The E5 Hayabusa Series: Japan's Fast Green Bullet Train

A friendly guide to the green and white bullet train that links Tokyo with Tohoku and Hokkaido at up to 320 km/h.

Published October 22, 2026 at 12:30 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: The E5 series is a ten-car Shinkansen with a green upper body and a pink stripe, used on JR East's Tohoku Shinkansen since March 5, 2011. It runs the Hayabusa (peregrine falcon) service at a top speed of 320 km/h, the fastest regular speed on the Japanese network, and the Hokkaido version, the H5, carries a purple stripe.

Travelers heading north from Tokyo often notice a long-nosed green train and wonder what it is. The E5 is the workhorse of the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen, and the Hayabusa name on the timetable refers to the fastest service that uses it. This guide explains the color scheme, the speed, the seat classes, the Hokkaido sister train and how to ride it comfortably, drawing on Wikipedia and other reference pages.

What the E5 series is

The E5 series is a Shinkansen (bullet train) built for JR East by Hitachi and Kawasaki and introduced into passenger service on March 5, 2011, according to Wikipedia. It runs on the Tohoku Shinkansen, which links Tokyo with Shin-Aomori, and some services continue onto the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. Each set has ten cars.

The train is known for its long, pointed nose and its elegant two-tone color scheme. It was designed for high-speed service on a long line, and the Tohoku Shinkansen it serves covers roughly 675 kilometers. That is a long journey by bullet train standards, so comfort and stability are an important part of the design.

Why the Hayabusa name matters

Hayabusa is the Japanese word for the peregrine falcon, a bird known for its fast dives. The name is used for the fastest Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen service, which began on March 5, 2011, the same day the E5 entered service. When the service was extended to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto on March 26, 2016, the name came along.

Do not mix up the train and the service. The E5 is the train type, while Hayabusa is the service name printed on timetables and tickets. Other services, such as Hayate, Yamabiko and Nasuno, also use E5 and H5 trains, and the Komachi service uses the separate E6 train to reach Akita.

The green and pink color scheme

The most noticeable feature of the E5 is its color. According to Wikipedia, the upper body is Tokiwa green, a deep evergreen shade, the lower body is Hiun white, and a Hayate pink stripe separates them. The effect is a look that many fans describe as calm but distinctive against a snowy or green landscape.

The Hokkaido version, called the H5, replaces the pink stripe with a Saika purple stripe and carries a gyrfalcon logo on the body. This small change makes it easy to tell the two types apart on a platform. Spotters often use the stripe color as the quickest way to identify which sister train they have seen.

Speed and the Fastech 360S heritage

The E5 can run at up to 320 km/h. It started service at 300 km/h and moved to 320 km/h between Utsunomiya and Morioka from March 16, 2013, a stretch of about 387 kilometers that is the fastest section of the line. On the Hokkaido Shinkansen the limit is lower, around 260 km/h, and the shared track through the Seikan Tunnel has a 160 km/h limit.

The train's shape comes from an experimental train called Fastech 360S, which JR East tested from 2005 to 2009. That test train was nicknamed the cat-eared Shinkansen because of its emergency air brake plates, and its test results fed into the E5 and E6 designs. This history helps explain why the E5 looks so purposeful: its form was refined through years of trials.

Ride quality and technology

High speed needs a smooth ride, and the E5 uses electric active suspension on all cars. It can also tilt up to 1.5 degrees, which lets it hold higher speed on curves with a 4,000 meter radius. These features keep the ride steady for passengers, even when the scenery outside is moving quickly.

The E5 won the Blue Ribbon Award in 2012, an honor given to outstanding railway vehicles in Japan. The H5 adds cold-weather upgrades, such as a stronger snowplow, reinforced connections between cars and a stainless steel underfloor, to handle northern winters. These changes show how the same basic design adapts to the climate of Hokkaido.

Seat classes: Ordinary, Green and Gran Class

Hayabusa trains offer three classes. Ordinary cars, numbers 1 to 8, use a three plus two seating layout, and the Green Car, car 9, offers 55 seats in a two plus two layout. Car 10 is the Gran Class car, with 18 power-reclining seats in a two plus one layout, which makes it the most spacious option.

All seats on the Hayabusa are reserved and non-smoking, according to Wikipedia. Because of this, booking ahead is important during busy travel seasons such as Golden Week and the New Year period. Prices and rules can change, so check JR East's official site or your ticket vendor for the most current details.

How long the journey takes

The fastest Hayabusa from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori takes just under three hours, according to Wikipedia, which gave a time of 2 hours 58 minutes as of 2021. Trains continue through the Seikan Tunnel to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, with the fastest trip from Tokyo taking about 3 hours 57 minutes. Timetables change, so confirm times for your travel date.

Not every Hayabusa stops at every station. All trains stop at Tokyo, Omiya, Sendai, Morioka, Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, while some also stop at Ueno and other stations. If you plan to get off at a smaller stop, check the stopping pattern carefully or choose a Hayate or Yamabiko service.

Tips for riding and spotting

For comfort, reserve a seat early and look at the seat map when you book, since the class you choose changes the layout around you. Car 10 sits at the Aomori end of the train, so it is worth remembering when you plan where to wait on the platform.

For spotting, Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Sendai and Morioka stations all handle Tohoku Shinkansen trains. Stay behind the yellow safety line, avoid flash photography and follow station staff instructions. Always keep a polite distance from other travelers, and let departing passengers pass before you take photos.

Where the E5 fits among Japan's bullet trains

The E5 is part of a long tradition of increasing speed and comfort on the Shinkansen. It sits beside the N700S on the Tokaido line and the E6 on the Akita line as the most visible modern designs. Its place is the northern gateway, connecting Tokyo with Sendai, Morioka, Aomori and Hakodate in a single comfortable ride.

For travelers planning a northern route, the Hayabusa is a convenient way to see Japan's largest island of Honshu and then cross to Hokkaido by train. Many people enjoy it because it combines speed, scenery and convenience. A green train with a pink stripe is easy to remember, and it makes the journey north feel like part of the adventure.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Tokyo Paul's Japan Unrevealed: Japan in Motion is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hayabusa mean?

Hayabusa is the Japanese word for the peregrine falcon, a fast-flying bird of prey. It is the name of the fastest Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen service, which began on March 5, 2011. The train that runs it is usually an E5 series set or, in Hokkaido, an H5 series set.

How fast is the E5 series Shinkansen?

The E5 has a maximum operating speed of 320 km/h, which has applied between Utsunomiya and Morioka since March 2013. It runs slower on other sections, and the Hokkaido Shinkansen has lower limits, including 160 km/h in the Seikan Tunnel because the track is shared with freight trains.

Is the Hayabusa reserved seating only?

Wikipedia states that all seats on the Hayabusa are reserved. Booking ahead is wise in busy travel seasons, and details of how to reserve are on the JR East site. Check JR East for the latest rules, fares and pass conditions, since details change over time.

Further Reading

To explore further, see E5 and H5 Series Shinkansen, Hayabusa (train) and Tohoku Shinkansen.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama: Understanding Shinkansen Types, Shinkansen Seats: Reserved, Green Car and Luggage Rules and Hakodate: Night Views, Morning Market and Harbor Charm.