The Shinano (しなの), branded as (Wide View) Shinano (（ワイドビュー）しなの) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), which runs between Nagoya and Nagano via Matsumoto. Like all JR Central limited express trains, a limited express fee has to be paid, on top of the normal fare to ride this service.

Route

Trains start and terminate at Nagoya Station. There was formerly a daily return service between Nagano and Ōsaka, which travelled a total distance of 274.1 miles (441.2 km) and took approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. This made the Shinano the furthest travelling daytime limited express service in Japan prior to its discontinuation on 26 March 2016 due to declining passenger numbers. Some trains also ran seasonally to Hakuba, a service which has also stopped. Trains stop at the following stations: Nagoya - (Kanayama) - Chikusa - Tajimi - (Ena) - Nakatsugawa - (Nagiso) - (Agematsu) - Kiso-Fukushima - Shiojiri - Matsumoto - (Akashina) - (Hijiri-Kōgen) - Shinonoi - Nagano Parentheses indicate stations where some but not all services stop.

Rolling stock

Past

Accommodation

Green car (first class) and standard class accommodation is provided, with 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating in both classes. Seat pitch is 1200 mm in Green class and 1000 mm in standard class. All trains are no smoking. Onboard catering services ceased on 16 March 2013.

History

The Shinano service was first introduced on 11 November 1953 as a "semi-express" operating between Nagoya and Nagano. This was upgraded to "express" status from 13 December 1959, and became a "limited express" from 1 October 1968.