Japan, Day 7: Mizukaze

It was almost the end of our brief holiday in Japan. For our last full day there on 26 October 2017, we took the train up to Kyoto. But it had been a damp and moody day full of the occasional drizzles. We had arrived at Tokyo's Haneda airport at the tail end of a typhoon and the weather forecasters were telling us that another rainy spell was expected on the day of our departure from Osaka's international airport on the 29th. But what were we do do? Coop ourselves indoors and avoid the rain?

So there we were at the Imamiya station to catch a connecting train from the Osaka main rail station. Whilst at the main station, we came across the Mizukaze Twilight Express, a super-luxury five-star hotel on wheels which was launched only months earlier. 

When I say it is a five-star train, I really mean it. If one needs to ask the price of a ticket, it probably means that one can't afford it. I did ask around and I must confirm that I couldn't afford it. 😅 The cheapest tickets, I'm told, are only a mere USD2,800 for their Royal Twin room...and there are only three Royal Twin rooms to choose from in one coach. If one feels generous, it is possible to choose their Royal Suite that takes up one whole coach space. However, it comes with a USD5,500 price tag.

We waited long enough for the train to pull out from the station and to see the passengers on the observation deck wave goodbye to us common plebeians who cannot dream of even boarding the train in extraordinary times.

No, we are not getting on board this train. But it doesn't mean that we cannot take a picture with this sign behind us. 

The dining coach as seen through the window. I'm sure dining is only available while on the move as the diners wouldn't want anyone gawking at them eating their expensive sushi or whatever.

This is the lounge car. See the array of liquor behind the lady?

Of course, they have to make a big fuss of it whenever the train stops at a station!

This picture of the observation deck is from The Japan Times