What is the Twilight Express Mizukaze
Twilight Express Mizukaze (Japanese: トワイライトエクスプレス みずかぜ) is a luxury sleeper cruise train operated by JR West. This train is an excursion train, not a regular train. It is a luxury train used for trips around Western Japan and with only a capacity of 34 passengers in a 10-car configuration, it is easily one of the most expensive train trips of the world.
Image from Wikipedia
Design of the train and logo
The dark-green livery of the train is borrowed from a popular sleeper train called Twilight Express. Twilight Express is a sleeper train plying between Osaka and Sapporo and operations was ceased on 2015 due to declining demand for sleeper trains in Japan. The dive in demand for sleeper trains in Japan is because of an expanding Shinkansen bullet train network, and emergence of LCCs and highway buses that runs between cities.
Also, the Mizukaze logo have elements that are borrowed from the old Twilight Express logo. The "M" in the new Twilight Express logo is stylised in a way that matches the borrowed angels found in the original Twilight Express.
Lastly, the interior has some sort of a bland of 1920s Art Deco vibes with Japanese-style decorative touches from various regions that the train goes to. This train is designed by industrial designer Tetsuo Fukuda (福田哲夫) and architect Kazuya Ura (浦一也). The former is also known for designing Shinkansen rolling stock like N700A and the latter is known for designing luxury hotels, thus combining the concepts into what is known as a "hotel on wheels".
Original Twilight Express logo
Twilight Express Mizukaze logo
Facilities of this train
The 10-car long 87 series is branded as "a hotel rolling through beautiful Japanese landscape" as seen on the official website. Therefore, the interior comprises a facilities of a 5 star hotel.
Configuration of the train
Observation Cars (found in cars 1 and 10)
Car no. 1 is the observation cars of the train. It is simply used by passengers to observe the rolling scenery of western Japan as they sit back and relax. In the observation room, the are windows that goes all the way up to the ceiling, so that it allows passengers to look up to the sky. Also, it is home to an open air observation deck, which is what this top-class train is famous for. Passengers can go to the observation deck just to obtain some fresh air and enjoy the wind breezes while the train keep rolling.
Royal Twin (found in cars 2, 3, 8, and 9)
Royal Twin (Universal design) (found in car 4)
Royal Twin rooms are found on cars 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9, inclusive of a universal design room found in car 4. The universal design room provides barrier free access to individuals with disabilities, so that they can also enjoy the amenities that this luxury cruise train has to offer. It is also much more spacious as compared to its other Royal Twin rooms, providing ample space for wheelchairs to move around. Also, the boarding and alighting doors and the corridor from there to the twin room and the entrance to the room are wide enough to allow wheelchairs to pass through.
As its name suggests, in Royal Twin, there are 2 sofas and a study desk, as well as a large window. It can be utilized by 2 people. At night, the sofas folds out to become beds for passengers to catch a shut eye.
Royal Single (found in car 4)
Two Royal Single rooms are found in car 4 of the train. The amenities offered in these rooms are almost similar to their Royal Twin counterparts. However, it is targeted for single travelers as opposed to 2 person groups.
Dining Car DINER PLEIADES (Car 6)
Car no. 6 is where the dining car is located. Here, patrons can enjoy fine dining prepared by various culinary artisans made with ingredients from the Sanin and Sanyo areas of Japan, where this cruise train passes through, with views of the beautiful scenery that the region has to offer. Also, it comes with an open kitchen where passengers can watch the way their meals are prepared.
Lounge Car SALON DE L'OUEST (Car 5)
Car no. 5 is where the longue car is located, where there is a bar and a few sofas. Passengers can also enjoy a tea ceremony while relaxing and enjoying the ambiance that it offers.
Saving the best for the last, now I am going to talk about a room in Car 7 called "The Suite". As the name suggests, it is the train's most luxury offering, with the entirety of Car 7 just for a room. This room comes with a private entrance, twin-bedded room, large living-dining room, and even its own bathroom with a bathtub and marble basins, as well as large windows. Of course, all these luxury comes with a hefty price tag of it being the most expensive accommodation this cruise train has to offer.
Private balcony and entrance
In this cruise train, there are 5 different itineraries available, including an ultimate 3-day itinerary available that traverses a grand tour of the Sanin coast as well as the Sanyo Main Line. The 2-day itineraries are either along the Sea of Japan, on the Sanin Line., or via the Sanyo line on the Pacific coast.
The ultimate 3-day tour departs from Kyoto and brings you to Okayama, Unna/Matsue and Tottori/Higashihama en-route. In addition, the train slows down at a few certain points such as Setonaikai National Park, the Orii Coast, Lake Shinji, Mount Daisen and the Amarube Viaduct, so that visitors can enjoy the scenery from large windows while being comfortably seated in plush sofas and armchairs facing them, as well as from the open-air balconies located at Observatory Cars 1 and 10.
In all courses, the train stops at important sightseeing locations during daytime, complete with a personalized welcome with musicians and performers on the platform to welcome passengers. Then, a special bus takes the passengers on a guided tour to Miyajima torii, Izumo Taisha, art workshops to discover the manufacture of ceramics, goldsmith's and silversmith's work, precious woods like those adorning the train, a master glass maker, etc. Passengers may also be able to take home memorable souvenirs from the trip.
References
1. https://www.jrpass.com/blog/twilight-express-mizukaze-the-most-luxurious-of-excursion-trains
2. https://youtu.be/xkGUrbYqe6w?si=S8XPihNZ24wddp_L
3. https://www.twilightexpress-mizukaze.jp/en/about/train/cars.html
4. https://dime.jp/genre/663953/3/
5. https://www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/travel-by-train/unique-trains/twilight-express-mizukaze
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