Japanese culture lesson#3: Travel on Train

Japanese loves their train (really proud and love them very much). I have a colleague who taught me many things about trains in Japan and he refused to be called "train mania", instead he prefers if I call him "train lover".

In Japan, each of the prefecture will have special train just like how they have special food products and old-folks tales (I hope I can write posts about food products soon *grin*). This special train has purpose not only to transport passengers from one point to another, but also act as a sight-seeing train or what the japanese called "電車の旅"or "Travel on Train". It is usually consists of 3 cars: 2 observation cars with normal seats and 1 cars which has special seats; tatami style seating. Sitting comfortably, enjoying delicious local specialty bento box and sharing nice sceneries with loved ones, isn't it awesome?

Resort Shirakami is one of the popular train in Tohoku region. It runs on gonosen all year round to let you enjoy the spectacular view of mountain, rice fields and japan sea as it travels from Akita to Aomori for approximately 5 hours.

 

Resortshirakami

Aizu Railway train is very popular during Spring season in Fukushima prefecture. Passengers can enjoy the panoramic view of cherry blossom season on the journey

 

Aizu2

Also, there is this special "heater train" by Tsugaru railway that runs from December to March that has quite nice wooden interior and of course the highlight of the trip is the STOVE! You can even grill your own food on top of the stove! cool! 

What I would love to try next time will be this train that fully decorated with my favorite animation character, DORAEMON! I was told it has stop operation due to the construction of Shinkansen from Hachinohe to Aomori. This DORAEMON train will travel through the underwater tunnel from Hachinohe to Hakodate.

Doraemon

Well, I know there are amazing trains from other part of the world, such as Qingzang railway that took you on world's highest rail at 5072m above sea level or Trans-siberian railway that requires a solid 7 days in order to complete the whole train journey. Today, I am writing just solely about the japanese culture of "Travel on Train".

I personally think other countries can learn this from Japan on how to being creative in promoting local travels. Coming from 3rd world country, I am wonder if my country can learn from Japan in having a good train system and later use it to promote local travels. Yes, I am just wondering...

Cheers,

kualibiru

Note: all the photos shown on this post is taken from the website linked. I hope they will not come after me :)

Comments

[†Princess Elena†]

[this is good] shirakami resort looks like guam island from here, have you been there? so you mentioned there's an underwater train from hachinohe to hakodate? kind to elaborate on that? or maybe any japanese websites you can link to? SANKYU XD

[kualibiru]

Hi (° °) ☆ MITCHY,

I heard a lot about Guam, no I have not been there! Have you been there?

The Doraemon train that I mentioned has stop for couple of years :( but the main train that runs from Hachinohe to Hakodate still running and very popular on weekend http://jr.hakodate.jp/ and you can see the locals carrying lots of shopping bag from Hakodate market! Would love to try this underwater train soon! Hope you will too :)

39! :D

[†Princess Elena†]

haha i have not been to Guam! but i would sure love to go there, awesome place to sun-tan!! XD

thanks for the webbie link, sure i would check it out...i do know Hakodate market is known for fresh food...yeah i would love to try the underwater train too!!

please dont stop with your japanese culture lessons, i really love reading it :)

[Hubert Langdon]

[this is good] Bravo, this magnificent phrase is necessary just by the way