Noto | JR East | Ueno – Kanazawa | 1975 – Feb 2012 |
| Tsugaru | JR East | Ueno – Aomori(via Ōu Main Line) | 1954 (temporary service) / 1956 – Dec 1993 (daily operation) / Jan 1998 (temporary service) |

### Rapid

| Train name | Operator | Train endpoints | Operated |
| Moonlight Echigo | JR East | Shinjuku – Niigata | 1986 – May 2014 |
| Moonlight Nagara | JR East / JR Central | Tokyo – Ōgaki | 1996 – March 2020 |
| Moonlight Shinshu | JR East | Shinjuku - Hakuba | |