Why a Ride on Japan's Slowest Trains is Worth It

Japan is known for its punctual high-speed trains. But ironically, the slowest trains running through the country are a special attraction for travelers and locals alike.

Choosing to take the leisurely train when you could reach your destination much faster with a high-speed train might sound absurd. Especially when it involves Japan - the country where train companies apologize if a train departs a few seconds late or early. And it is world-renowned for its Shinkansen high-speed train that races across the country from Tokyo at up to 199 mph.

As comfortable and efficient as traveling on the Shinkansen is: at a speed of 199 mph, it is hardly possible to enjoy the view through the train windows. Japan has a lot of impressive landscapes to offer.

For this reason, in Japan, besides the fastest trains, the slowest ones are also especially popular. These are the sightseeing trains that leisurely traverse the country. Not only tourists but also Japanese people enjoy them, reports the BBC. 'People long to travel slowly in Japan,' a train manager from the railway company JR-East told the British broadcaster. 'Life moves too fast, and train travel should help capture a special place in time.'

However, sightseeing trains fulfill another purpose too. Even in Japan, more and more people are flocking to cities, while rural areas are becoming deserted. The introduction of trains that bring travelers to these otherwise remote areas is intended to rejuvenate the regions and maintain connections to the rail network.

Therefore, Japan has numerous railways that travel at a leisurely pace along small villages, through the mountains, or along the coast. Spread across the entire country, travelers have the opportunity to discover the diverse landscapes, attractions, and specialties of the regions. Here, we introduce some of the most beautiful sightseeing train routes in Japan.

At 53 miles long, the Kurobe Gorge is one of the most spectacular landscapes in Japan. The Kurobe Railway runs right through it and offers you breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys. According to the Japanwelt Blog, it is the slowest sightseeing train in the country, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful landscape.

Traveling on the tracks of an old mining railway, it takes about one and a half hours from Unazuki to Keyakidaira. The train passes through a total of 41 tunnels and over 21 bridges. Along the way, you have the chance to disembark at various points to explore the landscape - such as the hot springs of Kuronagi or the Kurobe Mannen Yuki viewpoint, which offers a view of Mt. Hyakkan, covered in snow year-round. A ride on the Kurobe Railway is especially beautiful in autumn when the leaves glow in vibrant colors.

With an average speed of just 6 mph, the Shirakami Train crawls through Akita Prefecture in Northern Japan, passing gentle mountains and coastal landscapes. It is the only train that runs directly along the Japanese coast. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you also have a perfect view of Shirakami Sanchi, the largest remaining primeval beech forest in East Asia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From start to end, the ride on the sightseeing train takes five hours. The train slows down when passing particularly notable stretches of landscape, allowing you ample opportunity for great photos. During the winter and summer seasons, when the views are at their best, the Shirakami Resort Train runs three times a day; in spring and autumn, it operates once a day.

The Sagano Romantic Train winds through the picturesque landscape between Saga-Arashiyama and Kameoka in the west of Kyoto. The train also travels along the Hozugawa River Gorge.

On a leisurely 25-minute ride with the retrofitted steam locomotive, you can enjoy fantastic views from the window in any season. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom; in summer, lush green forests and mountains; in autumn, colorful leaves adorn the landscape, and in winter, snow turns the region into a winter wonderland.

The Tsugaru Railway, Japan's northernmost private railway, escorts travelers through the snowy Tsugaru Valley in winter on the Stove Train. The passenger cars are heated by coal stoves, which give the tourist train its name, Stove Train.

Each compartment, designed in the nostalgic style of the Showa era, is equipped with a stove. It serves not only for warmth but also to cook the dried squid sold on board. From December to March, the Stove Train operates on the roughly 12-mile route between Tsugaru-Goshogawara Station and Tsugaru-Nakasato Station. In summer and autumn, other trains like the Wind Chime Train run instead.

Along the Tenryu River in the southern part of the Japanese Alps, the Iida Line Unexplored Stations train runs. As the name suggests, the line travels along several completely isolated stations, called 'Hikyō Eki,' that are rarely or never served. This makes the journey on the tourist train feel like a trip back in time.

Fans of abandoned places have the opportunity to take spectacular photos of the deserted stations along the way. At some stations, local products are sold by locals. But it's not only the stations that make the route worthwhile; the scenic landscape along the Tenryu, which passes by the windows, is also captivating. From the starting station Toyohashi to the destination station Tatsuno, the ride on the local train takes about six hours.

The Royal Express combines sightseeing with luxury of the highest class and travels along the coast of Izu between Yokohama and Izukyu-Shimoda.

The glamorous interiors of the cars were designed by the famous industrial designer Eiji Mitooka and are adorned with wood and Japanese paper. The train features several luxuriously designed dining cars, a library, a children's play area, and a multipurpose car where you can even get married. Through large panoramic windows, you can enjoy views of the Pacific coast on the three-hour journey.

Travel Reporter