West Japan Luxury Train Video: “Anything you can do…we can do better”
We reported the launch of Japan Railway East’s most expensive Train Suite Shiki-Shima tours on AlphaLuxe recently.
Just a month later, JR West has matched it’s eastern rival.
Launch
17th June 2017
OSAKA – Japan Railway West launched its 10-coach luxury sleeper train Twilight Express Mizukaze as a “hotel on wheels.”
Twilight Express Mizukaze launch
Demand for reservations on the inaugural journey has been high since it was announced in February. The first train departed Osaka Station as JR West officials and railroad fans celebrated the launch. Only 34 lucky passengers could hope for a ticket on the inaugural tour, which was decided by lottery from the applications. One of them celebrated her honeymoon on the train.
Twilight Express Mizukaze
“The express has a new mission to carry the charm of local communities it runs through,” JR West executive Hiroshi Muro said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We hope the train will be loved by many people.”
Twilight Express Mizukaze
The Series-87 hybrid diesel (DMU) train accommodates only 34 passengers in 16 rooms. Single and twin rooms will also be available, with only one Suite on the train.
Mizukaze locomotive series 87
Prices
A one-night journey costs between ¥270,000 ($2,400) and ¥780,000 ($7,000) per passenger depending on accommodation.
Exquisite meals are served in the dining car, of course.
For a three-day tour, fees start at ¥500,000 ($2,250) with the highest per-passenger fee of ¥1.25 million ($11,300) to be charged for the train’s only suite, which has a two-person capacity.
Facilities
Bedroom
Twin Room
Daytime configuration
Sitting Area
Bath
Bar Lounge
Dining Room and Kitchen
Dining car
The Mizukaze runs from Kyoto and Osaka to Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture and returns via the Sea of Japan coastline, offering passengers a one- or two-night tour and opportunities to get off and sightsee along the way.
Observation car
JR West used to run a Twilight Express sleeper service between 1989 and 2016.
The new train revives the name but provides more luxurious excursions in Keihanshin, Sanin, and Sanyo regions of western Japan.
Original Twilight Express
Sightseeing Spots
Orii coast
Itsukushima shrine
Kinosaki onsen (hotspring town)
Mei Mei-an teahouse
Lake Shinji
VIDEOS
West Japan Railway Co.’s Twilight Express Mizukaze
AlphaLuxe Comment
At the moment, tickets are only available for sale in Japan and the English language website for JR West does not allow online purchase. The train service is also currently in Japanese language but that is also the case for all train services in Japan.
All information signs in Japan are bilingual with enough English notes for the intrepid traveller. Things have changed a lot since the football FIFA World Cup 2002 in Japan; the country is now geared for mass tourism. With the 2020 Olympics approaching, Japan is again preparing for global visitors.
Author’s Biography: Melvyn Teillol-Foo (MTF)
Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo is a contributor on AlphaLuxe web-zine.
He is also a moderator on PuristSPro.com horology discussion fora. He blends his scientific medical objectivity from the pharmaceutical industry with purist passion, in his musings about watches, travel, wine, food and other epicurean delights.
His travelogue ‘Lazing’ and feasting ‘Grazing’ series of articles have now passed into “mythic legend” on the original ‘ThePuristS.com’ website. Those were the halcyon days when he was “rich and famous” that he remembers with bittersweet fondness.
Dr Teillol-Foo is a quoted enthusiast on the watch industry, appearing in feature articles and interviews by Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Sunday Times (London), Chronos (Japan), Citizen Hedonist (France) and other publications. He has authored articles for magazines like International Watch (iW) – both U.S. & Chinese editions, ICON (Singapore), August Man (Singapore), Comfort (China) and The Watch (Hong Kong).