This is why tickets for Japan’s most luxurious sleeper train cost thousands
Published on Sep 27, 2023 at 2:29 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Sep 28, 2023 at 9:07 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Nobody does train travel like Japan – but this luxury sleeper train is setting an entirely new standard for first-class travel.
While hopping on the bullet train in Japan is fast, efficient and impossibly clean, JR East’s Train Suite Shiki-shima is also one of the most incredible ways to sightsee.
It takes guests to see the most beautiful places in the country, but you have to fork out big time for it.
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Departing from Tokyo’s Ueno Station to a fanfare that seems like it’s from a bygone era, the onboarding process is seamless.
From there, guests embark on a two-four day trip to get a taste of the wineries of Yamanashi, or capture a glimpse of ancient Ainu culture in Hokkaido.
It looks like a golden futuristic concept car that somehow made it into production.
The best views are from the stunning observatory cars on either end of the train, with panoramic windows that even open up the view of the sky via the ceiling.
According to Solo Travel Journal’s YouTube channel, the train travels at remarkably slow speeds.
It’s a refreshing pace if you’ve just stepped off one of Japan’s iconic bullet trains.
Its goal is to ensure passengers a ‘comfortable ride’ as well as the opportunity to take in the views.
So what exactly makes this train so spectacular?
Each of the five sleeper train suites has its own fireplace and a cypress bathtub meaning guests can soak in the scenery.
The deluxe rooms also feature “art in motion”.
They combine traditional Japanese patterns and wood with Japanese washi paper, lacquers and stones.
The result is modern, yet classical sophistication.
“Traditional crafts and pieces of artwork from eastern Japan are also applied to interior furniture and fittings.
“This warm craftsmanship brings about a peace of mind, making one feel completely relaxed,” says the website.
Hungry? Head to the sleeper train’s chandeliered dining car where you can drink and eat as much of the exquisite food as you want.
So, what does an experience like this cost?
Prices start at $3000 (¥370,000) per person and go up from there.
Applications are now being accepted for 2024 voyages here.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
