Take a look at Shiki-Shima — Japan's most expensive train
Harry Potter fans felt a little dizzy when the JR East railway company announced that at Ueno Station in Tokyo will open "Platform 13½", from where the magnificent luxury express Shiki-Shima will depart.
We invite you to take a look at this unique tourist train, equipped with observation decks, private apartments and high-class restaurants.
Although the opening of a new platform with an unusual number did not become a direct reference to Platform 912, its name is a kind of hint at the magical experience that awaits all passengers of a luxury train.
Here they will be able to sit in a special lounge area before walking on an exclusive platform, and after that they will be able to make an unforgettable 3-day trip around Japan.
The train is called Shiki-Shima, or the Island of the Seasons, which reflects the pride of the Japanese for how beautiful all four seasons are on the territory of the Land of the Rising Sun. Therefore, special tourist express routes have been developed for each season.
The train consists of 10 cars, which can comfortably accommodate 34 people. In total, the train includes 17 rooms: 2 large and 15 small. The most comfortable conditions for travel have been created for passengers: there are real baths, a restaurant car, as well as cars with panoramic windows and a glass ceiling on the train.
There is also a 2-tier compartment on the train: there is a bedroom at the bottom, and a living room on top. The cost of such a "number" reaches 10 thousand dollars (about 64 thousand rubles).
The train journey usually lasts 3-4 days, depending on the route. During this time, passengers can see and visit the historical and resort attractions of Japan. For the first time, the train made its trip in May 2017, and immediately gained incredible popularity. The tickets for the flight were redeemed for a year in advance.
The project of this incredible express train was designed by Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama, who also worked with Ferrai Enzo and Maseratti Quattroporte. It seems that he managed to transfer the elegance and chic of supercars to the sphere of public transport.
A trip on this train with a domed roof, windows of complex configuration and plush sofas can be compared to a cruise on a snow-white sea liner.
Interestingly, traditional Japanese materials are used in the decoration of wagons: wood, Japanese washi paper and special varnish. The interior also uses techniques typical of the culture of eastern Japan. In general, according to the designer, a sense of presence in a traditional Japanese sparsely planted forest should be created inside the train.