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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. [Read more…]

Akebono Sleeper Train Finds New Role as Theme Park Hotel

June 22, 2016

The “blue train” overnight sleeper services of Japan were once a popular means of traveling long distances, and were much romanticized both on screen and in print. With the rise of super convenient services like the high speed shinkansen, cheap highway express buses, and affordable domestic flights, demand for the blue trains declined and the last of these services was discontinued in 2015. One such train was the Akebono, a limited express sleeper train, which ran between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Aomori Station in northern Japan for a full 44 years before being discontinued in March of 2014. The Akebono though, has now found a new role as a theme park hotel.

The Blue Train Akebono. Picture by Rsa

The Blue Train Akebono. Picture by Rsa

[Read more…]

Ride through Nagano countryside on the “Traveling Farmhouse Restaurant” train

June 17, 2016

JR East have announced this year’s dates for the “Hashiru Noka Restaurant” or “Traveling Farmhouse Restaurant”, a special gourmet touring service that was introduced on Nagano Prefecture’s Iiyama Line last year. The idea of this unique tour is that passengers can taste a series of regional specialities, while enjoying beautiful views of the Nagano countryside, its orchards and fields, its mountains and valleys, and the majestic Shinano River.

A brochure for the Hashiru Noka Restaurant tour

A brochure for the “Hashiru Noka Restaurant” tour

What’s interesting about this gourmet service is that the meal consists of four separate courses which are prepared at four different stations along the route. Each course is brought on to the train and served to the passengers when it arrives at that station. The emphasis is very much on serving super fresh seasonal dishes local to each area and made only from the very best local ingredients. [Read more…]

Izuhakone Railway Woos Anime Fans to Mishima City with “Love Live!” Train

June 15, 2016

Izuhakone Railway have joined forces with the popular “Love Live!” anime franchise to promote the latest “Love Live! Sunshine!!” TV series.

Love Live! Train

Love Live! Train

The TV show which is due to air in July of this year features a fictional group of school girls who form an “idol” group to save their school from closure. Many scenes in the show use the city of Numazu in Shizuoka for their setting, but part of the show also features the Sea Paradise aquarium in Mishima city. [Read more…]

Nostalgic Platform Bar to Open for Four Nights at Osaka’s Nakanoshima Station

June 10, 2016

Here’s a fun idea from Keihan Railway. Later this month Platform 3 at Osaka’s Nakanoshima Station is to be transformed into an old-fashioned izakaya style bar!

An artist’s impression of the platform bar & exhibition at Nakanoshima Station

An artist’s impression of the platform bar & exhibition at Nakanoshima Station

For four nights from June 22nd, one platform and some stationary train carriages will be transformed into a nostalgic bar zone, with various food stalls, standing counter bars, and table seating. The event is intended to both advertise and celebrate the appeal and charm of the Nakanoshima area, so along with the food and drink, revelers will be able to view local historical photographs and cultural exhibits. A casual tavern-like atmosphere will be created to match the nostalgic theme. [Read more…]

Hankyu Railway’s “Kyo-Train” Mimics Kyoto Townhouse Interior Style

June 8, 2016

For the last five years Hankyu Railway have been running a special weekend “Kyo-Train” for tourists on the regular route between Osaka and central Kyoto. The train is remarkable for the fact that its interior design mimics the typical machiya style of an old fashioned Kyoto townhouse.

Hankyu Railway’s Kyo-Train

Hankyu Railway’s “Kyo-Train”

Machiya are the traditional long wooden townhouses of Kyoto city, renowned for the fine craftsmanship and simple grace of their construction. Once common, sadly in recent years they have become increasingly rare as private developers knock them down and replace them with utilitarian concrete blocks and parking lots. There is a counter movement however, that appreciates the nostalgic appeal of machiya, and seeks to restore, renovate, and reinvent their image as attractive modern locations for shops, cafes and restaurants. By remodeling their “Kyo-Train” in the image of a machiya townhouse, Hankyu Railway too are seeking tap into this touristic appeal of old Kyoto. [Read more…]

JR East to Debut Luxury Cruise Train “Shiki-Shima” in May 2017

June 6, 2016

JR have released details of course routes and prices for their new luxury cruise train “Train Suite Shiki-Shima.” The exclusive sleeper train will begin excursions between Tokyo’s Ueno Station and northern Japan from May 1st 2017.

The sleek exterior of Train Suite Shiki-Shima

The sleek exterior of Train Suite Shiki-Shima

The observation cars feature wall to ceiling windows for stunning panoramic views

The observation cars feature wall to ceiling windows for stunning panoramic views

This 10 car excursion train features observation cars at front and rear, one lounge car, one dining car, and six cars devoted to private suites including one car that holds a Deluxe Suite and a maisonette style “Shiki-Shima Suite.” [Read more…]

Setouchi Area Pass to be Expanded to Cover Wider Area, More Services

June 2, 2016

The Setouchi Area Pass is five day discount pass for overseas visitors offered by JR West and JR Shikoku to promote travel in western Japan. The pass currently gives unlimited access for unreserved seats on JR trains between Kansai Airport, Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata as well as select buses, and ferries to islands of the Setouchi area. From July 1st of this year the pass will become more inclusive and the services it covers broadened to include JR trains in the Kyoto and Nara area, JR buses in the Chugoku region (including the Hiroshima sightseeing loop bus), Setouchi sightseeing steamboats between the ports of Hinase and Obe, and Okayama Electric Railway Trams.

Setouchi Area Pass [Read more…]

Hokkaido’s Historical Village Offers Nostalgic Rides on Horse-Drawn Trams

May 31, 2016

As all true railroad aficionados know, before the golden age of steam, horse-drawn wagonways were the preferred method of hauling heavy loads, and long before the advent of the electric trolley car, it was horse-drawn trams or horsecars that provided the main source of urban public transport. Mostly we know about this from history books, and can only imagine what it was like to glide along a tramway to the clip clop beat of a horse’s hooves. There is one location in Hokkaido though, where visitors can enjoy a nostalgic trip back in time with a ride on a horse-drawn tram.

A Meiji era horse-drawn tram as depicted by Utagawa Hiroshige

A Meiji era horse-drawn tram as depicted by Utagawa Hiroshige

[Read more…]

JR East to Introduce New Alphanumeric ID System for Stations in Tokyo

April 25, 2016

In advance of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, JR East have announced plans for a new alphanumeric coding system for stations in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. The new system should make it easier for people to find their way around, especially international visitors who are unaccustomed to Tokyo’s labyrinthine transit system.

Alphanumeric station ID of Shinjuku Station

Alphanumeric station ID of Shinjuku Station

Each line will receive a 2 letter alphabetical code beginning with “J” for JR, “JY” for example being the code for the JR Yamanote Line. This line code will be followed by the station number. Yoyogi Station for example, will be listed as “JY 18”. Major stations that are important transfer points between several lines will also receive 3 letter codes. The 3 letter code for Shinjuku Station for example is “SJK”. [Read more…]

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This is an interesting and rare Seiko quartz watch This is an interesting and rare Seiko quartz watch from 2007. Only a few of these were made exclusively for the JR Central Shinkansen crew.
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Photo by @wigglywigglyworm 
#japan #japanstation #shinkansen #seiko #watch #japanrailway #jrcentral
Steam Locomotive Mooka that runs on Mooka Railway Steam Locomotive Mooka that runs on Mooka Railway is housed at Mooka Station that is shaped like a steam locomotive. 🚂😮🚂
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Photo by tomzoman/pixta
#japan #japan_railway #japanstation #train #railway #steamlocomotive #trainstagram #trainstation #railways_of_our_world #train_nerds #visitjapan #japantravel #japantravelphoto #tochigi
Lightline – Japan’s Newest Tram Service in Uts Lightline – Japan’s Newest Tram Service in Utsunomiya is the next-generation LRT that is faster and can carry more passengers than traditional tram services.
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Photo by Tozawa/pixta
#lightline #lightrail #lrt #japan #japanstation #visitjapan #visitjapanjp #visitjapanca #japantravel #traispotting #railway #railways_of_our_world #train_nerds #urban #renewableenergy #urbandevelopment
Kanazawa Station is the gateway to the best sights Kanazawa Station is the gateway to the best sights in Kanazawa. A geisha district, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, a beautiful castle, and a lively market.
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Station photo by gandhi/pixta
#kanazawa #ishikawa #japan #japantravel #visitjapan #japanstation #ig_japan #trainstagram #trainstation #railways_of_our_world
When traveling in Japan do you prefer BIG CITY or When traveling in Japan do you prefer BIG CITY or QUIET  COUNTRYSIDE? Let us know in the comments. 1 or 2?
Hakone Tozan Railway’s Hydrangea Train going up Hakone Tozan Railway’s Hydrangea Train going up the Hakone mountains. Have you taken this train in the summer?
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Photo by Jake Images/pixta
#hakone_enjoy #hakone #hakonetozanrailway #hydrangea #odakyu #flower #japan #japanstation #train #train_nerds #ig_japan #railway #railways_of_our_world #trainspotting #visitjapan #japantravel #instatravel

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