Way back in 1987, I traveled on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka, with a stop at Gifu. I had my first bento breakfast!. I havne't been back, but plan to do so. You're right about the sleeper trains. Europe is finally bringing them back, thanks to guys like you, Superalbs, Thibault Constant and others pushing rail travel. I hope you get to Kyoto. It's the only city I had extra time in. This was a one week business trip and I was on the go the entire time. I didn't even get to seeTokyo. But I did get to the Zen garden at Ryoan-ji, attended a Japense tea ceremony, and got to see the world famous Takarazuka Revue. And ate my fill of sushi!
That bridge crossing in the sunrise is absolutely stunning indeed ❤ Furthermore, the outside appearance of the train is sending me heavy NS ICM (Koploper) vibes 😄
A lovely train imo, I'd love to try it one day. Those jingles at the station would drive me mad after a bit though! Agree the colour scheme gives it a sophisticated look and goes well with the name and the exterior surroundings. Nice one!
Yes, tbh one of the things I don't like so much about Japanese, especially big city, stations is the sheer amount of noise. There really is a lot of noise pollution. I can remember when living in Japan, the most popular TV current events show actually did an episode on the noise at train stations basically saying it was noise pollution.
I absolutely loved Tokyo when I visited there a few years ago. Beautiful city and super friendly people, would go again in a heartbeat. LOVE your videos.
This is such a lovely video. The sunrise crossing of the Inland Sea is spectacular. Love the cozy sleeper compartment! Great journey and the music at the end is fabulous. Wonderful job!
@@NonstopEurotrip As this video shows though Japan is more than shinkansens. Granted they're amazing and they are the flagship. But this night train, other Limited Express and sight-seeing trains, and even small one-two carriage local trains that go through some great rural areas are just as amazing in my view. i lived there for 5 years and have been back a number of times including twice in past 6mths or so. While I was head over heals for the shinkansens at first, I've grown to appreciate Japan and its trains as being a lot more to experience than just the shinkansens. Please bear that in mind. Eg One of my best rail trips for all my times in Japan was on my last trip in February when I went through the beautiful and rural local Tadami Line in Wakamatsu Prefecture. I absolutely loved it.
@@NonstopEurotrip Yes there is such a variety of limited expresses, and some of them are pretty cool looking inside and out. Some of the interiors! My fav one from last Nov/Dec trip (yes I was in Japan a week after you rode Sunrise LOL) was the pink Inaho going down the wild windy Japan Sea coast between Akita and Niigata (both SuperAlbs and last week, AndyBTravels did this same Ltd Express). Also JR East's Joyful Train the Resort Shirakami also running up north in Aomori-Akita area (SuperAlbs also raved about that train).
I find that sleeper trains with beds along the direction of travel give much, much better sleep than with beds across the width of the carriage. Although once you get as far as your third consecutive night on a train you can sleep whatever... Let us hope that like Europe, Japan sees the advantage of revamped sleeper services and that Hokutosei and Cassiopeia will run again!
@@NerdX151 I travelled on Hokutosei in 2002 and saw Cassiopeia. It was clear that my Japan Rail Pass wouldn't quite stretch to that level even then...! 🙂
I agree with your comment about it being a shame there not being more night trains in Japan. Everytime in recent years JR East and JR Hokkaido latterly, extended shinkansen services, into Kanazawa for the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and then the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin Hakodate=Hokuto Station, they immediately axed the night trains, not understanding they play a different, but still useful role from the shinkansens. Even going on the earliest departing shinkansens, you cannot now get into Tokyo from further away places of origin in time for say an 8.30am meeting. Therefore many business people who took night trains before are now forced to go the night before or get up early and get out to an airport for an early departure flight (yuck!). So disappointing to see JR East in particular throw night trains and the customership of those they had away, It's siad by Japanese rail experts that one problem is high track fees going between different JR company areas but a Tokyo-Niigata/Akita/Aomori and Tokyo-Kanazawa night trains are all within the JR east area anyway (except Kanazawa). The night trains were always popular but the carraiges for most got old and JR East in particular just couldn't be faffed making an investment in new carriages. There is actually one other night train from pre shinkansen times still going - The Cassiopeia, but rather than use it for say regular Tokyo-Aomori night train services, JR easy uses it as a multi-day charter tour train at exhorbitant prices instead. Shame on them!
Japan has a couple of overnight coaches, some of which are operated by JR companies themselves. They were more competitive than overnight trains I heard. On the bright side JR West has launched a new overnight train between Osaka-Izumo called _Ginga_ ("Milky Way" in Japanese)
Good video. I'd seen previous posts on this train, but they were by Japanese people that had used the Sunrise Seto before and were familiar with it. Your observations matched what i thought about it - those hard floor bunks aren't what I'd want to sleep on, but the single room accommodations look fine. Sonething to ride on for the experience of an overnight train. Thanks.
This is the exact route I am planning to take few months from now. Being born in Japan with a Japanese mom, I am privileged enough to be able to come back countless times. However, I've never been outside Honshu mainland yet. Thus the excitement to take this train. I don't know if you took a similar route as the one I plan, but after Takamatsu (to eat loads of udon and to make it as base to see Marugame Castle) I'll proceed to Matsuyama, another interesting city in Shikoku. Then after a couple days, take the ferry to Hiroshima which would bring me back to Honshu island. Among the most interesting train rides I had in Japan was the Tobu limited express from Asakusa to Nikko (and vice-versa). It has a spacious interior with comfort levels that could rival the Shinkansen but for a fraction of the price. It unfortunately does not accept JR pass as it is operated by a different company.
Matsuyama's great. I also liked Takamatsu - I think it's got the nicest and one of the longest undercover shopping arcades in Japan. Also there's the cool private Kotoden Railway 5mins walk from the JR Station, and the lovely Ritsurin Gardens. i also stayed in the Oboke Gorge area - From Obokekyo Stn by bus (abt 15-20mins) there's a Onsen Hotel with a cable car up the cliffside and a fabulous rotemburo bath looking out on the valley opposite. I could've stayed in it the whole day! I was a non-guest at the hotel but the rotemburo is open to the public for a bathing fee.
Make sure to try the Tanuki Soba in Matsuyama, and the Yukan 101 bar next to the ropeway (it has Juices and dried versions of every type of citrus found on Shikoku)... also, Matsuyama castle is definitely highly worth the time to visit, and Tobe pottery village, if you are a ceramics fan is just a 40min bus-trip out (I might be biased, since Tsubaki-Oi [next to Oo-Tsubaki-San Jinja] is the clan village for my Japanese side of the family, but I simply love Matsuyama and it's surroundings!!!) as for Nikko, I do agree about the Tobu Express, but the "Spacia" (which is JR) is also quite excellent as a route...
@@stanislavkostarnov2157 Thanks for the Matsuyama recommendation. I'll keep that in mind. Especially about the citrus near the castle. Speaking of Nikko again, I guess you are referring to the service from Shinjuku. It's actually a joint service by JR and Tobu. Also the trains used are alternate between the two companies. It's probably a great choice for those staying near Shinjuku. Since they share rails for that route, it is only partially covered by JR pass
@@luke211286 I lived on the Seibu Shinjuku line, so, I guess that yes, it was on my side of town... but I seem to remember Spacia arrives at the JR Nikko station ( it's the small station with a beautiful wooden building of the Taisho period... located about a hundred meters further down the valley from the Tobu line entrance and the main street)... if you go from anywhere in Tokyo, the route is slower, however, the only time I was traveling by it, I went from Tochigi-Oyama, where it was really the only reasonable option, since going to board the Tobu-Nikko at Kurihashi would be going backwards.
for sleeper train Livery... Got to say, I loved the blue and silver of the old style Cassiopeia sleeper to Hokkaido (sadly now discontinued)... The Penzance sleeper also has a fairly deep place in my heart. I also rather enjoy the aesthetic of the Nainital Express or such meter gauge trains in India... though I rode many Soviet-style trains, and some of them have a nice aesthetics inside, I never found any of those liveries to be particularly appealing... I would say, either the Chinese dark-standard, or the classic Ukrazheliznitsa livery (when fresh) does look a little better than the rest, but only marginally so.
Honestly some of the accomodation concepts on this train are simply so unique, I wonder if they'd work at all in Europe. It would certainly be interesting to see if they could, because they look like they could attract a brand new audience to night trains here. Especially the small single cabins, and something akin to the Nobi Nobi, but maybe with a slightly softer thing to lay on. I mean the Nobi Nobi alone already has an edge on privacy over couchettes since the ends have barriers separating each bunk, despite how close they all are. You simply dont have anything like that at all on European couchettes, and with people valuing privacy a ton nowadays, taking some notes from Japan could probably help
I’ve a Japanese friend who’s parents still live in Japan, she says she’s so glad she has somewhere to stay because Japan is so expensive, my son visited a few years ago and said the same, they travelled on the slow trains to save on the cost of travel, beautiful place to visit though and he loved Japan , saw a 14 day holiday from the UK a couple of days ago nearly £6,000 for it, do your own itinerary I think, forgot to mention great post
Japan aint that expensive. That's more a historical perception from 20-30 years ago. Since I first lived there 25 years ago it's become a lot cheaper. And infact with the yen at it's weakest for decades, it's actually the cheapest it's been for ages for foreign tourists.
Japan is insanely cheap. I don't know if your son stayed in the Hilton every day or what. I spent 4 grand on a 7 week trip, including flight and everything (yes booking everything myself, not a package thing). Only the flight was expensive, four weeks worth of unlimited travel on JR was about 750 euros (that includes shinkansen) and I traveled all around with it. Regular hotels are 40 euro a night. Fill yourself up with sushi at Kura for 10 euros... Compared to a holiday in the UK you're paying 1/3 of the price.
It's really not expensive. I travelled for nearly a month and all hotels, trains, activities and food came to around £1200. And I didn't do it on the cheap!
My experience with Japan Train was only with Shinkansen and some local trains. I did not take sleeper trains, as I mostly chasing time to get as many places as possible (which I did). Japan trains travel are amazing, so sophisticated systems and services.
Great trip, finally you make this trip report. Correct me if I wrong, there's also accomodation called Solo which is considered as cheapest private room on this train. Sadly you're run out of shower card. I have many favourite train livery, one of them is Sunrise Express.
Although it's just a regular local train, I really like the Hankyu Arashiyama line. It had such a quiet and cozy feel to it and the stations compared to all the busier lines around Kyoto. I also took the Hankyu super limited express train with tatami seats thinking it'd be faster than the normal limited express between Kyoto and Osaka but it wasn't really and had too many tourist announcements rip.
One thing also worth mentioning is how they managed to put this level of comfort into a narrow gauge train. The japanese are masters of making every inch of space count.
A bit ironic that Japan's newer trains are wider than UK's ones (2.95 vs 2.8m) although the latter uses standard gauge. A disadvantage is that the trains tend to roll more from side to side when travelling
Kyushu had some of the most beautiful trains in the country. I had the pleasure of riding on the Kamome(Nagasaki) and Yufuin no Mori(Beppu) trains. Both are covered by the JR Pass!
Ive rode on the nobi-nobi seat going from takamatsu and izumo station (both sunrise seto & sunrise izumo). The downside was that theres only some floor paddings and a paper cup. No pillows or blanket whatsoever, theres even no electric outlets too. But indeed as the "good design" award that it received back in 2014, it was one of the most smoothest overnight train i've ever slept on. and reservation was included on my japan rail pass
I think that it's cheaper to run sleeper buses than trains overnight but the amount of these buses in Japan 🗾 would suggest a greater market for sleeping trains .
Wow! Another beautiful video. It just makes me sad when I see how clean and efficient Japanese trains are in comparison to ours, which are usually late and overcrowded. Japanese people seem to take a pride in their work.
Those Nobi Nobi beds seem like an awesome alternatives to couchettes while not using more space. It would need a softer surface for us westerners though.
Yes best value are the Single rooms (altho I prefer the rooms on the upper level). There is another slightly cheaper single room type called the Solos but they are smaller again in size than the Singles!
SPANISH: Muchas gracias por el video, de casualidad sabes si el costo por la habitación tipo litera se cobra por persona o por habitación? es que quiero usar esa habitación y viajo con mi esposa, y puedes hacer un video de como reservar para ese tren, te lo agradecería mucho y como pedir el descuento con JR. ENGLISH: Thank you very much for the video. Do you happen to know if the cost for the bunk-bed room is charged per person or per room? I want to use that room and I'm traveling with my wife, and you can make a video on how to reserve for that train, I would really appreciate it and how to ask for the discount with JR.
how do you go about booking tickets for this train? some articles online say you can only book from within japan, but it does seem like you can buy a ticket through the JR West website. I wanted to go to Takamatsu on the third night of my upcoming trip but I'm quite worried I won't get a ticket...
You can buy any cash tickets online, or reserve a 'bed' on the hard floor basic accommodation with a JR pass online. If you want a room AND to use the JR pass, you need to book in country with the physical pass at a ticket office, but do it early!
You describe this train as the only double decker multiple unit sleeper train in the world. Wouldn’t that describe all the trains on Amtrak western routes?
Great video. Looks like a wonderful way to travel Japan. 😍 Out of interest, do you plan / coordinate or ever travel with @SuperalbsTravels? As you often seem to visit the same countries at similar times. 🤔
I can see this being made for the UK and Europe. Continental Europe version must be equipped with three pantographs one 1.45m Copper Strip AC/DC France 25kv Switzerland 15kv 16.7hz AC Italy 25kv 50hz AC 3kv DC. The Wider Pantagraph Metalized carbon 1.95m AC/DC former Czechoslovakia and Germany and Austria-Hungary 15kv 16.7hz AC 25kv 50hz AC and 3kv DC 1.8m Carbon strip 15kv 16 2/3hz Norway Sweden 25kv 50hz Denmark. Excellent video overall and a traveller can use this overnight train from the Kansai Region to Tokyo via Nagoya
@@jptv5726 You are correct. however there are Japanese double decker trains Cape gauge the same size as a 1.435m British Standard Gauge trains these are in operation around Tokyo and the Kansai region those can simply be regauged and modified to use AWS TPWS DSD Driver's Remainder Appliance ETCS to run on UK Network Rail tracks
Hello ! Thank you very much for vidéo. La wifi était présente à bord du train ? Encore merci. J'aimerais regarder le voyage à bord du Transiberien ! Par avance merci
Many thanks for an extremely interesting and informative video! One point you did not make is that these trains run on the narrow 3ft 6inches, 1067 mms track guage used by most Japanese non-shin kansen railway lines. I was wondering, is this the only sleeper train on narrow guage? I then remembered that South Africa uses 1067 mms guage ('Kapspur') and i think it still runs 'Sleepers'. Are there any other narrow gauge sleeper services?
@@NonstopEurotrip Yes quite a few of their trains are actually ex japanese stock to start with, including some of Thailand's night train rolling stock I believe.
Commenting to a two month video because I am in Takamatsu (took the same train as in the video coming here) right now. If you have taken the local private train named Kotoden, I hope you can make a video of it as well. It's an underrated line which imo is way cooler than the similar and more famous Enoden. It's my first time in Shikoku, and minus the hot and humid weather, I'm intensely enjoying my time here
@@NonstopEurotrip Yeah, enjoying my time in Shikoku so far. Took the Anpanman (Japanese comic superhero) themed intercity train from Takamatsu to Matsuyama today. Another one that deserves an English language video. After this, I'll be taking the ferry back to the mainland (Matsuyama-Hiroshima) The weather is unbearably hot though, when on paper it's supposed to be the beginning of autumn already at this time. Way more uncomfortable than the heat in the Philippines
@@NonstopEurotrip yip that's right. And for some trips it's used as a day train. There are other trains in JR West and JR Kyushu areas but again they aren't regular timetabled trains. They are luxury tour trains.
I am slightly "off" sleeper trains at the moment - the one we took at the start of our recent Inter-rail adventure arrived in Stockholm a mere 6 1/2 hours late!
@@yasukiwi No - there was a "one under" at Neumunster, which meant we were a good two hours late leaving Hamburg (I don't actually know the exact time, as I was asleep by then); and then of course it had lost its path, and had to be fitted in where possible.
@@AnnabelSmyth Meanwhile I read that one unders had become so common in Japan (with its high suicide rate) that the victims' families will compensate the rail operator for disrupting its services
Very cool trip but the equipment is looking rather worn compared to how it looked back in 2015. The exterior paint has faded and the polycarbonate windows are 1970's Amtrak fogged and scratched. But its Japan so everything is clean and everything works.
How comes it’s the last ever sleeper train in Japan. Must be getting very old and needs replacing with new sleeper trains and carriages. If so then perhaps preserve one of those sleeper trains for excursion.
Ummm, what do you mean "while you can"? This train set should still have plenty of life left in it and there are no concrete plans whatsoever to extend the shinkansen service to Izumo-shi or Takamatsu. Bit of a misleading title really. Other than that a pretty good video. I did the same trip Tokyo to Takamatsu in February. I've done the Sunrise trains a few times now and they're top class. I don't recommend the Nobinobi hard class seats unless you are on a budget. despite the carpet they are hard. There's no pillow, and no curtain so no privacy, but I guess that's no different to Couchettes on European night trains, except on the nobinobi, if you're unlucky someone might step on you in the night when they forgot to step out onto the corridor part. Yes, it happened to me! I have always gone for the upper level single compartments. I think that actually gives better views than the lower level compartments, and even on this video it felt wierd going into stations where you are below the platform level! LOL you were so busy filming you missed out on the shower card! A couple of things not in the video - you can pause the 6min timer during the shower so you can actually have longer - the 6mins is just the water coming out. So you can rinse, stop shower, soap the body, then rinse with water again etc, Also quite cool - the shower room has an auto cleaning function that you can press after you've got out of the shower 😃 Also although only provided on the train in the deluxe rooms, you can buy the amenity kits at convenience stores in or next to some of the stations at the southern end of the routes (eg I did at Yonago and at the 7 Eleven inside Takamatsu Stn). They are not 5 star kits but they have a cool little towel with an image of the Sunrise Express, amenity kit bag (also with Sunrise train image on it), and toothpaste and brush. They're a cool little souvenir. For railfans, the convenience store next to Yonago Stn also had Sunrise Train souvenirs like fridge magnets, pens etc. Even though the train goes to and from Tokyo it is not a JR East train (it's owned by JR West and JR Central), therefore I have never see the amenity kits, souvenirs for this train at Tokyo Stn. Lastly great to see the fantastic Sunrise in the video. I have the same fabulous memory from my own trip. Another cool thing to do if you are departing from Tokyo is have a bunch of food and drink goodies (note Tokyo Stn has some great Ekiben and delicatessen stores, plus New Days Convenience stores everywhere - but by 6pm usually most of the most popular Ekibens will be gone - anyway you'll find some things!)) and enjoy them as you leave Tokyo sitting at your window and watching Tokyo go by for the first 20mins or so. Often you will be "racing" with a local service and you can see clearly all the locals on their way home etc. It's a magic feeling!
Can compartments be reserved outside Japan? If you buy the rail pass (now substantially more expensive) can you book sleepers before arriving in Japan?
Unfortunately you can only reserve trains online if you buy the pass from Japan Rail Pass directly, and this is about 10-13% more expensive: ¥33610 for the 7-day pass instead of the normal ¥29650.
To your first question, I think the answer is yes. Try visiting JR West page. It's not the most user-friendly site and takes some getting used to. I have never purchased from them yet but I did a simulation booking and it seemed fine. Another thing is that the Sunrise Express sell out in an instant once the sale term (one month before journey) starts. So, if you plan on taking the train on the 5th of October, make sure to make reservations on the 5th of September especially if you're aiming for the well-coveted Deluxe compartment
It's only possible to reserve Nobi-Nobi outside Japan on a JR pass. I went straight to a ticket office to book my room as soon as I arrived, and I got the last one for my chosen date.
Speaking of JR pass, you are right about it now being substantially expensive. Unless you travel heavily on trains daily (and JR ones at that) like the video poster, or you plan to do back and forth travel on really long distances (eg Tokyo to Fukuoka), then more likely than not the pass won't pay. It's also worth noting that it's not everywhere that the most convenient trains are run by JR (even Tokyo), so should you decide to purchase the pass, you still need to dish out money for other private railways and/or subways
I recently travelled on this train back in February with my mom towards takamatsu. Tickets were super hard to get, we had to camp at the website 😅 So cool to relieve those memories with this video!!
i booked my tickets online within a few hours of them going onsale (10am local time 1 month before date of travel) and had no issues but they are pretty popular trains so if you don't get in fast....
Blah blah blah blah *I went back in time to Yesterday at 1:50 PM CEST* blah blah 1:41 Btw 1, Have you ever been to Shinjuku Station? It's crazier, but, like you said, "it all just works and That's Amazing!" 7:57 Btw 2, my bed is 105 cm × 190 cm, so I don't know if the width is long enough to try to have a peaceful rest. Yes, I'm rolling around my bed trying to have a peaceful rest 10:28 Btw 3, the wrong form of the rule number 1 of How to use a toilet is like "Bro, What the f...?"
I love the fact about each station having it's own jingle.
I've been to Tokyo a couple of times. Tokyo Station is huge and an absolute labyrinth.
Way back in 1987, I traveled on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka, with a stop at Gifu. I had my first bento breakfast!. I havne't been back, but plan to do so. You're right about the sleeper trains. Europe is finally bringing them back, thanks to guys like you, Superalbs, Thibault Constant and others pushing rail travel. I hope you get to Kyoto. It's the only city I had extra time in. This was a one week business trip and I was on the go the entire time. I didn't even get to seeTokyo. But I did get to the Zen garden at Ryoan-ji, attended a Japense tea ceremony, and got to see the world famous Takarazuka Revue. And ate my fill of sushi!
Thanks Rick! That's like an adventure 😌 Personally I can't Wait to go back to Japan, it was my favourite country for sure ✌🏻
That bridge crossing in the sunrise is absolutely stunning indeed ❤
Furthermore, the outside appearance of the train is sending me heavy NS ICM (Koploper) vibes 😄
Yes, you are right 😂
A lovely train imo, I'd love to try it one day. Those jingles at the station would drive me mad after a bit though! Agree the colour scheme gives it a sophisticated look and goes well with the name and the exterior surroundings. Nice one!
Totally agree mate! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Yes, tbh one of the things I don't like so much about Japanese, especially big city, stations is the sheer amount of noise. There really is a lot of noise pollution. I can remember when living in Japan, the most popular TV current events show actually did an episode on the noise at train stations basically saying it was noise pollution.
I travelled on the original bullet train in 1991 from Tokyo to Kyoto. It was greeeeaaat!
I absolutely loved Tokyo when I visited there a few years ago. Beautiful city and super friendly people, would go again in a heartbeat. LOVE your videos.
Thanks so much Curt, I completely agree with you ✌🏻🇯🇵
This is such a lovely video. The sunrise crossing of the Inland Sea is spectacular. Love the cozy sleeper compartment! Great journey and the music at the end is fabulous. Wonderful job!
Yeah i did this train February this year. Had that same fabulous sunrise going over the Seto Inland Sea bridge.
Thank you so much!
I really must aim to get to Japan. Even more so after watching James May's series there. And I want to travel on a bullet train.
Honestly, it's amazing. So worth it!
@@NonstopEurotrip As this video shows though Japan is more than shinkansens. Granted they're amazing and they are the flagship. But this night train, other Limited Express and sight-seeing trains, and even small one-two carriage local trains that go through some great rural areas are just as amazing in my view. i lived there for 5 years and have been back a number of times including twice in past 6mths or so.
While I was head over heals for the shinkansens at first, I've grown to appreciate Japan and its trains as being a lot more to experience than just the shinkansens. Please bear that in mind. Eg One of my best rail trips for all my times in Japan was on my last trip in February when I went through the beautiful and rural local Tadami Line in Wakamatsu Prefecture. I absolutely loved it.
@@yasukiwi the ltd expresses are my favourite!
@@NonstopEurotrip Yes there is such a variety of limited expresses, and some of them are pretty cool looking inside and out. Some of the interiors! My fav one from last Nov/Dec trip (yes I was in Japan a week after you rode Sunrise LOL) was the pink Inaho going down the wild windy Japan Sea coast between Akita and Niigata (both SuperAlbs and last week, AndyBTravels did this same Ltd Express). Also JR East's Joyful Train the Resort Shirakami also running up north in Aomori-Akita area (SuperAlbs also raved about that train).
That looks a cool trip, and excellent rolling stock - looked very much like the Dutch trains, with the high-mounted driver's cab. Love them.
It was! Thanks Bob 😄
I find that sleeper trains with beds along the direction of travel give much, much better sleep than with beds across the width of the carriage. Although once you get as far as your third consecutive night on a train you can sleep whatever...
Let us hope that like Europe, Japan sees the advantage of revamped sleeper services and that Hokutosei and Cassiopeia will run again!
I'm honestly not fussed which way I'm facing, I sleep pretty well on train. I hope Japan bring back more regular sleepers too!
Cassiopeia is still running, but on a seasonal route. I believe it's one of the more expensive services.
@@NerdX151 I travelled on Hokutosei in 2002 and saw Cassiopeia. It was clear that my Japan Rail Pass wouldn't quite stretch to that level even then...! 🙂
I agree with your comment about it being a shame there not being more night trains in Japan. Everytime in recent years JR East and JR Hokkaido latterly, extended shinkansen services, into Kanazawa for the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and then the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin Hakodate=Hokuto Station, they immediately axed the night trains, not understanding they play a different, but still useful role from the shinkansens.
Even going on the earliest departing shinkansens, you cannot now get into Tokyo from further away places of origin in time for say an 8.30am meeting. Therefore many business people who took night trains before are now forced to go the night before or get up early and get out to an airport for an early departure flight (yuck!).
So disappointing to see JR East in particular throw night trains and the customership of those they had away, It's siad by Japanese rail experts that one problem is high track fees going between different JR company areas but a Tokyo-Niigata/Akita/Aomori and Tokyo-Kanazawa night trains are all within the JR east area anyway (except Kanazawa).
The night trains were always popular but the carraiges for most got old and JR East in particular just couldn't be faffed making an investment in new carriages. There is actually one other night train from pre shinkansen times still going - The Cassiopeia, but rather than use it for say regular Tokyo-Aomori night train services, JR easy uses it as a multi-day charter tour train at exhorbitant prices instead. Shame on them!
Thanks for the comment 🙂
Japan has a couple of overnight coaches, some of which are operated by JR companies themselves. They were more competitive than overnight trains I heard. On the bright side JR West has launched a new overnight train between Osaka-Izumo called _Ginga_ ("Milky Way" in Japanese)
Good video. I'd seen previous posts on this train, but they were by Japanese people that had used the Sunrise Seto before and were familiar with it. Your observations matched what i thought about it - those hard floor bunks aren't what I'd want to sleep on, but the single room accommodations look fine. Sonething to ride on for the experience of an overnight train. Thanks.
Glad to be of help ☺️🇯🇵🙏🏻
Been on both nobinobi seats and proper compartments. Unless you're on a budget, go for the compartments!
This is the exact route I am planning to take few months from now. Being born in Japan with a Japanese mom, I am privileged enough to be able to come back countless times. However, I've never been outside Honshu mainland yet. Thus the excitement to take this train. I don't know if you took a similar route as the one I plan, but after Takamatsu (to eat loads of udon and to make it as base to see Marugame Castle) I'll proceed to Matsuyama, another interesting city in Shikoku. Then after a couple days, take the ferry to Hiroshima which would bring me back to Honshu island.
Among the most interesting train rides I had in Japan was the Tobu limited express from Asakusa to Nikko (and vice-versa). It has a spacious interior with comfort levels that could rival the Shinkansen but for a fraction of the price. It unfortunately does not accept JR pass as it is operated by a different company.
Brilliant Luke, thanks for sharing 😊
Matsuyama's great. I also liked Takamatsu - I think it's got the nicest and one of the longest undercover shopping arcades in Japan. Also there's the cool private Kotoden Railway 5mins walk from the JR Station, and the lovely Ritsurin Gardens. i also stayed in the Oboke Gorge area - From Obokekyo Stn by bus (abt 15-20mins) there's a Onsen Hotel with a cable car up the cliffside and a fabulous rotemburo bath looking out on the valley opposite. I could've stayed in it the whole day! I was a non-guest at the hotel but the rotemburo is open to the public for a bathing fee.
Make sure to try the Tanuki Soba in Matsuyama, and the Yukan 101 bar next to the ropeway (it has Juices and dried versions of every type of citrus found on Shikoku)... also, Matsuyama castle is definitely highly worth the time to visit, and Tobe pottery village, if you are a ceramics fan is just a 40min bus-trip out
(I might be biased, since Tsubaki-Oi [next to Oo-Tsubaki-San Jinja] is the clan village for my Japanese side of the family, but I simply love Matsuyama and it's surroundings!!!)
as for Nikko, I do agree about the Tobu Express, but the "Spacia" (which is JR) is also quite excellent as a route...
@@stanislavkostarnov2157 Thanks for the Matsuyama recommendation. I'll keep that in mind. Especially about the citrus near the castle.
Speaking of Nikko again, I guess you are referring to the service from Shinjuku. It's actually a joint service by JR and Tobu. Also the trains used are alternate between the two companies. It's probably a great choice for those staying near Shinjuku. Since they share rails for that route, it is only partially covered by JR pass
@@luke211286 I lived on the Seibu Shinjuku line, so, I guess that yes, it was on my side of town... but I seem to remember Spacia arrives at the JR Nikko station ( it's the small station with a beautiful wooden building of the Taisho period... located about a hundred meters further down the valley from the Tobu line entrance and the main street)...
if you go from anywhere in Tokyo, the route is slower, however, the only time I was traveling by it, I went from Tochigi-Oyama, where it was really the only reasonable option, since going to board the Tobu-Nikko at Kurihashi would be going backwards.
for sleeper train Livery... Got to say, I loved the blue and silver of the old style Cassiopeia sleeper to Hokkaido (sadly now discontinued)... The Penzance sleeper also has a fairly deep place in my heart.
I also rather enjoy the aesthetic of the Nainital Express or such meter gauge trains in India...
though I rode many Soviet-style trains, and some of them have a nice aesthetics inside, I never found any of those liveries to be particularly appealing... I would say, either the Chinese dark-standard, or the classic Ukrazheliznitsa livery (when fresh) does look a little better than the rest, but only marginally so.
Good choices!!
Honestly some of the accomodation concepts on this train are simply so unique, I wonder if they'd work at all in Europe. It would certainly be interesting to see if they could, because they look like they could attract a brand new audience to night trains here. Especially the small single cabins, and something akin to the Nobi Nobi, but maybe with a slightly softer thing to lay on. I mean the Nobi Nobi alone already has an edge on privacy over couchettes since the ends have barriers separating each bunk, despite how close they all are. You simply dont have anything like that at all on European couchettes, and with people valuing privacy a ton nowadays, taking some notes from Japan could probably help
Exactly yes, there's pretty much something for everyone!!
Actually the new couchettes for the NightJet services will have a very similar layout.
@@NerdX151 True, but most night train operators don't have the money to invest in brand new rolling stock, or huge reworkings of existing coaches.
@@NerdX151 but they will have mattresses
I’ve a Japanese friend who’s parents still live in Japan, she says she’s so glad she has somewhere to stay because Japan is so expensive, my son visited a few years ago and said the same, they travelled on the slow trains to save on the cost of travel, beautiful place to visit though and he loved Japan , saw a 14 day holiday from the UK a couple of days ago nearly £6,000 for it, do your own itinerary I think, forgot to mention great post
Japan aint that expensive. That's more a historical perception from 20-30 years ago. Since I first lived there 25 years ago it's become a lot cheaper. And infact with the yen at it's weakest for decades, it's actually the cheapest it's been for ages for foreign tourists.
Japan is insanely cheap. I don't know if your son stayed in the Hilton every day or what. I spent 4 grand on a 7 week trip, including flight and everything (yes booking everything myself, not a package thing). Only the flight was expensive, four weeks worth of unlimited travel on JR was about 750 euros (that includes shinkansen) and I traveled all around with it. Regular hotels are 40 euro a night. Fill yourself up with sushi at Kura for 10 euros... Compared to a holiday in the UK you're paying 1/3 of the price.
It's really not expensive. I travelled for nearly a month and all hotels, trains, activities and food came to around £1200. And I didn't do it on the cheap!
My experience with Japan Train was only with Shinkansen and some local trains. I did not take sleeper trains, as I mostly chasing time to get as many places as possible (which I did). Japan trains travel are amazing, so sophisticated systems and services.
Completely agree! Loved Japan 🗾🙂
Excellent as always. Thanks for all your work
My pleasure!
Most impressive, indeed!
Thanks bro 🙂👍🏻
I would love to watch more night trains all over europe.
Great trip, finally you make this trip report. Correct me if I wrong, there's also accomodation called Solo which is considered as cheapest private room on this train. Sadly you're run out of shower card. I have many favourite train livery, one of them is Sunrise Express.
Idk I was confused a bit 😂 I would have loved to try the showers but never mind! 🚿
Really good video enhanced by your commentary.
Thanks!
Although it's just a regular local train, I really like the Hankyu Arashiyama line. It had such a quiet and cozy feel to it and the stations compared to all the busier lines around Kyoto. I also took the Hankyu super limited express train with tatami seats thinking it'd be faster than the normal limited express between Kyoto and Osaka but it wasn't really and had too many tourist announcements rip.
Thanks for sharing 😊
One thing also worth mentioning is how they managed to put this level of comfort into a narrow gauge train. The japanese are masters of making every inch of space count.
Absolutely 💯
A bit ironic that Japan's newer trains are wider than UK's ones (2.95 vs 2.8m) although the latter uses standard gauge. A disadvantage is that the trains tend to roll more from side to side when travelling
Japanese trains are the envy of the world
Amen 🙌
Great video. Those EMUs are mad!
Tell me about it Chris 👌🏻😊
Kyushu had some of the most beautiful trains in the country. I had the pleasure of riding on the Kamome(Nagasaki) and Yufuin no Mori(Beppu) trains. Both are covered by the JR Pass!
I've done both too 😁
I love how you pronunce "now"
How do I say now? 🙃
Ive rode on the nobi-nobi seat going from takamatsu and izumo station (both sunrise seto & sunrise izumo). The downside was that theres only some floor paddings and a paper cup. No pillows or blanket whatsoever, theres even no electric outlets too. But indeed as the "good design" award that it received back in 2014, it was one of the most smoothest overnight train i've ever slept on. and reservation was included on my japan rail pass
It's better than a European couchette imo 🙂
haven't been to Japan yet but it is on my to do list
Highly recommended 😁
Great video! That sleeper compartment looks great! For some reason I find the term “Nobi Nobi” really amusing. Must be 14yo me lol.
Me too 😂
Wao this absolutely amazing
I'm glad you like it
I think that it's cheaper to run sleeper buses than trains overnight but the amount of these buses in Japan 🗾 would suggest a greater market for sleeping trains .
Unfortunately when you can travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido in 4 hours, they're kind of superfluous
Wow! Another beautiful video. It just makes me sad when I see how clean and efficient Japanese trains are in comparison to ours, which are usually late and overcrowded. Japanese people seem to take a pride in their work.
I agree with you completely Sandra 🙏🏻
Those Nobi Nobi beds seem like an awesome alternatives to couchettes while not using more space. It would need a softer surface for us westerners though.
I definitely agree with that!
Great train!
Thank you very much!
Nice Presentation
Thank you! Cheers!
Super awesome video, this journey made me dream about travelling with night trains. Have you tried Northern Europe trains?
Yes, many times. All videos on the channel
I wouldn’t want to be on those hard floor beds, but the fancier room doesn’t look much better than what you had. Class B was the way to go.
Exactly!!
Yes best value are the Single rooms (altho I prefer the rooms on the upper level). There is another slightly cheaper single room type called the Solos but they are smaller again in size than the Singles!
This kind of train needs to be also made (and run) here in North America with both VIA Rail and Amtrak.
Or, just go high-speed
SPANISH:
Muchas gracias por el video, de casualidad sabes si el costo por la habitación tipo litera se cobra por persona o por habitación? es que quiero usar esa habitación y viajo con mi esposa, y puedes hacer un video de como reservar para ese tren, te lo agradecería mucho y como pedir el descuento con JR.
ENGLISH:
Thank you very much for the video. Do you happen to know if the cost for the bunk-bed room is charged per person or per room? I want to use that room and I'm traveling with my wife, and you can make a video on how to reserve for that train, I would really appreciate it and how to ask for the discount with JR.
The surcharge is for the whole room, but you'll need two base fare tickets, or JR rail passes.
@@NonstopEurotrip Thank you very much bro, i have two JR Passes :D
how do you go about booking tickets for this train? some articles online say you can only book from within japan, but it does seem like you can buy a ticket through the JR West website. I wanted to go to Takamatsu on the third night of my upcoming trip but I'm quite worried I won't get a ticket...
You can buy any cash tickets online, or reserve a 'bed' on the hard floor basic accommodation with a JR pass online. If you want a room AND to use the JR pass, you need to book in country with the physical pass at a ticket office, but do it early!
08:10 Mr bean Moment 🤣
🙃🙃🙃
You describe this train as the only double decker multiple unit sleeper train in the world. Wouldn’t that describe all the trains on Amtrak western routes?
'multiple unit'
ノビノビ座席は端の場所を取ると意外に快適に過ごせます。けど私は貴重等がとても心配です。
Exactly the same for me!
You can ride to Polish city Zamość this city have got the most amazing old
town in Poland
Great video. Looks like a wonderful way to travel Japan. 😍
Out of interest, do you plan / coordinate or ever travel with @SuperalbsTravels? As you often seem to visit the same countries at similar times. 🤔
We do loads, but ironically not this time 🙃
Hi, did you ever travel on norwegian 🇳🇴 trains? If no, i highly recommend it.
Videos already on the channel!
You do travel to a lot of countries
56 and counting...
Love and respect from Pakistan railway 🌹
🥰✌🏻
I can see this being made for the UK and Europe. Continental Europe version must be equipped with three pantographs one 1.45m Copper Strip AC/DC France 25kv Switzerland 15kv 16.7hz AC Italy 25kv 50hz AC 3kv DC. The Wider Pantagraph Metalized carbon 1.95m AC/DC former Czechoslovakia and Germany and Austria-Hungary 15kv 16.7hz AC 25kv 50hz AC and 3kv DC 1.8m Carbon strip 15kv 16 2/3hz Norway Sweden 25kv 50hz Denmark. Excellent video overall and a traveller can use this overnight train from the Kansai Region to Tokyo via Nagoya
i always thought that the loading gauge was to small for double-decker trains in the UK
@@jptv5726 You are correct. however there are Japanese double decker trains Cape gauge the same size as a 1.435m British Standard Gauge trains these are in operation around Tokyo and the Kansai region those can simply be regauged and modified to use AWS TPWS DSD Driver's Remainder Appliance ETCS to run on UK Network Rail tracks
Thanks for the information ℹ️☺️
Hello ! Thank you very much for vidéo. La wifi était présente à bord du train ? Encore merci. J'aimerais regarder le voyage à bord du Transiberien ! Par avance merci
No WiFi but great mobile signal throughout!
Many thanks for an extremely interesting and informative video! One point you did not make is that these trains run on the narrow 3ft 6inches, 1067 mms track guage used by most Japanese non-shin kansen railway lines. I was wondering, is this the only sleeper train on narrow guage? I then remembered that South Africa uses 1067 mms guage ('Kapspur') and i think it still runs 'Sleepers'. Are there any other narrow gauge sleeper services?
Queensland Rail runs a couple sleeper trains. They use 1067mm Queensland guage.
@@nickhiscock8948 Thank you! I am still wondering whether there are any 'Sleepers' on metre gauge!
Yes, Thailand and Malaysia both have metre gauge sleepers.
@@NonstopEurotrip many thanks!
@@NonstopEurotrip Yes quite a few of their trains are actually ex japanese stock to start with, including some of Thailand's night train rolling stock I believe.
What was the room temperature? Are Japanese trains overheated?
It was just fine!
If I have a JR Rail Pass, do I still need to reserve a seat at the ticket machine? And is it the green one?
You can only do it at the ticket office, except for nobi nobi
Commenting to a two month video because I am in Takamatsu (took the same train as in the video coming here) right now. If you have taken the local private train named Kotoden, I hope you can make a video of it as well. It's an underrated line which imo is way cooler than the similar and more famous Enoden.
It's my first time in Shikoku, and minus the hot and humid weather, I'm intensely enjoying my time here
Did you have a good time Luke? Thanks for the suggestion I'll be heading back to Japan next year so am making a to-do list ✌🏻
@@NonstopEurotrip Yeah, enjoying my time in Shikoku so far. Took the Anpanman (Japanese comic superhero) themed intercity train from Takamatsu to Matsuyama today. Another one that deserves an English language video. After this, I'll be taking the ferry back to the mainland (Matsuyama-Hiroshima)
The weather is unbearably hot though, when on paper it's supposed to be the beginning of autumn already at this time. Way more uncomfortable than the heat in the Philippines
What about the West Express Ginga, doesn't that count as a sleeper train?
That would be difficult to book with that train, correct?
Sorry I don't understand your question.
It's not a regular scheduled service?
@@azuma892 I believe it's more like a joyful train or a tourist train.
@@NonstopEurotrip yip that's right. And for some trips it's used as a day train. There are other trains in JR West and JR Kyushu areas but again they aren't regular timetabled trains. They are luxury tour trains.
Gracias por el dormilón viaje ... la unica critica es que no tenga wi-fi, y tal vez alguna maquina expendedora. Por lo demas perfecto. Saludos 🇺🇾
It does have a vending machine 😌
I am slightly "off" sleeper trains at the moment - the one we took at the start of our recent Inter-rail adventure arrived in Stockholm a mere 6 1/2 hours late!
Oh no Annabel, that's not good! European Vs Japanese train timekeeping is a very different art tho 🙃
It wasn't the quite new SJ train from Berlin/Hamburg was it? I've heard it's had rather a lot of "teething problems" 😕
@@yasukiwi No - there was a "one under" at Neumunster, which meant we were a good two hours late leaving Hamburg (I don't actually know the exact time, as I was asleep by then); and then of course it had lost its path, and had to be fitted in where possible.
@@AnnabelSmyth Meanwhile I read that one unders had become so common in Japan (with its high suicide rate) that the victims' families will compensate the rail operator for disrupting its services
Train trip review suggestion: Wroclaw to Zgorzelec, Polska (regional train), then transfer to Görlitz, Deutschland might be interesting ...
I've filmed it already ✌🏻
@@NonstopEurotrip Oh thanks, I cannot find it...Must keep searching!
@@thomas-xj1hs don't worry, I've not edited it yet 😂
@@NonstopEurotrip Going in October, so hope to see your video first!!
Bom dia lindo trem Japão último trem noturno
✌🏻🇯🇵
No trains near me.
Very cool trip but the equipment is looking rather worn compared to how it looked back in 2015. The exterior paint has faded and the polycarbonate windows are 1970's Amtrak fogged and scratched.
But its Japan so everything is clean and everything works.
Exactly this
How comes it’s the last ever sleeper train in Japan. Must be getting very old and needs replacing with new sleeper trains and carriages. If so then perhaps preserve one of those sleeper trains for excursion.
Because if you can do it in 3-4 hours on a Shinkansen, most people would rather do that!
@@NonstopEurotripThis and the fact that Japanese overnight busses can deliver a very similar level of comfort for a much lower price,
This is technically the last sleeper train in Japan that runs on a regular basis
Ummm, what do you mean "while you can"? This train set should still have plenty of life left in it and there are no concrete plans whatsoever to extend the shinkansen service to Izumo-shi or Takamatsu. Bit of a misleading title really.
Other than that a pretty good video. I did the same trip Tokyo to Takamatsu in February. I've done the Sunrise trains a few times now and they're top class. I don't recommend the Nobinobi hard class seats unless you are on a budget. despite the carpet they are hard. There's no pillow, and no curtain so no privacy, but I guess that's no different to Couchettes on European night trains, except on the nobinobi, if you're unlucky someone might step on you in the night when they forgot to step out onto the corridor part. Yes, it happened to me!
I have always gone for the upper level single compartments. I think that actually gives better views than the lower level compartments, and even on this video it felt wierd going into stations where you are below the platform level!
LOL you were so busy filming you missed out on the shower card! A couple of things not in the video - you can pause the 6min timer during the shower so you can actually have longer - the 6mins is just the water coming out. So you can rinse, stop shower, soap the body, then rinse with water again etc, Also quite cool - the shower room has an auto cleaning function that you can press after you've got out of the shower 😃
Also although only provided on the train in the deluxe rooms, you can buy the amenity kits at convenience stores in or next to some of the stations at the southern end of the routes (eg I did at Yonago and at the 7 Eleven inside Takamatsu Stn). They are not 5 star kits but they have a cool little towel with an image of the Sunrise Express, amenity kit bag (also with Sunrise train image on it), and toothpaste and brush. They're a cool little souvenir. For railfans, the convenience store next to Yonago Stn also had Sunrise Train souvenirs like fridge magnets, pens etc. Even though the train goes to and from Tokyo it is not a JR East train (it's owned by JR West and JR Central), therefore I have never see the amenity kits, souvenirs for this train at Tokyo Stn.
Lastly great to see the fantastic Sunrise in the video. I have the same fabulous memory from my own trip. Another cool thing to do if you are departing from Tokyo is have a bunch of food and drink goodies (note Tokyo Stn has some great Ekiben and delicatessen stores, plus New Days Convenience stores everywhere - but by 6pm usually most of the most popular Ekibens will be gone - anyway you'll find some things!)) and enjoy them as you leave Tokyo sitting at your window and watching Tokyo go by for the first 20mins or so. Often you will be "racing" with a local service and you can see clearly all the locals on their way home etc. It's a magic feeling!
Thanks for the information 🙏🏻
Can compartments be reserved outside Japan? If you buy the rail pass (now substantially more expensive) can you book sleepers before arriving in Japan?
Unfortunately you can only reserve trains online if you buy the pass from Japan Rail Pass directly, and this is about 10-13% more expensive: ¥33610 for the 7-day pass instead of the normal ¥29650.
To your first question, I think the answer is yes. Try visiting JR West page. It's not the most user-friendly site and takes some getting used to. I have never purchased from them yet but I did a simulation booking and it seemed fine.
Another thing is that the Sunrise Express sell out in an instant once the sale term (one month before journey) starts. So, if you plan on taking the train on the 5th of October, make sure to make reservations on the 5th of September especially if you're aiming for the well-coveted Deluxe compartment
It's only possible to reserve Nobi-Nobi outside Japan on a JR pass. I went straight to a ticket office to book my room as soon as I arrived, and I got the last one for my chosen date.
Speaking of JR pass, you are right about it now being substantially expensive. Unless you travel heavily on trains daily (and JR ones at that) like the video poster, or you plan to do back and forth travel on really long distances (eg Tokyo to Fukuoka), then more likely than not the pass won't pay. It's also worth noting that it's not everywhere that the most convenient trains are run by JR (even Tokyo), so should you decide to purchase the pass, you still need to dish out money for other private railways and/or subways
@@lbc2013 I don't understand. Why would the standard class pass cost more than 29,650 yen?
Ich liebe japanische Züge
Me too!!!!
Who is the "new" narrator of this vlog? What happened to the French fellow?
Who?
@@NonstopEurotrip I think he is thinking of Thibault aka Simply Railway LOL
@@yasukiwiyes I did! 😂
complete opposite form the malaysian sleeper i presume?
Somewhat 😅
Classic olive-green european, then classic soviet green, then blue like in Ukraine, Belarus, or Kazakhstan.
I recently travelled on this train back in February with my mom towards takamatsu. Tickets were super hard to get, we had to camp at the website 😅
So cool to relieve those memories with this video!!
Oh wow!
i booked my tickets online within a few hours of them going onsale (10am local time 1 month before date of travel) and had no issues but they are pretty popular trains so if you don't get in fast....
I would like to know more about the noise on trains this one sounded rather noisy
Not at all
I will suggest double decker experience in india too
Which one?
@@NonstopEurotrip few double decker train Run from major cities like ahemdabad and Bombay and Vishakapatnam too
@@NonstopEurotripAhmedabad -Mumbai is non AC train. You can better check off Chennai - Bangalore Double Decker Express which is A/C one.
I want video about high speed trains of china
Soon 😜
Five sta coverage
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
u'll like indian trains too. visit india once please
th-cam.com/play/PLWXo3lqwqgyzrAzI50uHVcZJaIbItjt2r.html
🎤 Tell me if ye till care , 🎶
Blah blah blah blah *I went back in time to Yesterday at 1:50 PM CEST* blah blah
1:41 Btw 1, Have you ever been to Shinjuku Station? It's crazier, but, like you said, "it all just works and That's Amazing!"
7:57 Btw 2, my bed is 105 cm × 190 cm, so I don't know if the width is long enough to try to have a peaceful rest. Yes, I'm rolling around my bed trying to have a peaceful rest
10:28 Btw 3, the wrong form of the rule number 1 of How to use a toilet is like "Bro, What the f...?"
I'll have a video from Shinjuku soon! And the bed was fine, but I'd prefer bigger lol. The toilet thing was funny 😂
Damn why soooo many shitty masks :( I like to see people’s faces
They always have in Japan, nothing is different