Japan's Ultimate Luxury Sightseeing Train You Really Can't Imagine

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🤗 TRAIN SUITE Four Seasons Island

Official website: www.jreast.co.jp/shiki-shima/

When it comes to luxury sightseeing trains in Japan, the TRAIN SUITE Shikishima is undoubtedly one of the top choices. The train, which went into operation in 2017, is said to have been built at a cost of 5 billion yen, which translates to about 300 million yuan! In addition to elegant luxury rooms, the train also has a restaurant, observation room, etc., in its departure and arrival of the Ueno station also set up a special platform, the carriages can taste food, wine, you can enjoy live performances, it is simply a luxury hotel opened on the train!

Shikishima was built by JR East and supervised by Kiyoyuki Okuyama, a famous automobile designer who once designed a Ferrari. The concept of the Shikishima is “deep travel and exploration,” which means that the train is designed specifically for traveling and sightseeing, and therefore does not sell tickets, but rather is sold as a travel package, with routes that include Tohoku and other areas of Japan such as Yamanashi and Nagano. Since its launch, the train has become very popular and even hard to get a seat. The 2024-2025 Winter Package is currently on sale for two days and one night and three days and two nights, with prices ranging from 400,000 to 1,000,000 yen, and reservations are available until July 12th.

There are ten cars in the train, with champagne gold color appearance and luxurious design, and mostly decorated with handicrafts of workers, which shows the extraordinary temperament. There are a total of 17 guest rooms, all with an area of 9 square meters or more, all of which are double-occupancy rooms and equipped with independent bathrooms.

The top class room is the “Shikishima Suite” located in Car 7, which has only one room. The upper and lower floors of the duplex structure are a living room and a bedroom, and are equipped with a hinoki wood wind lounge, which gives it a sense of taste.

The first and last two cars are full of design and outlook cars. In the high-class restaurant in Car 6, you can taste the local flavors of food presented by culinary professionals from all over the world, and enjoy a drink or listen to a performance in the Lounge in Car 5, enjoying the most enjoyable time of the journey.

🤗 Kyushu Seven Stars, a Hong Kong registered ship

Official website: www.cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp

Launched by JR Kyushu, the Kyushu Seven Stars is arguably the first luxury sightseeing train in Japan and is more familiar to us. The train, which started running in 2013, is rumored to have cost 3 billion yen. The train runs on a 3,000-kilometer-long railroad connecting the seven prefectures of Kyushu, which means the seven stars, and it is also an in-depth visit to Kyushu's customs and culture.

This retro-inspired train was designed by renowned industrial designer Ruiji Mitooka, and the black and gold bodywork is very stylish, and the interior details of the train have been carefully polished, with the walls and lighting made by Fukuoka's traditional craftsmanship of Okawa Historia, and even the washbasins using the famous Arita-yaki “14th Kakiemon Kiln”.

Renovated in 2022, the interior has been expanded to include a lounge in Car 1 and a salon in Car 2, as well as a tea room, a bar and a gallery shop to make traveling more comfortable and enjoyable. In terms of cuisine, depending on the route you take, you can enjoy fine Japanese, French, Italian and local cuisine prepared by renowned chefs.

All trains are equipped with independent passenger rooms, ranging in size from 10 to 21 square meters. Among them, there is only one Deluxe Suite A and one Deluxe Suite B, with an area of 21 and 17 square meters, respectively. In addition to its luxurious interior and spaciousness, Suite A, which is located at the rear of the train, also has a large area of viewing glass windows, so that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. The Kyushu Seven Stars is also available as a two-day, one-night and four-day, three-night travel package, with prices starting at 600,000 yen. With only ten suites available, they are also highly sought-after and can only be booked months in advance.

🤗 TWILIGHT EXPRESS

Official website: www.twilightexpress-mizukaze.jp

Among Japan's luxury sightseeing trains, the “TWILIGHT EXPRESS Rafale” launched by JR-West is relatively low-key. As a continuation of the “TWILIGHT EXPRESS,” a luxury sleeper train that ran from Osaka to Sapporo from 1989 to 2015, the Mizuho is a further illustration of top-notch luxury. Designed by architects Kazuya Ura and Tetsuo Fukuda, the Rafale features a nostalgic, modern style with a dark green, retro-inspired body and a smooth, linear design that blends seamlessly with the nature of Western Japan.

Rafale has a total of only 16 rooms, the most unique feature is the No. 7 compartment, the entire compartment is a “The Suite” suite, a rare design in the world, with an area of 35 square meters, bedroom, bathroom, living room and private terrace, which can be described as the ultimate luxury. The other two types, Royal Twin and Royal Single, are also well-designed, with beautiful views through the windows.

There is a restaurant in car #6, a Salon in car #5, which occasionally hosts Rafale tea parties and live music, and observation cars in cars #1 and #10. Dining is supervised by Yoshihiro Murata, chef of the famous Kaiseki restaurant “Kikunai”, and Hiromu Yoneda, a three-star Michelin chef at “HAJIME” in Osaka. The Rafale departs from Kyoto Station on a two-day, one-night or three-day, two-night Sanin/Sanyo itinerary, with packages starting at 380,000 yen. The winter season is currently on sale.

🤗 ARU train

Official website: www.jrkyushu-aruressha.jp/concept

The ARU Train, which translates to “a train” in Japanese, debuted in the summer of 2015 with a new design by renowned designer Ruiji Mitooka! The train is also known as the “Golden Train” for its golden appearance and the “Dessert Train” for the premium desserts it serves.

The ARU train runs between Hakata Station and Yufuin Station under the concept of “Eat, Time, Omotenashi” and runs for about 3 hours once a day. Prices for adults range from 35,000 to 47,000 yen per person, which includes the train ride, a set meal, drinks, and a drink.

Under the supervision of Asia's renowned chef Yukihiro Narisawa, the menu features a selection of Kyushu's real estate meats, fish, and vegetables, as well as delicious desserts and handmade utensils, presenting a top-notch gastronomical experience that is full of color and flavor.

There are only two carriages with different styles: Carriage 1 is a gorgeous vintage style with open seats, while Carriage 2 has a calm and quiet color tone and is designed as a separate compartment. There are only 28 seats, which are very popular, so be sure to book in advance.

🤗 Tobu Railway's new limited express SPACIA X

One of the newest luxury trains in Japan is the “New Limited Express SPACIA X”, which runs between Asakusa and Nikko/Kinugawa! This train is a continuation of the “Limited Express SPACIA” that previously ran on this route, and the “X” means “evolution. Since its opening in July 2023, tickets for the special seats have been in high demand, with tickets opening a month in advance, and it is said that the special carriages sell out in five minutes.

The exterior design of SPACIA X incorporates elements of Edo culture such as the grouping, bamboo craftsmanship, and the whiteness of the hu powder of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and draws on the cultures and traditions along the route for inspiration, making the entire train as beautiful as a carefully crafted work of art, with even the windows of the train designed in the shape of an X.

Inside a total of six forms of seating, the most luxurious and eye-catching is undoubtedly located in the No. 6 compartment of the “cockpit suite”, inspired by the design of private jets, the independent box space is simple and high-level, with an area of 11 square meters, for the largest private railways in the emergency, and can accommodate up to seven people.

The “Cockpit Lounge” in Car No. 1 is themed on Japan's oldest surviving resort hotel, the Nikko Kanaya Hotel, and the Embassy Cottage, with sofas replacing the seats to provide comfort and elegance without sacrificing style. There are also semi-open booths and private booths for those who like peace and quiet and require a private space.

The luxury seats and standard seats are different from those of ordinary sightseeing trains in that the seats are specially designed to be ergonomically comfortable, and there is a café in Car 1 where passengers with tickets for Car 1 and Car 6 can purchase drinks directly, while passengers in Car 2 to Car 5 can apply for a network organizer ticket to purchase beverages. The journey takes about 2 hours, so if you have the chance, you should experience this luxury express train!

🤗 Shikoku Sasa Era Dawn Story

Official website: www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/yoakenomonogatari/

This is a luxury train that is worth experiencing as well as a niche destination for sightseeing! “The Shikoku Kusatsu Era Dawn Story, which will open in 2020, is a special express and sightseeing train that runs between Kochi and Kubokawa/Tusakuri Stations, where you can enjoy special cuisine on board, and Tosa, the old name of Kochi Prefecture. Tosa” is the former name of Kochi Prefecture. The journey takes about 2 hours, and the train operates mainly on Fridays through Sundays and holidays. In addition to a ticket, you need to purchase a special express ticket, and the ticket costs about 4,000 yen, which makes it a great value!

There are only two cars in this train, and the exquisite and luxurious decorative style is surprising - the design is inspired by the pioneering spirit of the Tosa warriors in the late Shogunate and Meiji Restoration eras of Japan, and the No.1 car “KUROFUNE” is inspired by steamships during the period of civilization and enlightenment of Japan. The first car “KUROFUNE” was inspired by the steamer during the civilization of Japan, and the second car “SORAFUNE” was inspired by the spaceship; the styles of one light and one dark are in contrast to each other, and the luxurious decoration is no less than that of a high-class restaurant, and the seats are all facing the windows of the car, so that you can enjoy the food and the scenery along the way, which is very pleasurable.

Along the way, you'll pass through mountains and the sea, as well as famous sights such as the Shimanjukawa River and the Yasuwa Coast, and be mesmerized by the beauty of the scenery. The cuisine is refined and rich with ingredients from Tosa's real estate, and there are different set menus to choose from, so be sure to make a reservation three days in advance.

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