The 481 series trains were introduced in 1964 for use on Hokuriku Line limited services, and were capable of operating under 1,500 V DC or 20 kV AC overhead wire power supplies. These train were subsequently operated by JR-West and JR Kyushu.
Interior
483 series
The 483 series trains were introduced in 1965 for use on Tohoku Main Line limited express services, and were capable of operating under 1,500 V DC or 20 kV AC overhead wire power supplies. The non-powered trailer cars used in these sets were classified 481 series.
The 485 series trains were introduced in 1968. These trains were capable of operating under 1,500 V DC or 20 kV AC overhead wire power supplies. The original design was closely based on the bonnet-style 181 series EMU, with the primary difference being ceilings that were 12.5 cm higher. However, trains produced from 1972 onwards, starting with the 485-200 series, featured a new design with a cab adapted from the 583 series sleeper expresses, which became the standard on nearly all subsequent JNR limited-express EMUs. The 485-200 series trains had gangway doors at the cab ends to allow trains to be operated in multiple, but the 485-300 series trains introduced from 1974 had no gangways. The 485-1500 series trains were built in 1974 for use in Hokkaido. The 485-1000 series trains built from 1975 onward incorporated design improvements from the DC-only 183-1000 series trains.
Operations
485 series trains were also used on the Raichō and Super Raichō services from 1968 until the service ended in March 2011. These trains sometimes utilized a panoramic cab car which was a "Green Car". The Inaho and Hokuetsu services have used 485 and 485-3000 series trains since 1969. The Hitachi service used 485 series trainsets from 1969 to 1998, when it was replaced by Super Hitachi and Fresh Hitachi services. The Tsugaru service has used 485-3000 series trains since 2002, when the service started. The Nikkō service used a dedicated 6-car 485 series set from March 2006 until 4 June 2011, which was occasionally substituted by a reserve 189 series set nicknamed Ayano. It was replaced by two 6-car 253 series sets from 4 June 2011. The Noto has used a single 6-car 485 series train since March 2010, replacing the previous 489 series train. Currently owned by JR East and formerly by JR-West and JR Kyushu, they also operated in the JR Hokkaido area on regular Hakuchō services, and in JR Central and JR Shikoku areas providing extra services. The last original JNR-style trainset operated by JR East was withdrawn in June 2016 after a series of special farewell Hibari, Aizu, and Tsubasa runs on 18 and 19 June.
Limited express
Joyful Train sets
Formations
485-3000 series
, only two 485-3000 series refurbished sets remain in service, based at Niigata Depot for use on limited-stop "Rapid" services between and on the Nihonkai Hisui Line. The six-car sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Itoigawa end. The last 485-3000 series-operated rapid trains were discontinued.
