Japan Railways opens reservations for luxurious Kyoto-west Japan sleeper train

The phrase “train travel in Japan” usually calls up one of two images in most people’s minds. The first is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a mass of commuters at rush hour, and the second is being hurtled towards your destination at incredible speed on the Shinkansen.

But over the last few years, Japanese rail operators have been adding options that don’t fit into either of those two slots, in the form of luxury trains that get you where you’re going in style and comfort, yet at a more leisurely pace than a bullet train. One of the most eagerly anticipated is Japan Railways (JR) West’s upcoming Twilight Express Mizukaze sleeper train, which has been intriguing travel fans since it was first announced two years ago.

While the Mizukaze won’t go into service until the summer travel season of 2017, JR West will start taking reservations next month, and has released a series of updated images to give passengers an idea of the sort of elegant appointments they can expect.

While its exterior may look a little industrial, inside, the Mizukaze is appointed like a fine hotel, which it essentially is, since passengers on the 10-car train will have private quarters equipped with beds, bathrooms, and bathing facilities. The four-sectioned suite is composed of an entryway, living/dining room, bedroom, and bathroom outfitted with a tub and skylight.

Traveling pairs that don’t need quite so much space can select a royal twin room, while those on a solo journey have the option of a royal single.

Booking such impressive accommodations will no doubt tempt you to never leave your room, but that would be a waste, because then you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the Mizukaze’s dining car or its bar, located in a yet another segment of the train.

And even if you’re not feeling particularly hungry or thirsty, you’ll want to stop by the two observation cars, which offer more expansive views than any of the other carriages. Being a sleeper train means you can see views both in the day and at night.

Obviously, the Mizukaze is designed to appeal to travelers who feel the journey is at least as important as the destination. Still, it has to go somewhere, and so it connects Kyoto and Osaka (passengers can board the train at either station) with Shimonoseki, the port town in Yamaguchi Prefecture that’s famous for its delicious poisonous blowfish.

Fares have yet to be officially announced, but JR West has said it will begin taking reservations for the Mizukaze on its official website on Dec 5, and that the train will go into service on June 17.

Source: Twilight Express Mizukaze via IT Media

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