The is an overnight train service that operates in Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company

West Japan Railway Company

, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...

 (JR West), it runs between Niigata Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...

 and Osaka

Osaka

is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

 in the Kansai

Kansai

The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...

 region. The journey takes approximately nine hours northbound and eight hours southbound.

The southbound train originates at Niigata Station at 22:55, arriving in Osaka at 06:49.

The northbound service leaves Osaka at 23:27, terminating at Niitsu station at 08:10. It then carries on as a local train for the final 15-minutes to Niigata.

Major stops along the Kitaguni route include Shin-Osaka

Shin-Osaka Station

is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service....

, Kyoto

Kyoto

is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...

, Maibara, Tsuruga, Fukui

Fukui, Fukui

is the capital of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The city is located in the north-central part of the prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan.-Demographics:...

, Kanazawa

Kanazawa, Ishikawa

is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...

, Toyama

Toyama, Toyama

is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....

, Naoetsu

Naoetsu Station

is a JR East and JR West railway station in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is located on the Hokuriku and Shinetsu main lines, as well as the Hokuhoku Line.-Lines:*JR East**Shinetsu Main Line*JR West**Hokuriku Main Line*Hokuetsu Express**Hokuhoku Line...

, and Nagaoka

Nagaoka Station

is a train station located in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan.The station opened on June 16, 1898.- Lines :*East Japan Railway Company**Jōetsu Shinkansen**Shin'etsu Main Line**Jōetsu Line- Adjacent stations :-External links:*...

.

The Kitaguni uses dedicated 581/583 series

583 series

The are limited express electric multiple unit types introduced in 1967 by Japanese National Railways and operated by East Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company on through services express Kitaguni and other special trains....

 EMU trains consisting of both unreserved and reserved accommodation.
A flat fee is charged for type "A" and "B" reserved accommodation, regardless of starting or ending location, while Green Car reserved accommodation rates are based on distance. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥6,000 for a type "B" berth to about ¥10,000 for a type "A" berth. A Green Car seat covering the entire distance from Osaka to Niigata costs ¥5,150.

The other fares, the basic fare and express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid.

Route

The Kitaguni runs on the following lines:

JR West

West Japan Railway Company

, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...

• Kyoto Line (Tōkaidō Main Line
  Tokaido Main Line
  The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
  
  ): Osaka - Kyoto
• Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line
  Tokaido Main Line
  The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
  
  /Hokuriku Line): Kyoto - Nagahama
• Hokuriku Line: Nagahama - Naoetsu

JR East

East Japan Railway Company

is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....

• Shinetsu Line: Naoetsu - Niigata