I was awake at 5 AM this morning thanks to the crows. One bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios in me and a cuppa coffee in front of me, I am easing into the morning. Having finished my morning reading, I'm ready to write something that you can peruse over your breakfast. This one is for my stepfather, the man in my life who has a passion for trains.
The Japan Times reports that the new Twilight Express Mizukaze, a luxury sleeper train that leaves from Osaka, is finally on the track and taking passengers. "The train accommodates only 34 passengers in 16 rooms. A one-night tour with a room for two costs between ¥250,000 and ¥1.25 million ($225 and $11,300), with suites starting from ¥750,000."
The last time I saw a train this luxurious it was parked in Train World, a train museum in Brussels. Just goes to show you how little I know - luxury trains are not solely a 19th/early 20th century form of elite travel. This site has a list of elegant 21st century train travel possibilities from the Al Andulus in Spain to the Tsars Gold Trans-Siberian (China, Mongolia, Russia). Pick one at random and dream a little on a Monday morning.
And then, if you like, you can go to the Twilight Express website and watch their video (a nicely done advertisement). But, personally I much preferred this bit of reporting from Japanese television (February 2017) which not only takes you on two tours of the interiors of the cars but has reactions and commentary. You don't need to speak Japanese to share in the appreciation and pleasure. Enjoy.
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