The E353 series (E353系) is a DC tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services on the Chūō Main Line since December 2017.
The pre-series train also had dampers installed between the cars to reduce vibrations, but this feature was discontinued on the subsequent production trainsets.
[12] The pale blue seat covers are intended to evoke images of the Azusa River, after which the train service was named.
[2] LED lighting is used on these trains, for the first time on JR East limited express rolling stock.
[3] The first trainset, consisting of one nine-car and one three-car set, was delivered from the Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC) factory in Yokohama to Matsumoto Depot in July 2015.
[19] From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2018, all Super Azusa services were operated by E353 series trains.
[21] With the start of the 16 March 2019 timetable revision, all Azusa and Kaiji services were operated with E353 series trains.
In addition, three-car E353 series trainsets were deployed on Fuji Excursion services, which operate between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko on the Fujikyuko Line.