The most original tourist trains リゾートトレイン
The SL Banetsu Monogatari steam train, crossing the Ichinotogawa River
Wikicommons
For the pleasure of traveling
Japan is a country connected by train! Did you know that Japan Railways offers tourist trains all over the archipelago, with the sole purpose of having fun traveling through beautiful landscapes? Here are some of the most original trains!
- Shirakami Resort
This tourist train has been the most successful in Japan for years. So much so that three different ones offer you to travel every day on the northern coast of the Sea of Japan, on the magnificent Gonô line between Akita and Aomori. Trains with a hybrid system (diesel-electric), have panoramic spaces behind the driver's cabin, to be able to better appreciate the beautiful maritime landscapes, comfortable seats, a bar car to eat, and buy souvenirs of your trip. The Box Seating car offers group spaces for four passengers in which you can change the seat from face to face in tatami style, sliding the benches to chat on your knees or even lie down. The pleasure travel train par excellence!
The coast of the Sea of Japan seen from the Shirakami train on the Gôno line
Jerome Laborde
- Tohoku Emotion
Do you like gourmet cuisine and do you like traveling by train in beautiful landscapes? The Tohoku Emotion is made for you! This restaurant train runs in North Tohoku on the Sanriku line, between Hachinohe (Shinkansen station) and Kuji. Three cars, one like in a classic restaurant, one with compartments for groups of four, and in the middle the Open Kitchen car, where you can see the chefs at work preparing your meals!
Runs Saturday/Sunday and public holidays. Hachinohe: 11:05 am – Kuji: 12:52 pm. Return, Kuji: 2:05 pm – Hachinohe: 4:07 pm.
The Tohoku Emotion tourist train, on the northeast coast of Japan
Wikicommons
- Genbi Shinkansen
Recently, the JR East even launched tourist Shinkansen. Here is the latest addition: a train museum of contemporary art! In each car, a different atmosphere is created by the great names of contemporary art in Japan. Explosions of color on the outside with a unique and artistic livery, designer seats, a play area dedicated to children, refined interiors made of leather sofas, and mirrors engraved along the entire length of a wall to appreciate the parade reflective landscapes. It's so beautiful and original that we regret that the trip lasts only 54 min between Niigata and Echigo-Yuzawa.
Several round trips every Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays.
Facade of mirrors in the Genbi Shinkansen tourist train
BM
The flowers hanging inside the Genbi Shinkansen train
BM
- SL Banetsu Monogatari
SL: steam train. That's enough to take a trip in the nostalgia of grandpa's old trains but in totally renovated cars.
The contrast is strong between the steam locomotive of the 1940s and hyper design panoramic spaces with bright seats! A bar car, a children's area, and very comfortable seats to travel for four hours in the middle of the mountains between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu on the Ban-etsu line.
Runs Saturday/Sunday and public holidays. Niigata: 9:30 am – Aizu-Wakamatsu: 1:35 pm. Return, Aizu-Wakamatsu: 3:25 pm – Niigata: 7:06 pm.
SL Ban-Etsu Monogatari
Wikimedia Commons
Panoramic car with luminous seats of the SL Ban-etsu Monogatari steam train
Photozou
- Tetsudo Hobby Train
It is the JR Shikoku that offers this funny little train at the head of Shinkansen series 0...
The Shinkansen has never come to the island of Shikoku, so we catch up as best we can with this train which will especially appeal to children and adults who have remained so at heart. Miniature train models are exhibited in display cases onboard and a Pla-Rail train circuit, which is a partner in this project, is available to children. We are on a big toy train! And in addition, you travel through the beautiful wild landscapes of southern Shikoku.
Circulates every day between Uwajima and Kubokawa on the Yodo and Kuroshio Nakamura lines, several round trips, without reservation required. Unfortunately, the Tetsudo Hobby Train discontinued service in March 2018...
Tetsudo Hobby Train of JR Shikoku
Wikimedia Commons
- Aso Boy!
Finally, let's go to Kyushu to take the Aso Boy! A panoramic train: the first seats at the front immerse you in the landscape, the driver's cab being above these seats.
The panoramic car of the Aso Boy train! in Kyushu
Jerome Laborde
That's not all, this train is full of inventiveness. Double seats are available, a large adult seat with a smaller child seat next to it. Again, we think of the children on this wonderful train. There is a ball pool for the little players, a cafe area, sofas facing the landscape, a library, served by hostesses. In short, Aso Boy is all about entertainment!
This train takes you in 2017 (the route changes every year) from the famous hot spring resort of Beppu through Oita to Aso station, at the foot of the active volcano of the same name. Ideal for tourists to discover the best of Japan!
Runs every Friday/Saturday/Sunday and public holidays. Beppu: 9:16 am – Oita: 9:35 am – Aso: 11:27 am. Aso: 11:48 am – Oita: 1:36 pm. Oita: 2:06 pm – Aso: 3:55 pm. Aso: 4:15 pm – Oita: 6:00 pm – Beppu: 6:14 pm.
Parent-child seats on the Aso Boy tourist train!
Jerome Laborde
A unique experience
Note that for most of these tourist trains, you must reserve your seats to travel onboard. Do this as soon as you arrive in Japan. With the Japan Rail Pass in hand, you will only pay the additional cost of the reservation. During the summer holidays, these trains are often taken by storm. You will have more chance, from September, to obtain your place. Try the experience: the real pleasure of traveling by train in Japan is there!
