Joban Line 常磐線

  • Published on : 10/11/2016
  • by : Japan Experience

The Joban Line is a four-section Japan Rail train line running between the greater Tokyo and Tohoku regions.

  • Japan Rail Pass

The Joban Line local service and some express services make use of the Chiyoda subway line, from Ayase Station southwards. Holders of a Japan Rail Pass should note that, although they have unlimited use of the Joban Line, they will have to pay a little extra upon exiting a Chiyoda Line station if they arrived there from the Joban Line.

  • Joban Express Line

The Joban Express Line (click for map) runs on a limited section of the Joban Line, from Ueno to Toride, stopping at 10 of the 19 stations on the route. The first five stations are in Tokyo, the next four in Chiba Prefecture, and the last in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Most Joban Line Express Trains go all the way to Toride, but about twenty trains a day run through to the Narita Line at Abiko Station and go as far as Narita Station (not to be confused with trains to Narita Airport. Narita Station provides access to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.)

E657 Limited Express Train on the Joban Line

E657 Limited Express Train on the Joban Line

©Japan Visitor

  • Joban Line Suburban Trains

Suburban Trains on the Joban Line typically stop at several stations in Tokyo, skip stations on the outskirts of Tokyo, then stop again at most stations further north. There are four suburban services defined by their final destination, and all of which have Green Cars. Three of them (for Tsuchiura, Mito and Katsuta) start at Ueno Station, and one (for Takahagi) at Shinagawa Station. Not only do they terminate their run at different destination stations, but stop at a different set of stations on the way:

-Joban Line Suburban Train to Tsuchiura (click for map) stops at 16 stations from Ueno to Tsuchiura.

-Joban Line Suburban Train to Mito (click for map) stops at 25 stations from Ueno to Mito.

-Joban Line Suburban Train to Katsuta (click for map) stops at 26 stations from Ueno to Katsuta

-Joban Line Suburban Train to Takahagi (click for map) stops at 37 stations between Shinagawa and Takahagi.

Suburban Train on the Joban Line

Suburban Train on the Joban Line

©Japan Visitor

  • Joban Line Hitachi Limited Express

Joban Line Hitachi Limited Express (click for map) stops at 14 stations between Shinagawa and Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture.

  • Joban Line Tokiwa Limited Express

-Joban Line Tokiwa Limited Express to Tsuchiura (click for map) stops at seven stations between Ueno and Tsuchiura.

-Joban Line Tokiwa Limited Express to Katsuta (click for map) stops at seven stations between Ueno and Katsuta.

-Joban Line Tokiwa Limited Express to Takahagi (click for map) stops at 12 stations between Ueno and Takahagi.

-Joban Line Tokiwa Limited Express to Iwaki (click for map) stops at 17 stations between Ueno and Iwaki.

Entrance to the Joban Line, Mito Station, Ibaraki Prefecture

Entrance to the Joban Line, Mito Station, Ibaraki Prefecture

©Japan Visitor

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