GLAM / AMOUR

In a world where time is currency and stillness has become a rare indulgence, there exists a journey that invites you to pause—to savor, to reflect, to be transported in every sense of the word. This is not merely a train ride; it’s a symphony of elegance in motion, gliding through Japan’s most poetic landscapes at a rhythm that honors both beauty and tradition.

Aboard Japan’s Twilight Express Mizukaze, you are not just a passenger—you are a privileged guest drifting through curated landscapes, timeless architecture, and the refined hush of elegance reborn. With interiors echoing the golden age of rail travel and service that borders on the reverential, Mizukaze is Japan’s poetic response to the grandeur of the Orient Express.

Join Glam/Amour as we step aboard this moving masterpiece and discover why the Twilight Express Mizukaze isn’t just travel—it’s timeless enchantment.

A Journey Beyond Travel

Mizukaze—the name translates to “fresh wind over the water”—is a fitting metaphor for the journey it offers. Departing from the bustling metropolises of Kyoto or Osaka, the train glides westward through the less-traveled, dramatically picturesque landscapes of western Japan. Passengers can choose from itineraries that snake along the Sea of Japan and dip into the serene mountains of the Sanyo and San’in regions.

But Mizukaze is not about getting somewhere fast—it’s about savoring the journey. Each route is designed to showcase the cultural gems and scenic wonders of the Japanese countryside, from the historic elegance of Matsue Castle to the surreal dunes of Tottori. The five-star service onboard, coupled with curated off-train excursions, turns every hour into a well-crafted chapter of an unfolding travelogue.

The Art of Train Couture

From the moment you step onto the platform, Mizukaze doesn’t just promise a luxury journey—it seduces you into another world. Staff in elegant uniforms greet you as though you’re the heir to an empire. There’s no loudspeaker rush or mechanical bustle here. Boarding Mizukaze feels like stepping into a work of art.

With a maximum capacity of just 34 guests across 10 carriages, exclusivity is as intrinsic as the brass fittings that gleam against rich lacquered surfaces. Think art deco opulence meets Kyoto sophistication, with soft gold hues, deep greens, and expansive windows framing the ever-changing canvas of Japan.

Inside, the suite cabins rival the most lavish hotel rooms. In fact, some even exceed them. There’s a two-person “royal suite” that commands an entire car—complete with a private bath, rain shower, and panoramic lounge. A sliding door reveals a bedroom that feels like a floating ryokan, crafted with traditional washi paper accents, tatami textures, and fine wood marquetry. It’s as though Frank Lloyd Wright had a love affair with Kyoto, and Mizukaze is their lovechild.

Haute Cuisine at 80 km/h

Fine dining on trains is often a delicate balance of logistics and flair. On Mizukaze, it’s a gastronomic opera in motion. Curated by renowned chefs, the cuisine reflects the local terroir of the regions the train glides through, adapting menus based on seasonal delicacies and stops along the way.

Imagine this: a multi-course kaiseki dinner beginning with sashimi so fresh it almost shimmers, followed by wagyu beef sourced from Yamaguchi Prefecture, accompanied by sake that’s been brewed within sight of Mount Daisen. Dessert is a delicate wagashi (traditional Japanese sweet) infused with local yuzu and matcha, served in porcelain hand-fired by a third-generation Kyoto artisan.

Dining is done in a sapphire-toned car, dressed in velvety textiles and gold accents, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of mist-laden coastlines or rice paddies dotted with cranes. It’s more than dinner; it’s a poem written in five senses.

Lounge on the Edge of Time

The observation car, located at the very rear of the train, is perhaps Mizukaze’s crown jewel. With an open-air platform and plush indoor seating, it invites passengers to lounge in time, cocktail in hand, as landscapes melt into twilight.

Here, you might watch fishermen casting nets in the early morning haze or glimpse a century-old Shinto shrine nestled into the mountainside. This is where you realize that Mizukaze is not just about luxury—it’s about tranquility and transformation.

The Price of Paradise

Of course, this kind of experience doesn’t come cheap. With prices starting from ¥550,000 (approximately $3,500 USD) per person for a two-day, one-night journey—and soaring higher for longer routes and the royal suite—Mizukaze is undeniably a luxury reserved for those who value experience above expense.

Yet, for those who embark on this voyage, what they receive is far more than a train ride. It’s a retreat from the modern world, an immersion into Japan’s forgotten elegance, and a reminder that travel can still be a form of art.

Twilight, Eternal

As the final rays of sunlight ripple across the Sea of Japan and the Mizukaze winds its way through coastal cliffs, one can’t help but feel the poetry of its name. “Twilight” is often associated with endings, but on this train, it feels like a beginning—of reconnection, reflection, and sheer wonder.

In an age dominated by velocity, the Twilight Express Mizukaze dares to go slow—and in doing so, captures the essence of true luxury. It doesn’t just take you from Kyoto to Shimonoseki—it carries you into a state of timelessness.

When you disembark, the rhythm of the train stays with you. Not in the clack of the tracks, but in the way your senses now crave elegance, your soul now craves slowness, and your heart remains quietly tethered to a twilight dream on rails.