Luxury on Rails: The 7 Star Experience

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First Class on World’s Only 7 Star Sleeper Train

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Oct 13, 2024

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Travel & Events

Introduction

  1. The narrator embarks on a journey on the world's only seven-star sleeper train, which accommodates just 20 passengers. Tickets are highly exclusive, requiring a lottery to purchase.
  2. The journey begins at the Reds Caron, with a transfer to Hakata Railway Station, where the narrator is warmly greeted by train staff and presented with a beautifully bound Seven Stars folio ticket.
  3. Hakata Station, the largest and busiest in Kyushu, offers a private entrance and exclusive lounge for Seven Stars passengers, complete with grand piano music and Japanese sparkling rosé.
  4. The narrator's ticket is checked and stamped by the conductor, followed by a toast to the journey's start. They are then escorted to the platform for a photo on the red carpet before boarding the train.
  5. The Kyushu Seven Stars sleeper train, costing 3 billion yen to build, is a blend of old and new design elements, featuring rich rosewood interiors.
  6. The train departs precisely at 11:00 a.m., beginning a three-day journey eastbound to Yufuin and then to the mountainous region of Aso, known for its large active volcanoes.
  7. The suite on the train is described as luxurious, emphasizing the exclusivity and opulence of the experience.

Room tour

  1. The Seven Stars train offers a unique luxury travel experience across Japan, featuring a First Class suite that spans the full width of the train and includes a large rear window for scenic views. The suite is equipped with a comfortable sofa, a writing desk with AC controls, a phone, a mini bar, twin beds, and a spacious bathroom with a Japanese toilet and a large shower.
  2. The journey includes various dining experiences, starting with a lounge space called Jupiter for pre-dinner drinks and socializing, and a main dining car named Blue Moon. The dining experience features a Japanese set meal with seafood, and an extensive drinks menu, all served while enjoying views from a full-sized window.
  3. The Seven Stars train is one of three luxury trains in Japan that require a lottery application to book. The other two are the Twilight Express and the Shikishima. The narrator has secured bookings on these trains for the following year after years of trying.
  4. During the journey, passengers can enjoy excursions, such as visiting a popular resort town known for its hot springs and the Twin Peak Mount Yufu. The excursion includes a visit to a traditional Japanese inn, where guests can relax and enjoy refreshments.
  5. The train has a dress code for dinner, requiring passengers to wear a shirt, chinos, and a jacket. The narrator mentions needing to iron his shirt due to travel wrinkles.
  6. A special onboard bar, Kazo Bar, is available to suite passengers, offering an exclusive experience with limited seating and a no-photo policy. The bar serves premium drinks like gin and tonic and Hiiki 21, with free access for suite passengers.

Dining Car

  1. The dining car experience begins with gentle piano music, creating a serene atmosphere. The seating is central, offering a good view out of the window. The menu is French-inspired, crafted by chefs from Bu Fuin, and starts with a 2018 Ballinger Pinot Noir, which is described as delicious.
  2. The meal begins with a slice of saffron pound cake, followed by corn soup with abalone, a type of mollusk related to sea snails. The next course is a yellowfin tuna and asparagus salad, noted for its seafood bias.
  3. The main course features wagyu beef served with a red wine sauce and grilled Chiaki mushrooms, providing a shift from the seafood theme. The meal concludes with grapes and sable ice cream, blending French and Japanese culinary styles.
  4. The narrator describes the experience as tiring but enjoyable, and they prepare for bed in silk pajamas. The next morning, they enjoy the absence of the locomotive noise, enhancing the room's comfort.
  5. In Asau, the travelers have breakfast at a private restaurant on the platform, with a detailed menu provided in Japanese. The breakfast includes tempura and a double espresso, and they explore the small town known for its proximity to Mount Asau, Japan's largest active volcano.
  6. The journey continues to Kumamoto, with a tour of the train's Deluxe Suite B, which is smaller than their suite but well-appointed. The suite features two lounges that convert into twin beds and an ensuite bathroom with a shower.
  7. A traditional tea ceremony is held in a small tea room, led by tea master Saguru Tabushi. The ceremony includes serving expensive green tea, Yosu, and a special matcha tea in a priceless 500-year-old teacup.
  8. The journey includes a transfer to the Seven Stars bus at Kumamoto station, with plans to rejoin the train later.

Seven Stars Bus

  1. The Seven Stars Bus is a luxury coach with only 24 seats, designed to reach areas in Kyushu where the train cannot go. It features a kitchen and a well-appointed restroom, making it a unique travel experience.
  2. The journey includes a high-speed ferry ride on the Ocean Arrow, which operates between Kumamoto and Nagasaki Prefecture. This ferry provides a rapid service, while the train takes a longer route to meet passengers on the other side.
  3. In Nagasaki Prefecture, travelers visit the Unzen-Amakusa Volcanic National Park and stay overnight in a traditional ryokan, which offers a luxurious villa with a living room, tea room, and volcanic hot spring (onsen).
  4. Dinner at the ryokan is a traditional Japanese meal served in a private dining space, featuring delicacies from the sea and mountains, including sashimi, lobster with butter sauce, and Nagasaki steak with seasonal vegetables.
  5. The next morning includes a hike around Shimabara Pond, ending with freshly brewed tea, a nod to British tea culture, before rejoining the Seven Stars train at Isahaya Railway Station.
  6. The train journey continues with a locomotive swap at Nagasaki Station, providing uninterrupted views as the train heads towards Usa Iwasaki, with passengers enjoying mid-afternoon coffee served by the cabin attendant.
  7. The day concludes with a grand dinner on the train, highlighted by the surreal experience of ironing a shirt at the rear of a moving train, and the presence of geisha entertainment.

Gala Dinner

  1. The evening's festivities are hosted by geishas, who are traditional Japanese entertainers skilled in conversation and performance. They introduce themselves as the sun sets, setting a serene atmosphere for the evening.
  2. The menu for the gala dinner is extensive, featuring luxurious items such as Krug champagne, which is available at an additional cost, and a raw lobster sashimi, offering a unique culinary experience.
  3. A standout dish is the braised pork belly, which is described as phenomenal. The meal continues with Japanese rice and heido style soup, concluding with a yogurt mousse dessert.
  4. An unexpected highlight occurs when the narrator's father is invited to participate in a music performance with the geishas, adding a personal and memorable touch to the evening.
  5. The evening concludes with a final geisha performance in the Jupiter Saloon, accompanied by a nightcap, providing a fitting end to the gala dinner experience.
  6. The following morning includes a brief excursion to an 8th-century temple, the oldest surviving wooden building in Kyushu, where participants engage in a meditation session with a local monk.
  7. After the meditation, the journey continues with a refreshing lemonade served at Kitsuki Station before boarding the train again, heading towards Hakata.
  8. The onboard shop offers a variety of traditional crafts from Kyushu and local artisans, providing an opportunity to explore and purchase unique souvenirs.
  9. The Blue Moon Dining Car offers a quieter space to enjoy the scenic views with a coffee or a DC, enhancing the travel experience.

Cost

  1. The Seven Stars train in Japan is a unique luxury experience, known as the world's only 7-star sleeper train. It offers an 80-hour journey across Japan, featuring a first-class suite.
  2. Booking a ticket for the Seven Stars train is challenging, as it requires entering a lottery for the chance to purchase a ticket. The cost is over $12,000 per night, making it an exclusive experience.
  3. The narrator managed to secure a spot on the train through a private charter by a UK-based company, which also involved a lottery due to the high demand for the suite. The total cost was $38,000.
  4. The journey includes a traditional Japanese lunch, featuring a beautifully presented Bento Box and local Japanese beer served in ice-cold copper mugs.
  5. The experience concludes with a performance of the Jr Kushu dance by a team member, marking the end of the luxurious train journey at Hakata Station.