48 Hours on Japan's Most Luxurious Train

Japan has elevated luxury train travel to an art form, and the Train Suite Shiki-shima represents the pinnacle of this obsession. This five-day itinerary takes you from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo through the Japanese Alps to the cultural treasure house of Kyoto, with the centerpiece being a 48-hour journey aboard one of Japan's ultra-luxury cruise trains. The Shiki-shima features just 17 suites with cypress wood baths, a lounge car with a glass ceiling for stargazing, and a dining car serving multi-course kaiseki meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs using hyper-local ingredients sourced along the route. Beyond the train, this trip delivers Japan's greatest hits: Nagano's Jigokudani snow monkeys bathing in natural hot springs (an experience unique in the world), Kanazawa's perfectly preserved Kenroku-en garden (one of Japan's three great gardens), and Kyoto's ancient temples and bamboo groves. The route passes through some of Japan's most dramatic scenery — the Japanese Alps, terraced rice paddies, and coastal cliffs. Whether you choose the Shiki-shima or opt for the more accessible Gran Class on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, this journey captures the essence of Japan: precision, beauty, attention to detail, and an almost spiritual devotion to hospitality. Tickets for the Shiki-shima are allocated by lottery and sell out instantly — apply months in advance.