Toki (train)

The Toki (とき) is a high-speed Shinkansen train service operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on the Joetsu Shinkansen in Japan.

The name is taken from the Japanese name of the crested ibis, for which Niigata is famous.

Station Stops

 * Tokyo
 * Ueno**
 * Ōmiya
 * Kumagaya*
 * Honjo-Waseda*
 * Takasaki**
 * Jomo-Kogen*
 * Echigo-Yuzawa*
 * Urasa*
 * Nagaoka**
 * Tsubame-Sanjo*
 * Niigata

(*) Not served by all trains

(**) Not served by Toki 311 only

Rolling stock

 * E7 series 12-car sets (Toki) (from 3 March 2019)

Former rolling stock

 * E1 series 12-car sets (Max Toki) (until 28 September 2012)
 * 200 series 10-car sets (until 15 March 2013)
 * E2 series 10-car sets (26 January 2013 until 17 March 2023)
 * E4 series 8-car sets (Max Toki) (until 1 October 2021)

Limited express
The name Toki was first introduced on 10 June 1962 for limited express services operating between Ueno in Tokyo and Niigata on the Joetsu Line. This service operated until 14 November 1982, the day before the Joetsu Shinkansen opened.

Shinkansen
From the start of services on the newly opened Jōetsu Shinkansen on 15 November 1982, Toki became the name used for the all-stations shinkansen services operating initially between Ōmiya and Niigata, later between Ueno and Niigata, and eventually between Tokyo and Niigata.

The Toki name was discontinued from October 1997 following the introduction of new Tanigawa all-stations services between Tokyo and Echigo-Yuzawa. However, the name was reinstated from December 2002 to replace the name Asahi used for all Tokyo to Niigata trains.

E2 series 10-car sets were re-introduced on four return Toki services daily from 26 January 2013, operating at a maximum speed of 240 km/h.

The E4 series sets were retired at the beginning of October 2021, marking the end of bi-level high-speed trains operating on Shinkansen services.

E2 series sets were removed from all Toki services (as well as the slower Tanigawa services on the Joetsu Shinkansen) on 18 March 2023 timetable revision as the line underwent an operating speed increase from 240 to 275 km/h.

Special train services
A special Joetsu Shinkansen 30th Anniversary (上越新幹線開業30周年号) service ran as Toki 395 from Omiya to Niigata on 17 November 2012 using 10-car 200 series set K47.