Day train
Setsugekka
Setsugekka is a two-car restaurant train of Echigo TOKImeki Railway in Joetsu, Niigata, running between Joetsumyoko on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the Myoko highlands and Itoigawa on the Sea of Japan coast, with a switchback climb at Nihongi and a station inside a tunnel at Tsutsuishi.
Guests eat a course from a local kitchen under very large windows, with mountains on one leg and sea on the other.
From
¥29,800 per person
Length
about 2 hours 40 minutes
On board
Two cars, 37 guests a run
Age
Children pay the adult price
Japan
We apply for you
Tell us the journey and the season. Our team in Japan watches the ballots and application dates, applies with the route and suite you want, settles your requests with the operator, and arranges the nights before and after at places we know. At the operator’s own fare.
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Have it reviewed for USD 85The routes (3)
A day
Morning run
Joetsumyoko to Itoigawa · Nihongi (switchback station, short tour), Myoko-Kogen (reversal), Naoetsu, Tsutsuishi (station inside a tunnel), then along the Sea of Japan coast
Normal autumn service 19 September to 29 November 2026 on set days; Joetsumyoko 10:35 to Itoigawa 13:16
A day
Afternoon run
Itoigawa to Joetsumyoko · Tsutsuishi, Naoetsu, Nihongi, Myoko-Kogen (for Akakura Onsen; guests may leave here or at Sekiyama)
Same days; Itoigawa 13:59 to Joetsumyoko 16:45
A day
Winter run
Joetsumyoko to Itoigawa · Nihongi (reversal), Takada, Naoetsu, Tsutsuishi, Itoigawa, Ichiburi (reversal)
Normal winter service 12 December 2026 to 28 February 2027, one run a day on set days; Joetsumyoko 10:57 to Itoigawa 14:30
The special cars
Observation high deck (car 2)
one table for two to four · 1 on board
Raised seats at the front of the train looking over the driver's head; ¥20,000 a group on top of the fare; one table on each run.
Box tables (car 2)
tables for two to four · 6 on board
Large tables and wide seats; parties of three or four have priority for the four-seat boxes; at least two to a booking in car 2. The Sakura Lounge at the car end, floored with Yasuda roof tiles and fitted with Tsubame-Sanjo metalwork, has a bar counter.
Car 1
23 on board
Seats facing the sea or the Myoko mountains and box seats, under some of the largest windows on a Japanese train, with an observation deck open to all; single travellers are seated here.
Before you go
Dining
Each run serves a course from a Joetsu or Itoigawa kitchen, which varies by day and run: in 2026 French from Chez Toya (Kasugayama), a Japanese-Western-Chinese box from Duo Cerezo (Takada), kamameshi from the century-old ryotei Ukiyo and a fisherman's course from Kappo Shioji; a welcome drink and an after-meal drink are included, other drinks extra. The train was named among the 100 in the restaurant category of the Niigata Gastronomy Award in 2023.
How it is booked
Setsugekka is sold only as a package with its meal and has no booking in English. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan reserves the seats and any meal for you, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
Good to know
On the day of travel the ticket also covers unreserved seats on all ordinary and limited express trains on the Echigo TOKImeki line (Koshino Shu*Kura excepted). No smoking in the train or stations.
Every fare
¥29,800 per person, Joetsumyoko to Itoigawa or back, with the course meal, welcome and after-meal drinks and the fare included (normal runs, 2026, the same for children); the observation high deck is ¥20,000 more for the group.
About the train
Yasuyuki Kawanishi (Ichibansen) led the design, with Toru Iwasa (Jiyujin, creator of Satoyama Jujo) as producer; built 'all made in Niigata' by Niigata Transys, with furniture by Tendo Mokko, Yasuda roof tiles on the floor and Tsubame-Sanjo metalwork; first ran in spring 2016.
Run by Echigo TOKImeki Railway, since 2016.
Niigata Gastronomy Award, restaurant category, 100 selected, 2023.
Q&A
Setsugekka is sold only as a package with its meal and has no booking in English. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan reserves the seats and any meal for you, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
¥29,800 per person, Joetsumyoko to Itoigawa or back, with the course meal, welcome and after-meal drinks and the fare included (normal runs, 2026, the same for children); the observation high deck is ¥20,000 more for the group.
Morning run: Normal autumn service 19 September to 29 November 2026 on set days; Joetsumyoko 10:35 to Itoigawa 13:16. Afternoon run: Same days; Itoigawa 13:59 to Joetsumyoko 16:45. Winter run: Normal winter service 12 December 2026 to 28 February 2027, one run a day on set days; Joetsumyoko 10:57 to Itoigawa 14:30.
Children pay the adult price; infants and toddlers travel on a no-meal plan booked by telephone.