Japan Station

Japan Transportation Guide

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

New Luxury Sleeper Train “The Twilight Express Mizukaze” to Debut in Spring 2017

June 24, 2016

JR West plan to launch a new luxury limited express sleeper train to run between Kyoto Station and Shimonoseki Station at the westernmost tip of Japan’s main island. The train which will debut in the spring of 2017, is described as a mobile hotel that will run through western Japan’s most scenic landscapes.

An artist’s rendering of the Twilight Express Mizukaze

An artist’s rendering of the Twilight Express Mizukaze

The “Twilight Express Mizukaze” takes its name from the famous “Twilight Express” that previously ran between Osaka and Sapporo and was Japan’s longest serving sleeper train until its retirement in 2015. Like its predecessor, the exterior of the new train will be painted green with gold trimming, and the new logo will incorporate the angels from the logo of the original Twilight Express.

The new logo blends the M of Mizukaze with the angels from the old Twilight Express

The new logo blends the M of Mizukaze with the angels from the old Twilight Express. Mizukaze means “fresh wind” or “joyous wind”

The new train will have ten cars with observation cars at the front and rear. In the observation cars large windows will offer panoramic views of the passing scenery, and passengers will be able to step out onto the outer observation decks to enjoy the breeze.

The observation car

The observation car

There will also be a formal dining car, a lounge car, and six passenger cars with rooms for a maximum of 30 people. Single rooms, twin rooms and a suite room will all be available. The suite room offers the highest level of luxury as it occupies an entire carriage and comes with its own bedroom, bathroom, a combined living and dining room, and porch!

The suite car

The suite car

To evoke a sense of romantic nostalgia for the glory days of rail travel, the train’s interior will be decorated in an Art Deco style reminiscent of the early Showa era. Wooden furnishings and other carefully crafted fixtures have been selected from the regions through which the train will travel.

The lounge

The lounge

Passengers wishing to travel on the new express, have a choice of 5 courses. There are two outbound one way courses which both begin at Kyoto Station or Osaka Station, and end at Shimonoseki Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. However, one course follows the northern Japan Sea Coast, and the other follows the southern coastline along the Seto Inland Sea.

The outbound southern route

The outbound southern route

Two inbound one way courses follow reverse routes starting at Shimonoseki Station. These one way courses take one night and two days.

The inbound northern route

The inbound northern route

There is also a round trip journey beginning and ending at Kyoto or Osaka that takes two nights and three days to follow both coastlines in a massive loop. Along the way are many famous scenic views, historic locations and World Heritage sites, and there will be stops along the way for sightseeing.

The round-trip tour

The round-trip tour

Clearly JR West have pulled out all the stops to give this new sleeper train the same quality of excellence as a luxury hotel. The interiors have been designed by leading architect Kazuya Ura, who is famous for his work on several hotel facilities, including the Kyoto State Guest House. For the perfect dining experience, gourmet chefs have been hired to plan extravagant haute cuisine meals created with fresh ingredients from the localities en route. And to ensure the very best service, the 13 crew members will be trained at Tokyo’s renowned Imperial Hotel. The new Twilight Express Mizukaze looks set to be an unforgettable way to journey through the breathtaking scenery of west Japan.

The dining car

The dining car

Article by Michael Lambe. Images courtesy of JR West. 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