Japan Station

Japan Transportation Guide

  • Home
  • Shinkansen network
  • Destinations
  • Maps
  • News
  • Japan Rail Pass Value Calculator

Isumi Galaxy Railway: Stargazers to Ride a Planetarium Train in Rural Chiba

January 19, 2021

Chiba Prefecture’s Isumi Railway will run a special train tour for 20 starry-eyed passengers on February 6th this year that will feature an on-board planetarium and a stop at a rural station for direct observation of the night sky.

Isumi Galaxy Railway will make its first run on February 6th

Isumi Galaxy Railway will make its first run on February 6th

Dubbed “Isumi Galaxy Railway” the train will have the high-definition Megastar planetarium projector fitted on board, so that the train itself appears to be flooded with stars. After enjoying the on-board experience passengers will stop to view the starry skies of the Chiba countryside. The area around Isumi is well known for its clear star-filled night skies, particularly in winter, and so is a popular location for astronomical photography.

Isumi is famous for its starry night skies

Isumi is famous for its starry night skies

Isumi Railway is a local railway line in Chiba Prefecture that runs between the coastal city of Isumi and the castle town of Otaki. The railway already runs a regular restaurant train called the “Ise Ebi Express” on which passengers can enjoy a full course Italian style meal featuring ise ebi lobster as the main course, and they have run an occasional sake bar train too.

The tour will include an accessory making experience

The tour will include an accessory making experience

This new tour has been organized with Tourism Izumi and is the first of its kind in the Kanto region of eastern Japan. To ensure passenger safety during the global pandemic, participants have been limited to just 20 passengers so that they may maintain social distancing and other coronavirus countermeasures include mask-wearing, proper ventilation, and complete disinfection of contact surfaces.

The full tour which includes a bento-style dinner, an expert talk, a virtual reality experience, and a Milky Way themed accessory making experience, lasts 5 hours and 40 minutes and costs 11,000 yen. February 6th is a trial-run for the planetarium train, but if successful, this unique night tour will become a regular service offering a truly out-of-this-world experience!

Article by Michael Lambe. Images courtesy of Isumi Railway. All rights reserved.

Questions? Ask on our forum

Japan Station NavigationJapan Station Navigation
Station Navigation
  • Shinkansen high-speed trains
  • The Japan Rail Pass
  • Japan Rail Pass Value Calculator
  • Destinations
  • Narita Express
  • IC Prepaid Transport Cards
  • Air Travel in Japan
  • Guide to Rail Travel in Japan
Guide to Rail Travel in Japan by JapanStation.com

Japan Hotel
Deals of the Day

Loading search box ...
Japan Station Hotel

Book Online

  •   Flights to Japan
  •   Hotels in Japan
  •   Car Rental
  •   Tours & Activities in Japan
  •   Sapporo Station
  •   Shinjuku Station
  •   Kyoto Station
  •   Kobe Station
  •   Kanazawa Station
  •   Osaka Station
  •   Hakata Station
  •   Asakusa Station
  •   Shinagawa Station
  •   Shibuya Station
  •   Nara Station
  •   Nagoya Station
  •   Niseko Station

Japan Station on Facebook

Japan Station on Facebook

Japan Station on Instagram

West Kyushu Shinkansen "Kamome" at Nagasaki Statio West Kyushu Shinkansen "Kamome" at Nagasaki Station. The new Shinkansen line to Nagasaki opened in 2022.
.
.
.
Photo by Yu/pixta
#shinkansen #kyushu #nagasaki #train #japan #japantravel #japanstation #railway #railways_of_our_world #train_nerds #visitjapan #visitjapanca #railfans_of_instagram
Suica Penguin from Shinjuku Station wishes you all Suica Penguin from Shinjuku Station wishes you all a very Happy New Year!! 🥳
Odakyu Romancecar GSE in bright red at Odakyu Shin Odakyu Romancecar GSE in bright red at Odakyu Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station.
Next station Harajuku. Yamanote line train bound f Next station Harajuku. Yamanote line train bound for Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.
.
.
#harajuku #tokyo #yamanoteline #train #japan #japanstation #railways_of_our_world #train_nerds #visitjapan
Looking forward to new travel adventures in Japan. Looking forward to new travel adventures in Japan.
.
.
.
Photo by @nichi_iro__ 
#train #japan #japantravel #visitjapan #japanstation #railway #railways_of_our_world #railfan
Eizan Electric Railway for Kibune, Kurama & Mount Eizan Electric Railway for Kibune, Kurama & Mount Hiei in Kyoto.

About Us

  • Japan Station on Facebook
  • Japan Station on Twitter
  • Japan Station on Instagram
  • Japan Station on Pinterest
  • Japan Station Forum

Copyright © 2023 · Japan Station. Netmobius publication. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact