Japanese night trains look quite ordinary outside, but not inside

In the 60s of the last century, the Japanese economy made a huge leap, which affected the development of railway transport. The first innovative super-fast rail route was opened in 1964. He became very popular, especially among passengers who needed to get from one edge of the country to another in a night. Ten years later, sleeper trains were at the pinnacle of popularity, but soon express trains traveling at super speeds, air travel within Japan, and low-cost night bus routes virtually destroyed this area.

Today, Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo are daily running sleeping trains that have no analogues. Departing from Tokyo, these two trains are converted into one, consisting of fourteen wagons. So he goes to Okayama.

In Okayama, they again turn into two independent compositions, each of which moves on its own path. Sunrise Seto follows to one of the cities on the island of Shikoku, while Sunrise Izumo travels to Shimane Prefecture.

Returning, they again form one structure in Okayama and so are sent to Tokyo.

Every day, Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo leave Tokyo at 10 p.m. and arrive at Takamatsu and Izumo by 7:27 a.m. and 9:58 a.m. Thus, travelers using these routes can save and eliminate the cost of one night in a hotel.

There are no ordinary seats in these two night trains. The space inside is divided into separate cabins and a common area called nobi nobi, where guests are offered trains located right on the carpet.

Depending on the type of trip, Japan Rail Pass owners may pay an additional cost (about 153 USD) to travel in a separate cabin or may stay in a shared area at no extra cost.

For public use there is a shower. You can enjoy the hygiene procedures in it for six minutes after purchasing a special ticket for this service. However, the number of tickets is limited, so travelers who plan to splash in the shower during the transfer are advised to buy a pass in advance.

Sleeping trains have latrines, vending machines with basic necessities and food, as well as relaxation areas.

In addition, numerous railway companies in Japan are trying to attract new customers by offering luxury sleeping trains. Usually they have five-star lounge areas with fireplaces, elegant dining rooms and observatories with panoramic windows over the entire surface of the car. Of course, here you will be served dishes from the menu developed by Michelin chefs. A trip on such a train can cost about $ 10,000.

Twilight Express Mizukaze Train