Jōsō Line

The Jōsō Line (常磐線, Jōban-sen) is a major railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It primarily connects Tokyo with points north along the Pacific coast of Ibaraki Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture. The line is divided into multiple operational segments due to varying service patterns and equipment types.

The line's official starting point is Nippori Station in Tokyo, although in practice, many services continue southward onto the Ueno-Tokyo Line, providing through service to and from the Tōkaidō Line. The northern terminus of the Jōsō Line is Iwaki Station in Fukushima Prefecture; however, the Jōban Line technically continues further north. Services north of Iwaki were severely disrupted by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, with some sections having been restored in recent years.

The Jōsō Line serves both local and limited express trains. Local trains generally operate within shorter segments, while limited express services provide direct connections between Tokyo and major cities further north, such as Mito, Hitachi, and Iwaki (as services allow). The line plays a vital role in commuting, connecting residential areas in the suburbs of Tokyo and Ibaraki Prefecture to the city center. It also serves important industrial areas and tourist destinations along its route.

The Jōsō Line has experienced significant disruption due to natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent nuclear disaster particularly impacted the northern sections of the line, leading to lengthy service suspensions and reconstruction efforts. Restoration efforts have been underway to restore full service to the affected areas.