Trains of Japan - A Review Thread

[rbjhan]

X.6 うなぎ弁当 Unagi Bento, JR Mishima Station.

Ah yes, my love for unagi is maybe second only to gyutan
Mishima unagi is very famous, obviously I did not hesitate to get one.




It was delicious, but I think the one from Hakata wins... actually can tell even by the picture!

 

[mel-world]

Quick question about the trains before this becomes a Bento review thread - I am interested in the various local delicacies but also the train trips and ticketing options. We have about a week in Japan in September before joining a cruise and am thinking about Tokyo to Matsumoto/Nagano then Kanazawa area (unless it is too badly affected by the earthquake). We love trains but wondering if it is best to get a Pass or simply book individual journeys? Any recommendations of tourist trains you have taken? Thanks.

 

[rbjhan]

Quick question about the trains before this becomes a Bento review thread - I am interested in the various local delicacies but also the train trips and ticketing options. We have about a week in Japan in September before joining a cruise and am thinking about Tokyo to Matsumoto/Nagano then Kanazawa area (unless it is too badly affected by the earthquake). We love trains but wondering if it is best to get a Pass or simply book individual journeys? Any recommendations of tourist trains you have taken? Thanks.

I know there are many people automatically think going to Japan = JR pass. This is unfortunately categorically untrue, even before the price increase.
There is only one way to determine if any pass is worth it: calculate each trip's fare, add them up then compare to pass price.

As for specialty trains in Nagano region? I have not taken any I'm afraid. Shinano railway is the local train company, I know they have Rokumon but no personal experience here. And of course JR East runs between Tokyo and Nagano/Matsumoto, the actual cutoff between JR East and JR West is Joetsu Myoko, iirc.
I know JR East Joyful Trains have had some changes since last time I looked at them (that would be 2019), so you might want to check their website for the latest.

Edit, re Ishikawa, too early to tell at this moment.

トップページ｜富山湾から立山連峰を臨む観光列車「一万三千尺物語」

富山平野を横断する、あいの風とやま鉄道の観光列車「一万三千尺物語」。高低差4,000mがテーマのダイニング列車です。海も山も、富山の魅力が存分に感じられる旅。富山の旬の素材を使ったお食事やお土産もご用意してお待ちしております。

13000story.com

This one is very interesting but again, I have no experience.

 

[frodo]

KIX
To be honest I don't like flying to/from KIX...way overcrowded, facilities are not so good...
But it's obviously convenient for Kansai region.

Nankai Rapi:t
If you are near Namba/Shinsaibashi area, this the best.

Nice thread, I might see what I have when I'm back home. I flew out of KIX a few days ago and the ANA lounge was small and crowded.

Another option besides the rapi:t is the nankai airport express, which is just a regular train departing from the same station and takes around 10 min longer than the rapi:t but runs every 15 min and is cheaper with no reservations.

 

[rbjhan]

Nice thread, I might see what I have when I'm back home. I flew out of KIX a few days ago and the ANA lounge was small and crowded.

Another option besides the rapi:t is the nankai airport express, which is just a regular train departing from the same station and takes around 10 min longer than the rapi:t but runs every 15 min and is cheaper with no reservations.

Yes I've taken the normal one as well.
Decided to ignore most of the slower trains, coz they are not that special

 

[rbjhan]

X.7 下津井旅情 弁当 - JR Okayama Station

「下津井旅情」のご紹介 | 駅弁図鑑 西日本編

下津井旅情のご紹介ページです

ekiben.gr.jp

This looked pretty but I honestly can't remember the taste!

 

[rbjhan]

X.8 Hotel Heimat ほたてごはん, Joetsu Myoko station

駅弁・仕出し料理 | 【公式】上越直江津駅前ホテルハイマート　宿泊・駅弁・仕出し弁当

www.heimat.co.jp

Hotate is scallop. Honestly I don't remember anything about this one until I dug out the pictures....tells you everything you need to know about it. Not that I think anyone on AFF is in danger of buying this one since it's only sold at Joetsu Myoko and Naoetsu, afaik.

 

[rbjhan]

X.9 Gyutan Bento - JR Nagoya Station
Hmmm, probably should get something, more representative of Nagoya? Matsuzaka Beef or something...But I have a weakness for gyutan

 

[rbjhan]

X.10 Kumamon Akaushi Bento
This one was obvisouly from Kumamoto.
With Sukiyaki and soboro(mince) beef, but most importantly the Kumamon box! And yes the box is now sitting on my desk.

 

[rbjhan]

X.11 手割り箱寿し - Toyama station

順風屋 / 手割り箱寿し（いろどり）

www.junpuya.com

Masuzushi (pressed sushi) is a Toyama specialty, either a large round one wrapped leaves in or small pieces in a box like the one I bought. Can't say I liked the taste more than nigiri sushi though

 

[rbjhan]

X.12 Seafood bento
Well this generic, could be from anywhere! But I checked the pictures and concluded it was bought in Tokyo Station. Hopefully nobody is surprised that I like seafood

 

[trendwhore]

Not sure if this is specifically the right place to post this but NHK Japan has an english program about the trains, episodes come out periodically on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/@NHKWORLDJAPAN/search?query=railway%20journal

 

[rbjhan]

Not sure if this is specifically the right place to post this but NHK Japan has an english program about the trains, episodes come out periodically on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/@NHKWORLDJAPAN/search?query=railway%20journal

Back in my Foxtel days I watched a lot of them!
This one is more about the news though, Train Cruise (I think that's the name) is more about the journey.
Another of my favourite was Document 72 Hours!

 

[trendwhore]

Back in my Foxtel days I watched a lot of them!
This one is more about the news though, Train Cruise (I think that's the name) is more about the journey.
Another of my favourite was Document 72 Hours!

Oh yeah Train Cruise is good, actually they have them as well

https://www.youtube.com/@NHKWORLDJAPAN/search?query=train%20cruise

 

[frodo]

Not too much to add that hasn't already been covered

Kamome shinkansen between Takeo-onsen and Nagasaki (connects with a limited express relay kamome service which runs to Shin-Tosu/Hakata)



Reserved seats


Non-reserved seats


To be honest, like with most new trains in the past 5-10 years, I prefer the older versions, as this one is similar to the new N700S ('Supreme') shinkansens on the Tokaido line, which I think is worse than the current N700A series.

 

[frodo]

Tokyo Monorail - runs between Haneda and Hamamatsucho
Is it a train? Maybe... but whenever I go to/from Haneda, I like to catch this anyway as we don't have a monorail in Sydney any more.

 

[frodo]

Another maybe train - Shonan monorail from Kamakura to Enoshima. This one is suspended from above, makes for an interesting ride.

 

[frodo]

Exterior of the Eizan railway train as per post #48
I went in April so it wasn't peak season, can't imagine how full it'll be in November though

 

[frodo]

Shinano wide view

This is a JR limited express service from Nagoya to Nagano. In that direction only, the front car (green car) has a nice view right behind the driver if you book row 1.

 

[rbjhan]

Exterior of the Eizan railway train as per post #48
I went in April so it wasn't peak season, can't imagine how full it'll be in November though

View attachment 366711

Interesting, I didn't know they have green colour ones...
Well yes you really don't want to take them in peak season now...unfortunately. I'm just glad I did it back in 2014!