‘Moving suites’ sightseeing train unveiled in southwest Japan

KITAKYUSHU — Kyushu Railway Co. (JR Kyushu) on April 19 unveiled its new sightseeing train “Kanpachi-Ichiroku,” which will run between Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka and Beppu Station in the Oita Prefecture city of Beppu.

It is the first new sightseeing train to be introduced by JR Kyushu since the “Futatsuboshi 4047,” or “Two Stars 4047,” in September 2022, and will enter service on April 26.

The train consists of two passenger cars and one lounge car. The exterior of the train is black with gold lines representing the route map of the Kyudai Line, which the train will run on. The interior of each car has a different design based on the nature along the line, such as volcanoes and hot springs. The lounge counter is made of a single piece of Japanese cedar said to be about 250 years old. The train’s name was taken from Aso Kanpachi and Eto Ichiroku, both businessmen from Oita Prefecture who worked to build the Kyudai Line.

The one-way train will run once a day, except Thursdays, over roughly five hours between Hakata and Beppu stations. Fares start at 18,000 yen (roughly $120) per adult with a meal included.

A ceremony was held at JR Kyushu’s Kokura General Rolling Stock Center in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, on April 19 to celebrate the completion of the train. There, JR Kyushu President Yoji Furumiya said, “The train has become a set of moving suites on the Kyudai Line, with meals along the way and views from the windows. We would like to keep improving it so that people from all over Japan will come.”

(Japanese original by Tomohiro Shimohara, Kyushu Business News Department)