On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 10:24:58 +0000, D & M Johnston wrote:
> 
> As stated by other posters here, you can apply for JR rail pass which covers
> all the Bullet Trains(Shinkansen) between Hakata(Fukuoka) up as far as
> Aamori in Northern Honshu via Tokyo.You can get them from travel agent or
> the Japanese Consulate office in your city.It is well worth the money and is
> much cheaper than buying seperate tickets.
> 
I think the shinkansen ends in Hachinohe (before Aomori).  You can of
course take other kinds of trains other than Shinkansen to go to Aomori or
into Hokkaido.