Resort Shirakami

The original KiHa 48 Aoike 4-car set in September 2005

The KiHa 48 Aoike set reduced to 3 cars, in August 2010

This was the first Resort Shirakami trainset introduced, converted from former KiHa DMU cars at JR East's Tsuchizaki Works, and entering service in March 1997.[4] It was initially formed as a four-car set, as shown below.[5] The end cars were built with new cab ends, while the two inner cars retained their original driving cabs.[4] The name Aoike was added in March 2003 to distinguish it from the second Resort Shirakami ("Buna").[6]

From March 2006, the set was reduced to three cars, as shown below, with car KiHa 48 1521 repainted and inserted into the newly created Kumagera trainset.[6]

The end cars had large panorama windows and featured conventional unidirectional seating, with a small lounge space behind the driving cabs.[4] The two inner cars each had eight four-person semi-open compartments.[4]

This set was replaced in 2010 by a new 4-car HB-E300 series hybrid DMU set, and was reformed as a two-car trainset for use on other lines from February 2011, branded as Cruising Train (クルージングトレイン).[7]

The KiHa 48 Buna 3-car set in October 2010

Following the popularity of the original Resort Shirakami (Aoike) trainset, a second set was built in March 2003, from former KiHa 40 DMU cars at JR East's Tsuchizaki Works, and named Buna (橅, "Japanese beech").[6] This train entered service on 1 April 2003, and was initially formed as a 3-car set as shown below.[5]

In December 2010, it was lengthened to four cars with the addition of KiHa 1543, formerly part of the original Aoike set, and formed as shown below.[6]

The former identities of the rebuilt cars are as follows.[6]

As with the earlier Aoike set, the end cars have large panorama windows and feature conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, with a small lounge space behind the driving cabs.[4] The inner car has semi-open compartments with seats that can pulled out to create a flat seating space. It also included a smoking compartment.[4]

The KiHa 48 Kumagera 3-car set in October 2010

This was the third Resort Shirakami trainset to be built, entering service on 18 March 2006.[8] The name Kumagera is the Japanese name for the black woodpecker, which lives in the Shirakami-Sanchi area, a World Heritage Site.[8] This train was initially formed as a 3-car set as shown below.[6] Car KiHa 48 1521 was originally included in the Aoike trainset.[4]

In December 2010, it was lengthened to four cars, formed as shown below .[6]

The former identities of the rebuilt cars are as follows.[6]

As with the earlier trainsets, the end cars have large panorama windows, ten rows of conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, and a small lounge space behind the driving cabs.[4] The inner car has eight semi-open compartments with seats that can pulled out to create a flat seating space.[4]

• 
  Interior of Kumagera set looking forward, August 2010
• 
  Interior of Kumagera set car 3, August 2010

The HB-E300 series Aoike set in June 2011

This is a four-car hybrid DMU set, which replaced the original KiHa 48 Aoike set and entered service from 4 December 2010.[2]

The trainset is formed as shown below.[9]

The end cars have conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, and a small lounge space behind the driving cabs.[9] The inner cars have semi-open compartments.[9]

The HB-E300 series Buna set in July 2016

This is a four-car hybrid DMU set introduced on 16 July 2016, replacing the original KiHa 48 Buna set.[10]

The trainset is formed as shown below.[10]

Cars 1, 2, and 4 have conventional 2+2 abreast unidirectional seating, while car 3 has semi-open compartments.[10]