7 of the best sightseeing trains in Japan

A ten-car train with a maximum capacity of 34 passengers, the Mizukaze is a special sleeper train that carries the prestige of a high-end hotel, offering a restful stay aboard elegant, timeless carriages. With only six cars housing guest rooms, including suites that span an entire carriage, an all-inclusive restaurant and lounge, it’s the most exclusive train you’ll find, well, anywhere. The journey takes you from Kyoto along the Seto Inland Sea to Kurashiki, a town at the crossroads of Honshu and Shikoku, and further along to the cities of Matsue and Tottori on the Sea of Japan coast.

This ‘Setouchi San’in’ course provides an in-depth, guided look at the nature and culture of each area you pass through, with special Mizukaze buses awaiting passengers at several stations, ready to ferry travellers to highlights inaccessible by train. The only catch is that you’ll need to wait for quite a while after making a booking: the Mizukaze is currently sold out all the way to September 2026. Booking for trips from October are now open online.

Operated by JR West, departing Kyoto Station and running through JR West-operated areas. twilightexpress-mizukaze.jp

Commanding breathtaking views of Mt Myoko and the Sea of Japan, Setsugekka travels through Niigata, Japan’s ‘snow country’. Operated by regional railway company Echigo Tokimeki Railway (ETR), this luxurious train usually runs twice daily on weekends and public holidays between Joetsumyoko and Itoigawa stations, with sweeping vistas on both sides framed by some of the largest train windows in Japan, standing 2.4 metres high. The carriages, proudly ‘all made in Niigata’ from the rolling stock to interior materials, were designed by train starchitect Yasuyuki Kawanishi and showcase local craftsmanship throughout, from Tsubame-Sanjo metal in the gold-toned exterior accents to Niigata-sourced wood in the interiors.

The train’s two carriages feature distinctly different designs. Car 1 offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with extensive use of Echigo cedar for its lounge-style seating and tabletops. Car 2, on the other hand has a more refined, contemporary feel, with generous use of locally sourced beechwood. The former features an indoor high-deck observation area that passengers can use freely, while the latter resembles a dining car with spacious seating arrangements.

The dishes served highlight local ingredients. You can choose from French, Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisines, each one presented in a three-tiered wooden bento box. The Japanese-style ‘Hearty Fisherman’s Course’, for example, features sumptuous red snow crab chirashi sushi and an assortment of fresh seafood delivered directly from the fishing port of Nou, ensuring the utmost freshness. Enjoy the breathtaking coastal and mountain views while enjoying a succulent meal on this three-hour-long journey.

Operated by Echigo Tokimeki Railway, Myoko-Haneuma/Nihonkai-Hisui lines, between Joetsumyoko and Itoigawa. Tickets are priced ¥29,800, with seat reservations available online (in Japanese starting the first day of 3 months before departure).

This boozy train was inspired by the renowned sake of Niigata, one of Japan’s most important rice-producing regions. At the in-train store, passengers can sip on a selection of local sake and, for those with the food-inclusive package, enjoy a variety of side dishes created with the finest local ingredients.

There are three routes to choose from, each complete with majestic views over the Sea of Japan. You may even be able to catch the sun as it sets into the sea in certain months. It all adds up to an enjoyably tipsy trip only possible on the Koshino Shu*Kura.

Operated by JR East, three routes in total, including between Joetsumyoko and Echigo-Yuzawa. www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/shukura.html

Running between Kanazawa and the hot spring town of Wakura Onsen in the heart of the Noto Peninsula, this train is a work of art in itself, featuring beautifully decorated interiors and vibrant red and gold livery. The art space on wheels combines regional traditions and design motifs with impeccable service, staying true to its concept of ‘hospitality through Japanese tradition and beauty’.

Hanayome Noren – named after a regional wedding custom in which colourful, symbolic curtains are used in traditional bridal ceremonies to mark a bride’s transition into the groom’s family – consists of two carriages. Car 1 features eight semi-private compartments with dividers bearing elaborate patterns, including chrysanthemums, cherry and plum blossoms, fan motifs, clematis flowers, bamboo, azure tones and autumn foliage. The car also houses an exhibition space showcasing traditional local crafts such as elegantly sculptural mizuhiki knot-work by Kaga Mizuhiki, Wajima-nuri lacquerware and high-quality Notojofu textiles.

The walls around the entrance and exhibition space are similarly decorated in true Ishikawa prefecture style, featuring Wajima-nuri lacquer patterns and Kanazawa gold leaf. Car 2, meanwhile, boasts an aisle that evokes flowing water and original swivel chairs characterised by their crimson upholstery and wooden latticework on the back.

Operated by JR West, Nanao Line, between Kanazawa and Wakura Onsen. Tickets are priced ¥2,900, with seat reservations available online (in Japanese starting 1 month before departure) or in person at stations.

Fondly referred to simply as Belles Monta, this retro train is perfect for gazing at dramatic coastal scenery while enjoying the best of the local seafood. Inside the carriages, the window frames are decorated like a picture frame and the hanging straps are crafted to resemble copperware from nearby Takaoka, a city renowned for its manufacturing legacy.

But what really stands out here is the sushi display case found at the end of the train. A chef turns seafood caught fresh from Toyama Bay into sushi right before your eyes. With local sake also available on board, why not grab a photo of the seafood and sake pairing with the incredible views?

Operated by JR West, Himi/Johana lines, between Takaoka/Shin-Takaoka and Johana on Saturdays and Tonami/Shin-Takaoka/Takaoka and Himi on Sundays.
https://www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/kankoutrain/berumonta/

Running along the scenic Sanriku coast between Hachinohe and Kuji, the Tohoku Emotion is less a train service and more a moving restaurant showcasing the region’s natural bounty. This three-car dining train serves a full-course lunch on the outbound journey and an indulgent dessert buffet on the return, with regularly updated menus crafted from seasonal Tohoku ingredients.

Until September 2026, expect beautifully plated Chinese-inspired dishes supervised by chef Yoji Kuromori of Kesennuma Kuromori, who relocated to Sendai after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake to support reconstruction efforts through his cooking. You can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen in the second carriage. The dessert buffet and afternoon tea service on the return journey to Hachinohe Station are overseen by Takashi Kumagai of Hotel Metropolitan Morioka.

In between meals (or if you prefer a more intimate dining setting), head to Car 1, which features seven fully private compartments lined with sashiko weaving motifs from Fukushima. While most travellers opt for the round-trip experience to enjoy both meals (which requires purchasing tickets for both directions), booking a one-way journey and spending time exploring the shrines and dramatic coastal scenery around Kuji is also recommended.

Operated by JR East, Hachinohe Line, between Hachinohe and Kuji on weekends and some weekdays. The train package, including one meal and one-way tickets, is available online (in Japanese only). Fares start from ¥12,200 per adult to Kuji (¥7,300 for return to Hachinohe).

As a pioneer among Japanese private railways in introducing restaurant cars, Nankai Electric Railway is set to deliver a brand new dine-on-the-move experience. The company’s latest offering, Gran Tenku, connects Osaka Namba Station with Gokurakubashi Station near the Koyasan temple complex in just 90 minutes.

On your way to the spiritual retreat, unwind on comfortable sofas with sweeping views of Wakayama’s landscapes. The four-car train features a dedicated dining space in car 4 – Nankai’s first dining car in over a century. On board, guests can enjoy seasonal breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea menus while taking in the scenery, with stops at Shin-Imamiya, Tengachaya, Sakaihigashi, Kongo, Kawachinagano, Rinkan-Denentoshi, Hashimoto and Kudoyama.

Service began on April 24 2026. https://www.nankai.co.jp/traffic/kankoutrain/grantenku/en/index.html