{"id":1008,"date":"2018-09-17T04:30:37","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T04:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uenostation.com\/?page_id=1008"},"modified":"2018-09-17T04:30:37","modified_gmt":"2018-09-17T04:30:37","slug":"limited-express-akagi-and-swallow-akagi-for-kumagaya-honjo-takasaki-and-maebashi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uenostation.com\/limited-express-akagi-and-swallow-akagi-for-kumagaya-honjo-takasaki-and-maebashi\/","title":{"rendered":"The Limited Express Akagi and Swallow Akagi for Kumagaya, Honjo, Takasaki, and Maebashi"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Akagi and Swallow Akagi are limited express commuter services that provide a fast and comfortable link between JR Ueno Station in Tokyo and destinations in Saitama and Gunma Prefectures. The Akagi is the name given to weekend and holiday services, and the Swallow Akagi is the name given to weekday services. Although the weekday and weekend services are almost the same, the Swallow Akagi makes two more stops than the Akagi. Traveling on a weekday is also cheaper.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Swallow Akagi at JR Ueno Station<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

These two services are named after Mount Akagi, which is a famous mountain in Gunma Prefecture and \u201cswallow\u201d indicates the swift speed of the train. However, it is also a pun, because \u201cswallow\u201d sounds like the Japanese word suwarou which means \u201clet\u2019s sit\u201d. At JR Ueno Station these services usually depart from platforms 14, 15 and 16. Because these limited express services are operated by JR East they are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Destinations<\/h2>\n

Between Ueno and Omiya the Akagi and Swallow Akagi services run along the Tohoku Main Line, and between Omiya and Takasaki they run along the Takasaki Line. Most northbound services terminate at Honjo Station or Takasaki Station. However, a small number continue on the Joetsu Line to Shin-Maebashi Station and then on the Ryomo Line to Maebashi Station. The stations served are listed below. Note that the stations in parentheses () are served only by the Swallow Akagi and not by the weekend Akagi services.<\/p>\n

Ueno > Akabane > Urawa > Omiya > Ageo > Okegawa > (Kitamoto) > (Konosu) > Kumagaya > Fukaya > Honjo > Shinmachi > Takasaki > Shin-Maebashi > Maebashi<\/strong><\/p>\n

The main destinations for these services are given below. For more detailed information about the stations on this route, please see our Takasaki Line<\/a> article. Train fares (including limited express surcharges) and example travel times are given from JR Ueno Station.<\/p>\n

\"A

A carriage banner on the Swallow Akagi<\/p><\/div>\n

Kumagaya Station<\/h3>\n

Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture is known as one of the hottest cities in Japan. Coincidentally, the biggest annual event in Kumagaya is a summer festival named after the uchiwa<\/em>, or handheld paper fans, that people use to keep cool. This paper fan festival, called Uchiwa Matsuri, is held every year from July 20th \u2013 22nd and it is one of the biggest events in the Kanto region. During the festival 12 festival floats are paraded through the streets accompanied by the traditional music of flutes and drums.<\/p>\n

The main tourist attraction in Kumagaya is Menuma Shodenzan Temple<\/strong> which was first established in the 12th century. The current buildings date from the 17th century and are covered in colorful and elaborate colorful carvings. One famous carving shows an eagle rescuing a monkey from a waterfall and is believed to be by the artist Hidari Jingoro. This is the same artist who carved the famous \u201cthree wise monkeys\u201d on the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko.<\/p>\n

Transfers can be made here to the Joetsu Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and the Chichibu Main Line.<\/p>\n

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<\/i>  Swallow Akagi fare: 2,140 yen
\n<\/i>  Akagi fare: 2,590 yen
\n<\/i>  Train time: 59 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Honjo Station<\/h3>\n

Honjo City in Saitama Prefecture has a number of historic buildings. The Honjo City Museum of History and Folklore is located in a Meiji era Western style building dating from 1883 that was originally built as Honjo Police Station. The museum exhibits a rare collection of \u201csmiling\u201d haniwa, clay figurines dating from the Kofun period (3rd to 7th centuries). Kyoshinsha Mohan Sanshitsu is a massive wooden building dating from 1894 that was originally used to cultivate silkworms. Hanawa Hokiichi Kyutaku is the former home of Hanawa Hokiichi (1746 \u2013 1821), a famous blind scholar who Helen Keller praised as a personal inspiration.The Edo era building with its thatched roof and garden is designated as a National Historic Site.<\/p>\n

Some northbound Swallow Akagi services terminate at Honjo Station. However, transfers can be made here to Takasaki Line services traveling north to Takasaki and Maebashi. Honjo Station is also served by Shonan-Shinjuku Line services bound for Shinjuku and Yokohama. <\/p>\n

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<\/i>  Swallow Akagi fare: 2,490 yen
\n<\/i>  Akagi fare: 2,940 yen
\n<\/i>  Train time: 75 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Takasaki Station<\/h3>\n

Takasaki is a big city in Gunma Prefecture with good transportation links, a number of sites of historical and cultural interest, and easy access to Gunma\u2019s natural scenery. The top tourist attractions are listed below.<\/p>\n