The is a "Rapid" limited-stop train service in Japan operated by

East Japan Railway Company The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...

(JR East) and

Aoimori Railway Company The is a third-sector railway transport company that operates the Aoimori Railway Line in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Its headquarters are located in the city of Aomori. The government of Aomori Prefecture and the city of Aomori are the primary sh ...

, which runs from to via the

Aoimori Railway Line The is a Regional rail, regional rail line in Aomori Prefecture, Japan that is operated by the Aoimori Railway Company. It connects Metoki Station, the terminal station of the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line, to Aomori Station, the terminus of severa ...

and the

Ōminato Line The is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Noheji Station and Ōminato Station on the Shimokita Peninsula in eastern Aomori Prefecture. Station list :●: All rapid service trains stop, ○: Some r ...

Service pattern

There are three daily round trip services to

Hachinohe is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 213,453 in 110,121 households, and a population density of . As of October 2020, Hachinohe is Aomori Prefecture's second largest city by population. The c ...

Station list

History

Semi express (1961–1965)

The ''Shimokita'' name was first used on 15 September 1961 for a semi express service which operated between in

Iwate Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It is the second-largest Japanese prefecture (behind Hokkaido) at , with a population of 1,165,886 (as of July 1, 2023). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Pre ...

and in

Aomori Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori (city), Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is border ...

via . This was discontinued on 30 September 1965, replaced by the ''Michinoku'' service.

Express (1966–1982)

The ''Shimokita'' name was subsequently used from 1 October 1966 for an express service which operated between Morioka and in the down direction and between Ōwani and Morioka in the up direction. This was discontinued on 14 November 1982.

Rapid (1993–present)

KiHa 40 Shimokita Ominato Station 20080207

The ''Shimokita'' name was revived in 1993 when new

KiHa 100 series The are diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains operated since 1990 by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on non-electrified rural lines in Japan. A total of 247 vehicles were built between 1989 and 1999 by Fuji Heavy Industries and Niigata Transy ...

DMU trains were introduced on the former ''Usori'' rapid services operating between , , and Aomori. On 13 March 2021, the ''Shimokita'' service operated jointly by JR East and the Aoimori Railway between and Ōminato was abolished, though the service continues to operate between and Ōminato.

References

{{JR East trains Named passenger trains of Japan East Japan Railway Company Aoimori Railway Line Rail transport in Aomori Prefecture Railway services introduced in 1961 Railway services introduced in 1993 1961 establishments in Japan 1993 establishments in Japan