Home › Travel › Breathtaking Japan: A Scenic Railway Jou...

Breathtaking Japan: A Scenic Railway Journey

Published: 2026-09-25 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-25 — For railway enthusiasts, there's no better destination than Japan: diverse themed trains, the charm of all four seasons, seasonal limited trains and merchandise, and charming slow-paced towns along the way. The hottest “seasonal” topic in Japanese travel, and the “in-season” trains you can only experience during certain times...

Written by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler

For railway enthusiasts, there's no better destination than Japan: diverse themed trains, the charm of all four seasons, seasonal limited trains and merchandise, and charming slow-paced towns along the way. The hottest “seasonal” topic in Japanese travel, and the “in-season” trains you can only experience during certain times—this time, we explore Japan at a different pace, journeying into the most beautiful scenery of every season.

What secrets does the Asahiyama Zoo Train hold? Please turn to the next page.

Tokyo

Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building: A Century of Leading Elegance

With its bronze-green dome, red brick façade, and ivory granite trim, spanning 335 meters horizontally and three stories high, sunlight streams through the windows into the interior atrium, providing a warm ambiance for hurried travelers. The 99-year-old Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building (Tokyo? Marunouchi ??), on October 1, 2012, was reborn as a newborn presence on Tokyo’s streets. Opened in the third year of the Taisho era (1914), Tokyo Station has served as the gateway to Tokyo for a century. Designed by Kingo Tatsuno, Japan’s first architect trained in Western architecture, its elegant and grand British-style architecture had no equal in Asia at the time. The Tokyo Station Hotel (Tokyo Sutei ??), which opened the following year, became a symbol of political, economic, artistic, and cultural salons for a hundred years, where many notable guests stayed, leaving behind countless legends. However, the U.S. military’s incendiary bombs during World War II destroyed the most beautiful third-floor hall and dome. For the next 60 years, it waited quietly, constrained by postwar material shortages, until restoration work began in 2007. Using surviving documents and old photographs, Tokyo Station, through the efforts and anticipation of Tokyo residents, returned to its original appearance just before its centennial birthday, ready to greet the next hundred years.

Whether it’s the fantastical 3D light sculpture stage (TOKYO HIKARI VISION, now closed), or the nightly illumination, the nights at Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building tell stories of both motion and stillness. (Image provided by Mook Editorial Department)

But don’t assume history is its only appeal—overlook its ever-moving essence as a station. The restoration of Tokyo’s Marunouchi Building was part of a massive, cross-sector urban redevelopment plan. The core project aimed to restore the prewar exterior and interior appearances of the Marunouchi Building, and to restructure the Tokyo Station Hotel and Tokyo Station Gallery. The renovation of the Tokyo Station Hotel sought to restore its original appearance while also aligning with top-tier Western grand hotels, reviving the glory of its century-long role as a hub for politics, economics, art, and culture. The Tokyo Station Gallery aims to interpret the ever-evolving art world in this dynamic setting using contemporary art forms. Surrounding commercial facilities have also collaborated extensively to create the new Marunouchi concept playground. Inside Tokyo Station, floors one and B1 feature a total of 13 dining and shopping spaces, with 11 major shopping and public spaces nearby. These include iconic locations like the Marunouchi Building (Maru Biru) and New Marunouchi Building (Shin Maru Biru), as well as newer additions such as the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, which opened in spring 2010; the expanded Daimaru Tokyo department store in October 2012; and the upcoming KITTE building set to open on March 21 this year, forming a massive urban complex.

It is both the constant amid the flow of time and the endless renewal within eternal cycles. In the ever-moving world, Tokyo Station welcomes a brand-new day today.

[Info]

Tokyo? Marunouchi ??

Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Website: www.tokyostationcity.com

Tokyo’s old train stations transformed into luxury hotels. (Image provided by Mook Editorial Department)

Shizuoka Prefecture

Oigawa Railway SL Steam Locomotive: A Springtime Sakura Screen

When the whistle blows, the train wheels clatter, and steam cuts a white line across the blue sky before fading behind us, in spring, we chase cherry blossoms. Along railways built over a century ago, the Oigawa Railway, once used to transport materials for the Oigawa Hydroelectric Power Plant, now carries people in pursuit of fleeting beauty. The Japanese say, “Live as brilliantly as cherry blossoms, die as peacefully as maple leaves.” So of course, we go in high spirits, drenched in a shower of petals. As the train meanders through towns and tea villages, bathed in boundless spring light, the sounds of children laughing, the rumble of crossing iron bridges, and the conductor’s witty remarks echo through the vintage carriages, filled with excited kids and big kids alike. Suddenly, everyone falls quiet, gazing at the vibrant pink in the distance, as the air fills with the sweet scent of grass and flowers. Children peer out wooden window frames or try to sneak their hands out when adults aren’t looking. Then the train rounds a mountain path, and the view suddenly opens up—rows of fully bloomed cherry blossoms on both sides form a tunnel, drawing closer to us as they sway in the spring breeze. With over 300 Somei Yoshino cherry trees lining the route, the Oigawa Railway Main Line, consistently ranked among Japan’s top cherry blossom train routes, paints streaks of brilliant pink across the swiftly passing scenery. Ah, this is what you get only on the Oigawa Railway—the Sakura Screen.

The Oigawa Railway Co., Ltd. was founded in 1917, and the Oigawa Main Line is especially notable as the first line in Japan to resume SL steam locomotive service. The operating steam locomotives are antique cars from the early Showa period (around the 1930s–40s), featuring arched roofs, metal-framed fans, foot-warming metal stoves, brass luggage racks, wooden interiors, and even blue velvet seats. Powered by steam, the locomotive pulls the carriages, and that slight swaying is pure bliss for railway enthusiasts.

Ride the Oigawa Railway SL steam locomotive to chase springtime cherry blossoms. (Image provided by Oigawa Railway Co., Ltd.)

When visiting the Oigawa Railway for cherry blossoms, pay attention to four things: the cherry blossom front, train schedules, scenic sections, and viewing spots. Every year, major Japanese travel websites begin forecasting cherry blossom blooms starting in February. Based on past trends, this year’s cherry blossom front is expected to reach the Oigawa Railway area around late March to early April. Regular trains run dozens of times a day, but if you want to ride the retro SL steam locomotive, there are only three round trips daily, and the SL only stops at Kajiyama Station. The prime cherry blossom viewing sections are the “Kajiyama Sakura Tunnel” near Kajiyama Station, the stretch along the riverbank between Kajiyama and Rippari Stations where cherry and peach blossoms bloom side by side, and the “Masashima Sakura Avenue” between Taguchi and Suruga Tokuyama Stations. For photography enthusiasts aiming to capture the steam train chasing cherry blossoms, waiting at Kajiyama Station for the train’s arrival or departure is a popular choice. A newer hotspot is shooting the vertical Masashima Sakura Avenue from an elevated horizontal angle, and the area under the nearby iron bridge close to Kajiyama Station also offers a picturesque scene of cherry blossoms, steam trains, and a red bridge.

Beyond the stunning spring cherry blossoms, the Oigawa Main Line runs through Shizuoka Prefecture, a renowned tea region. Amid spring light and the fragrance of tea, the rolling hills of tea fields stretch endlessly. Hop on the train to enjoy the breeze and lush greenery, or hop off to explore small town charm. In spring, whether it’s lively and bustling or quietly timeless, it’s all wonderful.

[Info]

Oigawa Railway SL (Steam Locomotive)

Route: Oigawa Main Line (Shin-Kanaya – Chūbu), note that up and down services stop at different stations. Regular trains also operate on the same line.

Schedule: Three round trips daily, schedules vary by season. No service on Tuesdays and Thursdays from December to March. Check the official website for details.

Fare: Shin-Kanaya – Chūbu ¥1,720, plus SL Express Ticket ¥800. (As of March 20, Express Fee changed to the above price)

Website: www.oigawa-railway.co.jp

Hop on the train to enjoy the breeze, flowing greenery, and the liveliest moments of tranquility. (Image provided by Oigawa Railway Co., Ltd.)

Kyoto Prefecture

S嵘降绯单s书虫的京都

Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path is world-renowned—strolling beneath the spring cherry blossoms, everyone seems as pensive as Descartes. But Kyoto actually has another “bookworm path,” specially designed for bookish souls to while away the hours. Following S嵘降绯担?we sought out spots in the city that are perfect for quiet reading—bookstores, cinemas, and cafes, all beloved by literati. Below... /div>

The entrance to S嵘降绯档?is located near Jingumae-dori and Kiyamachi Street. It faces north, and as you walk down the street, you’ll pass by various attractions such as the shrine, the big ginkgo tree in autumn, and some historic sites, all within walking distance of the Gion entertainment district. Turning right from the entrance, you’ll find a narrow alley leading to a small, cozy bookstore hidden among the backstreets. The building itself is an old Japanese-style house, its second floor transformed into a charming lending library. This one corner encapsulates the very atmosphere of old Kyoto, offering a view of life in the city’s downtown area. Perhaps because it’s tucked away in a quiet spot, it avoids the bustle of the main streets, creating a peaceful ambiance ideal for reading. Nearby are Kyoto University of Art and Design, Kyoto Institute of Technology, and Kyoto Seika University—all schools with strong art programs. If you’re in the mood to explore Kyoto’s literary side, you can also spend an afternoon here. /div>

Groceries, cultural and creative goods, and independent publications all find their voice at the Hewen Bookstore in Ichijoji. (Image provided by MK Editorial Department)

This article is published by HowToTrip. Sharing and reposting are welcome — please credit the source.
Article URL: https://www.howtotrip.net/views-39980

← Previous