Above: An E653-1000 “Inaho” train set stopped at Niigata Station in 2021. The livery and plaque is meant to represent the sun setting over fields of rice against a view of the Sea of Japan.

The E653 was first built in 1997 for the new “Fresh Hitachi” limited express service on the Joban Line. Between 2011 and 2015, all E653 train sets were retired and replaced with E657s. The retired E653s were refurbished and repurposed for the Inaho limited express service on the Uetsu Main Line in 2013 and the Shirayuki limited express service on the Shin’etsu Line in 2015.

The Inaho fleet is eight E653-1000s. The original E653s were upgraded with wider seating, Green Cars (first class seating), and new liveries that depict the area of Japan they operate in. Starting in 2017, individual train sets were repainted with custom liveries, including a pair of trains repainted in 2023. One to resemble the original Fresh Hitachi service and another to resemble the old JNR 485 series that the E653-1000s replaced. Additionally, E653-1100 sets (also made from retired E653s) were added to the service in 2022.

Picture taken by me in 2021, part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.