Luxury & Slow Rail in Japan: Routes, Costs & Tips From An Indian Traveller Who Went All In#

So, um, I didn’t go to Japan thinking “I’ll do luxury trains”. I thought I’ll just roam with JR Pass, eat konbini food, come back. But one night, scrolling Insta reels in Bengaluru traffic, I saw this insane video of a Japanese luxury train with a private onsen-style bath and I was like… bro, what is this life?? Next thing I know, I’m deep-diving into slow rail journeys, booking weird connections, and basically planning my whole trip around trains instead of cities.

If you’re also that type who enjoys chai in a moving train more than reaching the destination, Japan is like next level. It’s not just Shinkansen-speed-fast stuff. There’s this whole culture of slow, scenic, luxurious rail, and it’s honestly perfect for us desi travellers who grew up on Indian Railways vibes but now want, you know, AC, silence, and food that doesn’t randomly fly off the plate.

Luxury & Slow Rail In Japan – What Are We Even Talking About?#

So quick overview before I start yapping about my own trip. In Japan, you’ve got three main rail experiences:

  • Super fast Shinkansen (Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku etc.) – the ones everyone knows
  • Scenic & slow tourist trains – cosy, local, lots of windows, lots of snacks
  • Ultra-luxury cruise-style trains – like a 5-star hotel on wheels, price also 5-star-plus, lol

I tried a mix: a bit of Shinkansen, one proper luxury-ish scenic experience, and a couple of slower regional “joyful trains”. Not all were crazy expensive, btw. There are options where you can taste the vibe without selling your kidney in rupees.

Top Routes To Consider (From Someone Who Actually Rode A Few)#

I didn’t do every famous route, obviously, but between my trip and some serious train-nerd research, these are the ones I’d genuinely recommend keeping on your radar if you’re planning for the coming year or two.

1. Train Suite Shiki-shima – The “Someday When I’m Rich” Dream#

Let me start with the one I couldn’t afford but still obsessed over. Train Suite Shiki-shima by JR East. It runs from Tokyo (Ueno) towards Tohoku and sometimes Hokkaido, multi-day itineraries, super curated. Think suites with private baths, fine dining with seasonal Japanese ingredients, observation lounges, on-board sommelier types. That whole scene.

Cost-wise, it’s no joke. Like roughly ¥300,000–¥1,000,000 per person (around ₹1.7–5.5 lakh) depending on length and room type. Applications get lottery-style because demand is high. Honestly, for most of us, this is like Maldives water villa level splurge or honeymoon-specially-saving type thing.

If you’re not in that budget zone (same here yaar), still good to know about it because it kind of set the trend for Japanese luxury rail. And who knows, future promotion, bonus, shaadi anniversary gift… never say never.

2. Seven Stars in Kyushu – Art, Food, and Slow Life#

Another legendary one is Seven Stars in Kyushu. I met a Japanese aunty in Fukuoka who told me, very proudly, that she’d been waitlisted for TWO years. That’s how crazy it is. This one is also a multi-day cruise train, circling Kyushu with on-board music, local crafts, crazy gourmet food. The interiors look like old-school luxury European train mixed with Japanese aesthetics.

Again, price is in the same bracket as Shiki-shima, so I didn’t book it. But if Kyushu is on your radar and you have the money, this is like once-in-a-lifetime, chill-and-watch-rice-fields kind of thing.

3. The “Semi-Luxury” Scenic Trains – Actually Reachable For Normal Humans#

Now THIS is where I come in properly. I wanted a taste of luxury but also wanted to, you know, still have money left to eat ramen.

Here are some scenic / joyful trains that are affordable yet feel special:

  • Kurobe Gorge Railway (Toyama) – open-air cars, insane valley views, especially stunning in autumn
  • Sagano Romantic Train (Kyoto/Arashiyama) – classic, short 25-min ride through a gorge, very filmy
  • Aso Boy! and Yufuin no Mori (Kyushu) – cute themed trains with big windows, café, kids’ spaces
  • Ibusuki no Tamatebako (Kagoshima) – black & white exterior train, pretty seaside views

Ticket prices for these are typically in the ¥1,500–¥6,000 range (₹900–₹3,500) depending on seat type and distance. Much more doable. And because they’re slower and scenic, you actually feel the journey, not just zoom at 300 km/h like Shinkansen where you blink and city is gone.

My Personal Route: Osaka – Okayama – Shikoku – Back#

So what did I actually do? I ended up focusing on West Japan because Tokyo crowd and prices were getting on my nerves. I based myself in Osaka and did this slow-ish loop via Okayama and Shikoku.

One of my fav days was taking the Marine Liner across the Seto Ohashi Bridge from Okayama to Takamatsu (Shikoku). Not an ultra-luxury train, but the view. The sea, the tiny islands, bridges criss-crossing – it felt so calm. I upgraded to the Green Car (like 1st class) just to see if it’s worth it. It was. Bigger seats, quieter coach, fewer people loudly typing on their laptops. For long rides, I’d say Green Car is a very decent ‘budget luxury’ hack.

Later I hopped on a small local train in Shikoku that had these wide windows and just two cars. Slower, no fancy service, but it stopped at these tiny stations with one vending machine and a view of mountains that looked like someone photoshopped them. That day I actually understood why Japanese people are into slow travel now. The whole energy was like, “chalo, breathe, no hurry.”

Latest Situation: Safety, Passes & Booking Stuff You Should Know#

Couple of practical things, especially if you’re reading this close to your trip:

1. Safety & general vibe – Japan is still one of the safest places I’ve ever travelled. I saw school kids commuting alone in trains even at night. Stations are super organized. Just keep the usual care for wallets and passports, especially in crowded stations like Shinjuku, Osaka Umeda, Tokyo. Nothing dramatic, just normal travel sense.

2. Japan Rail Pass prices have gone up compared to earlier years, so do the maths. If you’re doing multiple long-distance Shinkansen trips, it might still be worth it. If your plan is slow travel in just one region (like only Kansai or only Kyushu), regional passes are cheaper and more practical.

3. Reservations – For popular scenic trains (Yufuin no Mori, Sagano Romantic Train etc.), you really should reserve in advance, especially on weekends and cherry blossom / autumn seasons. It’s not like Indian Rail where you can sometimes jugaad last-minute. In Japan if it says full, it’s full. No discussion.

4. Suica/ICOCA cards – Most IC cards went fully digital on phones for foreign visitors, but physical cards are slowly coming back in some areas. Either way, for luxury/scenic trains you usually need a separate reservation ticket, not just tap-in. Don’t assume your IC card covers everything.

What Does “Luxury” Actually Cost (In Rupees, More Or Less)#

Let’s talk money, because Japanese trains can either be very reasonable or absolutely wild.

Here’s roughly what I saw when I was planning and booking:

  • Regular intercity limited express: ¥4,000–¥9,000 (₹2,400–₹5,500) depending on distance
  • Green Car upgrade on many trains: add ~¥2,000–¥5,000 (₹1,200–₹3,000)
  • Scenic/joyful trains: around ¥1,500–¥6,000 (₹900–₹3,500) for seat or supplement
  • Multi-day luxury cruise trains: starting from around ¥300,000 (₹1.7 lakh) and going way beyond

What worked for me was a mix: one or two special trains where I splurged, Green Car for longer legs, and normal reserved seats for everything else. I also saved a lot by staying in business hotels near stations instead of fancy ryokan every night.

Staying Near Stations: My Hotel Strategy#

If you’re doing a rail-heavy trip, staying near big stations is actually a life hack. In India we kind of avoid station area sometimes because of noise, but in Japan, stations are like small cities with shopping malls, food courts, and super clean vibes.

I mostly did:

  • Business hotels near Osaka Umeda and Shin-Osaka – around ¥7,000–¥13,000 per night (₹4,000–₹8,000)
  • Simple hotel near Okayama Station – about ¥6,000 (₹3,500) solo room

Rooms in Japan are small, just accept it. If you’re travelling with family, look for ‘twin rooms’ or apartment hotels. For one person or couples who don’t mind limited space, business hotels are perfect: comfy bed, clean bathroom, kettle, sometimes even free onsen downstairs.

Best Seasons For Slow Rail (And When I Got Lucky)#

I went in autumn and I’m low-key biased now. The Kurobe Gorge, which I managed to squeeze in, looked unreal with red and yellow leaves. If you’re planning a slow rail journey, the season actually matters a lot because you’re staring out the window 50% of the time.

Roughly:

  • Late March–April: Cherry blossoms, but also crowds and higher prices. Book trains early.
  • May–early June: Pleasant weather, fewer crowds. Great for slow, relaxed travel.
  • October–mid November: Autumn colours, amazing for scenic trains through mountains and valleys.
  • Mid-summer (Jul–Aug): Hot and humid, but some coastal routes are still nice if you can handle the heat.

Winter can be beautiful too, especially in Tohoku and Hokkaido with snow, but you need to plan for delays and cold. Not everything will be running the same way either.

Food On Board & At Stations – Don’t Sleep On Ekiben#

Okay, honest confession: I was more excited about train station food than some castles.

Japanese ekiben (station bento boxes) are next level. Every region has its own specialties. At Okayama I had a bento with local seafood, at Osaka there was this curry katsu version I still think about. Prices are usually between ¥800–¥1,500 (₹450–₹900).

Tip from an Indian stomach: if you’re vegetarian or strict about ingredients, check the labels carefully. Many sauces have fish stock. Look for words like “vegan” or “plant-based” or use apps like HappyCow for guidance. Else, keep some snacks from India as backup. I carried the standard – thepla, some chivda, and those travel-sized pickle packets. No regrets.

On luxury and tourist trains, you often can pre-order special meals. For example, on some Kyushu tourist trains, they had regional course meals using local beef, desserts, etc. I didn’t go for the full gourmet set every time because yen conversion was hurting, but I did try one dessert set with coffee on Yufuin no Mori. Sitting in a big-window coach, sipping coffee while trees went by… simple but 10/10 mood.

Little Cultural Things That Hit Different#

Couple of small things that really stood out to me, especially as someone who grew up with Indian train culture:

  • Silence – Trains are quiet. People talk softly, phones are on silent, no loud calls. I messed up once, took a call from my mom in normal Indian volume, and immediately felt 20 pairs of eyes. After that, only whispers or texts.
  • Punctuality – If the train says 10:07, it’s not 10:05, not 10:08. It’s 10:07. I saw a platform apology because a train left 30 seconds early. Imagine that on Indian Railways.
  • Queueing – People line up exactly where the doors will open, in neat lines. Follow that. Don’t do random crowding.

As an Indian, it felt both strange and strangely comforting. Our trains are chaotic but warm. Japanese trains are calm but also very polite. Both have their charm honestly.

How To Plan A Rail-Focused Japan Trip Without Going Mad#

I’ll be real, the first week of planning almost fried my brain. There are so many companies, passes, and tiny conditions. What helped me:

  • First decide regions, then decide passes. Don’t buy a national pass if you’re mostly in one area.
  • Use websites like Jorudan or Google Maps transit – they’re decently updated with routes and times.
  • Book popular scenic trains as soon as reservations open. Many allow online booking now, but some you might need to do via Midori-no-madoguchi (green ticket machines or counters) once in Japan.
  • Keep one or two days intentionally empty for just random local trains. Those ended up being my most peaceful days.

Don’t overpack your itinerary. In India we’re used to doing 5 cities in 7 days. But slow rail travel is about… well, being slow. I did fewer cities but spent more time just wandering around near stations, sitting in cafés, and watching trains come and go like some retired uncle living his best life.

Would I Do It Again? 100% Yes, But Slower#

If I go back – and I honestly hope I do – I’d probably pick just one region, maybe Tohoku or Kyushu, choose one slightly fancy train, and then spend the rest of the days just riding small local lines, staying in onsen towns, eating ekiben on random platforms.

Luxury rail in Japan doesn’t have to mean only those ultra-expensive suites. Even a Green Car seat on a scenic route, a good bento, and a free afternoon can feel luxurious if you let yourself slow down. Coming from Indian city life where we’re always rushing between work, traffic, family functions… sitting in a quiet Japanese train with mountains outside felt weirdly emotional. Like someone pressed pause on my brain.

Anyway, if you’re planning your own train-heavy Japan trip and want more ideas, I’ve been dumping notes, routes and random mistakes I made over on AllBlogs.in – you can dig through there for more details, budgets, and some very unflattering photos of me half-asleep on trains.