LUXURY TRAIN TRAVEL IN JAPAN

From Worldometer (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):

        DAY   USA   WORLD   Brazil     India  South Africa

June     9    1093     4732         1185       246       82

July    22     1205     7128         1293      1120     572

Aug    12     1504     6556        1242        835     130

Sept     9     1208      6222       1136       1168       82

Oct     21     1225      6849         571        703       85

Nov    25      2304    12025        620        518     118

Dec    30      3880    14748       1224       299     465

Jan     14       4142     15512        1151         189     712              

Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107     398

          25       2414    10578         1582        119     144

Mar     2        1989    9490         1726        110     194

          31         1115   12301          3950       458      58

April   6         906   11787           4211         631      37

May    4         853   13667          3025      3786     59 

         25         668    12091         2198       4172     102

         26         607    12348         2399      3842    101

The New York Times this morning reported:

• New studies suggest that Covid immunity — from either infection or vaccination — lasts at least a year and improves over time.
• Daily Covid deaths in the U.S. have fallen roughly 40 percent since the start of April.

Over the past few years, Japan Railway has introduced three luxury train systems.  While very expensive, they all nevertheless have been popular.  Your Japan Rail Pass cannot be used for these trains.

So let me start with the economical Green Car Japan Rail Pass, which costs $383/7-days, $618/14-days or $803/21-days.  Pretty much takes you everywhere in Japan.  You can reduce your cost by using the Ordinary Car for about a third less.  Even cheaper is a Willer Express Bus pass for half the cost of the ordinary car.  As useful and expeditious as the Bullet Train has been, the price is certainly reasonable.

Yesterday, I reported on various luxury trains throughout the world.  In general, they cost from $500/day to well beyond $1000/day.  In comparison, the expensive Crystal cruise generally goes for around $500/day.  However, you can find other ships with sufficient opulence for $100/day, and less.  My 111-day around the world cruise will cost a little more than $300/day, but includes actually traveling around the world, a beverage package (that will permit up to 15 drinks/day), WiFi, tips and all port charges, including taxes.

The three luxury trains in Japan:

• The ultimate indulgence is the so-called $10,000 suite Shiki-Shima.  Here is a shorter version that says $12,000/ticket.  Read this.  Well, what does it really cost?
• The 3-day/2-night trip in the fanciest cabin, the Shiki-Shima Suite:  $12,400 for two people, or $9000 for two in the cheap rooms.  There are 17 suites.
• Thus, divide by three and the range would be $1500 to more $2000/day per person.

• 
  The 4-day/3-night trip goes up to $12,500/person in the the most expensive rooms.  The trip goes all the way up to Hakodate on Hokkaido for $3125/day.
• Whole train accommodates 34 passengers
• Here is a comment from a private traveler:

It’s a short journey by the Shiki-Shima organized limo from the Palace Hotel in Tokyo, and we get to Ueno station in about 15 minutes and are met kerb-side by the Shiki-Shima staff in their distinctive traditional uniforms. We’re whisked through the station (quite busy on a Monday morning) in minutes, our luggage going separately, being taken to the special Prologue lounge at platform 13, which is reserved for the Train Suite Shiki-Shima only. Here we are served drinks and local delicacies as we’re given train goody bags, special pins to identify us as being Shiki-Shima guests and lots of information as well as iPod style devices which means at various points throughout the trip we can listen to a commentary in English.

• Includes fancy meals.  The sushis, for example, were a work of art:

• There are two cars for views and one each for a bar lounge (where there is live music) and fancy dining.
• 2, 3 and 4 day trips, from Ueno Station in Tokyo to points north, and returning to Ueno.
• Began service in 2017.
• Train only travels at 70 MPH, around one-third that of the Bullet Train.
• Train was designed by Ken Okuyama, who is noted for his work with Ferrari and Maserati.
• Here is a photo of just the bathroom for the two most expensive suites:

• 
  One way to insure for a place on the train is to book with organizations.  For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a package of a ten-day tour that includes side-trips on the Shinkansen to Kyoto for special artsy visits and a extravagant meals, with stays at the Peninsula Tokyo and Ritz-Carlton (Kyoto), for anywhere from $30,000 to$50,000/person (so $3000 to $5000/day).

• 

  The Twilight Express Mizukaze operates between Kyoto-Osaka and Shimonoseki, located at the western tip of Honshu in Yamaguchi.
• Designed by Kazuya Ura, who is known for his luxury hotel style.
• There are five different tours available, all either 2-day 1-night or 3-day 2-night trips.  
• 34 passengers in a traveling 5-star hotel with exquisite dining.
• Depending on route, about $2800/day.

• 
  Seven Stars is a sleeper train based on Kyushu now in its 8th year of operation.
• Kyushu has seven prefectures and the train has seven cars.
• Starts and finishes at the JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka.
• The 4-day itinerary includes an onsen visit and goes down to Miyazaki for $5400 or $1350/day.
• The 2-day journey visits Oita, Mount Aso and Arita porcelain for $2550 or $1275/day.

-