Text by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine, reported by Chuang Wei-Ting
The Nankai Shimakaze (しまかぜ, Premium Express SHIMAKAZE), this newly launched ultra-luxury sightseeing train that even the Japanese scramble to ride, has been in extremely high demand since its launch in March this year. There are only two such trains in all of Japan, each making one daily round trip from Osaka and Nagoya to Kashikojima. The schedule also coincides with the once-in-twenty-years relocation ceremony of Ise Grand Shrine, sparking a wave of interest in riding the Shimakaze to witness the divine relocation.
The elegant café inside the Shimakaze, bathed in soft lighting, resembles a cozy coffee shop with ever-changing scenic views. (Image provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler Magazine)
This exquisitely crafted luxury train, with its sleek white and sky-blue exterior gleaming brightly, features diamond-shaped blue-green observation glass at both ends, offering an unobstructed view of the driver’s seat. Passengers can get an up-close look at the engineer driving the train, fulfilling every railfan’s dream. The expansive windows create a seamless, open vista with no blind spots. Coupled with the gentle rocking motion, the rhythmic clatter of the train, and the whistle before entering tunnels, it feels like being inside a 3D virtual reality experience—truly surreal. The goose-yellow leather seats in the observation car are first-class quality, reportedly so luxurious that a single seat could buy a car. The seats are spaced 125 cm apart, offering ample room and comfort, and are equipped with Japan’s first-ever electrically adjustable inflatable lumbar cushions, as well as electric massage functions to ease travel fatigue. It doesn’t get more luxurious than this train journey.
● Read More:
Strolling Through the Realm of the Gods: The Ise Grand Shrine Shikinen Sengu Festival
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