The 381 series started operations as the world's first pendulum limited express train on the limited express "Shinano" due to the timetable revision of the Chuo Main Line and Shinonoi Line in July 1973. Immediately after the inauguration of JR due to the privatization of JNR, in 1988, the panoramic green car Kuro 381 10 series, which was modified from the Salo 381 to become the leading car of the observation type, appeared in response to the trend of shortening the formation.
The panoramic green car has a bold design at the beginning, and the entrance and exit are arranged in the middle part, and the front view guest room is a high decker and the view is taken into consideration, and it became popular.
Even after the appearance of the successor 383 series, it was active until 2008 for temporary trains.
The 381 series "Panorama Shinano" (specification at the time of appearance) is characterized by the black underfloor seen at the time of appearance, with a large JR mark, and the Kuha 381 made separately in the basic set and the extension set.