Current Transportation Options from Affected Areas

 (Updated March 24)

Note: You may need to communicate solely in Japanese when you call to make reservations with the bus companies listed below. It is recommended that travelers call bus companies to verify schedules.

Reports from Ibaraki indicate that Jobando Highway is closed north of Mito City, but is open south of Mito City. There are also reports that public transportation is extremely limited. Regular roads from Iwate to Hanamaki are open.

• Latest road updates from JARTIC (Japan Road Traffic Information Center)
• For Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata highway updates
• For Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki highway updates

In Miyagi, the expressway is only open to emergency vehicles. To get to Tokyo from Yamagata, it is best to take the bus to Niigata City, where there are many buses and trains to Tokyo. You may also take the Yamako bus to Tsuruko City in Yamagata, and then board the JR train to Niigata.

JR Bus Tel: 022-256-6646 (Japanese)
Starting 03/17/2011, the following buses will be operating:

From Sendai to Shinjuku
Departure times: 8:00, 9:20, 14:10, 23:50 Tickets required—contact JR Ticket Office (Midori no Madoguchi)

Please note that all seats are booked through 3/31, but seats may be available if there are cancellations. Reservations are required.

From Sendai to Morioka
Departure times: 7:00, 8:05, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 12:00, 15:00, 16:05, 16:05, 17:00, 17:45, 18:30, 19:15, 20:00 (More services on weekends)
Details
No reservation required.

From Sendai to Furukawa
31 buses/day
Departure times: please check JR website
No reservation required

From Sendai to Niigata
All buses are operating on their usual schedule.
Tickets required - Please contact JR Ticket Office (Midori no Madoguchi)
Niigata Kotsu: 8 buses/day

You may also catch JR buses from Akita to Yuzawa and Omagari, and also from Yamagata to Yonezawa. As of March 16, there are various buses running from Sendai to Tokyo.

Miyagi Kotsu (宮城交通) Bus Schedules
Tel: 022-261-5333

Sendai - Yamagata line Bus Schedule

Sendai - Fukushima line Bus Schedule

Fukushima to Sendai - Bus Schedule:
10:35, 10:50, 18:35, 19:05

Sendai-Morioka line: Bus Schedule

Fukushima Kotsu (福島交通) bus
Tel: 024-531-2706
Fukushima to Sendai 7:10, 8:50, 12:35, 15:10 (70 minute ride, no reservation required)
Sendai to Fukushima 10:30, 11:40, 17:55; 19:00 (70 minute ride, no reservation required)
Higashinihon Kyuko（東日本交通) English name: Higashi Nippon Express
Tel: 022-218-3131

Sendai to Morioka: Details
Morioka to Sendai: Details

Iwateken Kotsu（岩手県交通）
Tel: 019-654-7755
Details
Sendai to Morioka 7:00, 8:05, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 14:40*, 15:00, 16:05, 16:30*, 17:00, 17:45, 18:10*, 18:30, 19:15, 20:00
Morioka to Sendai 5:55, 6:40, 7:40, 8:10*, 8:40, 9:10*, 9:40, 10:10*, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40, 13:40, 14:40, 15:30, 16:40, 18:25
* Operated Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holiday

Iwate Kenpoku Bus (岩手県北バス)
From March 24
Sendai-Morioka line: Sendai to Morioka 7:00, 8:05, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:05, 17:00, 17:45, 18:30, 19:15, 20:00
Morioka to Sendai 05:55, 06:40, 07:40, 08:40, 09:40, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40, 13:40, 14:40, 15:30, 16:40, 18:25

For more information about the public transportation network among Sendai, Yamagata, Tokyo, Osaka, and Niigata, you may visit this online link.
Please note that you may need to make advance reservations for travel.

Below are links to the websites of the various bus companies:

• Yamako Bus - Tel: 023-632-7280 or 025- 241-9000
• Shonai Kotsu Bus
• Niigata Kotsu Bus
• JR Bus Tel: 022-256-6646

Night Express Bus Dream Morioka (夜行高速バスドリーム盛岡号)

Tel: 019-662-2121
Morioka Bus Center 22:15 > Morioka Station 22:30→ Tokyo (Ikebukuro) 05:20 - Tokyo Station 05:50
Reservation required, scheduled to operate from 3/18-3/31
Kosoku bus net

Hassha all right net
Kokusai Kogyo 03-5917-8510 (9:00-19:00)

Night Express Bus Hanamaki - Ikebukuro Line （イーハトーブ号）

Hanamaki 22:08 > Ikebukuro (Tokyo) 06:13
Reservation: Iwateken Kotsu 0197-66-7799 (9:00- 18:00)
i-JTB Kosoku Bus Ticket

Night Express Bus Morioka - Yokohama Line （夜行高速バス盛岡横浜線）

Morioka bus station 22:00 > Morioka Station 20:10 > Hanamaki Station 23:00 > Yokohama Station 06:03
Reservations:
Iwateken Kotsu 019-662-2121 (9:00-18:00)
Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu 0463-21-1212 (9:00-19:00)
i-JTB Kosoku Bus Ticket
* Operates from March 20, 2011

Highway Express Bus Hanamaki-Sendai Liner （けんじライナー）

Tel: 0197-66-3211/022-256-6646
Kamaishi-Morioka Line （釜石盛岡線）
Tel: 0193-25-2527

Morioka Station 8:00, 15:00 > Kamaishi Station 10:35, 17:35
Kamaishi Station 8:00, 15:00 > Morioka Station 10:35, 17:35

Oofunato-Morioka Line （大船渡盛岡線）

Tel: 0198-2210
Ohfunato Station 15:00 > Morioka Station 18:00
Morioka Station 08:30 > Ohfunato Station 11:30

Rikuzentakada - Morioka Line （陸前高田盛岡線）

Rikuzentakada (Takada Driving School) 15:00 > Morioka Station 18:00 Morioka Station 08:30 > Rikuzentakada (Takada Driving School) 11:30

Trains

The following websites contain information on current train operations:

• NaviTime
• Jorudan