Cruise train
The Royal Express
THE ROYAL EXPRESS is Tokyu's eight-car sightseeing train, running from Yokohama down the Izu coast to Shimoda and, in season, along the Tokaido to Gifu and Ise-Shima.
Guests ride by day, with course meals and live violin and piano on board, and sleep in hotels and ryokan along the route on one- to three-night cruise plans.
From
¥240,000 per person
Length
One to three nights
The train
About 100 seats in eight cars
Age
Junior high school age and over (about 12) at departure
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 (6)
1 night
Shimoda Cruise Plan (Izu), Friday departures
From Yokohama · the Izu coast to Izukyu-Shimoda (Tsumekizaki narcissus festival walk with a geo-guide, or straight to the inn), a night at Rendaiji Onsen (Izu no Yado Seiryuso) or Shimoda (Bettei Rakuyu), then the train to Ito and back to Yokohama on the Saphir Odoriko in Green Class
Friday departures on 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2027
1 night
Shimoda Cruise Plan (Izu), Monday and Tuesday departures
From Yokohama · the Izu coast to Izukyu-Shimoda (Tsumekizaki narcissus festival walk with a geo-guide, or straight to the inn), a night at Rendaiji Onsen (Izu no Yado Seiryuso) or Shimoda (Bettei Rakuyu), then back to Yokohama on THE ROYAL EXPRESS
Departures on Tuesday 12, Monday 18 and Monday 25 January 2027
2 nights
White Fuji Winter Cruise Plan (Izu)
Yokohama to Mishima · Izukyu-Shimoda, a night at Fugaku Gunjo (eight rooms facing Mount Fuji across the sea), the train from Shimoda to Ito, a night at Numazu Club (with a nerikiri sweet-making session), then lunch at Ristorante Sakura Kagami at the foot of Mount Fuji with a short violin and piano concert
Friday departures on 15 and 29 January 2027
3 nights
Tokaido Cruise Train: Ise-Shima
Yokohama to Mishima · Kikugawa (tea tasting), a night at KIARA Resort & Spa Hamanako, Hamamatsu, Kameyama and the post town of Seki-juku, a night at Aquaignis at Yunoyama Onsen, a reserved car on Kintetsu's Shimakaze to Ugata (lunch in an ama divers' hut), a night at Shima Kanko Hotel The Bay Suites or THE HIRAMATSU HOTELS & RESORTS Kashikojima, the Isewan Ferry from Toba to Irago, then the train from Toyohashi past Mount Fuji to Mishima
Friday departures on 6 and 13 November and 11 December 2026 (ballot closed; first-come waiting list until 30 days before each departure)
1 night
Tokaido-Fuji (Yokohama to Gifu)
Yokohama to Gifu · Kikugawa, a night at GREENITY IWATA (Katsuragi Kitanomaru on 18 December), Kakegawa Castle, then the old Tokaido to Gifu
Friday departures on 27 November, 4 and 18 December 2026 (ballot closed; first-come waiting list until 30 days before each departure)
Show the other 1 routes
1 night
Tokaido-Fuji (Gifu to Yokohama)
Gifu to Yokohama · Kakegawa (Kakegawa Castle), a night at GREENITY IWATA, Fukuroi, then along the Tokaido past Mount Fuji to Yokohama
Sunday departures on 29 November, 6 and 20 December 2026 (ballot closed; first-come waiting list until 30 days before each departure)
The suites
Car 5, dining car
1 on board
Walnut-panelled dining car, with lavatories lined in electroformed gold panels and a curtained dressing table.
Car 6, dining car
1 on board
Bright dining car with kumiko woodwork and stained glass, where the violin and piano are played live during meals.
Car 3, multi car
1 on board
A coffered ceiling of electroformed gold panels; seasonal events and the train's shop.
Car 8, library
1 on board
Bookshelves and writing desks over a fine parquet floor.
Before you go
Dining
Course meals are served at the seat by guest chefs, such as a French course from the chef Wataru Inamoto or kaiseki from Atsuko Kato of Rakan in Naka-Izu on the way to Shimoda, and sushi from Kogen-zushi, made with fish landed at Ito, on the way back, with drinks included. The violinist Atsuhide Osako, the train's 'music journey director', plays with a pianist on board.
How it is booked
The Royal Express allocates its places by ballot, opens each season for applications on a set date months in advance and has no booking in English. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan applies for you, for the route and suite you choose, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
Dress
Smart casual recommended.
Good to know
No getting on or off except at the start and end stations; no smoking anywhere on the train; seats are allocated by the operator.
Every fare
From ¥240,000 per person, two sharing, for the 1-night Shimoda Cruise Plan (January 2027, a room with a semi-open-air bath at Seiryuso); the 2-night White Fuji plan is ¥470,000 to ¥530,000 per person (January 2027); the 1-night Tokaido-Fuji journeys start at ¥390,000 and the 3-night Ise-Shima journey is ¥990,000 to ¥1,150,000 per person, two sharing (November and December 2026).
About the train
Eiji Mitooka (Don Design Associates), 2017, rebuilt from Izu Kyuko's 2100-series Alpha Resort 21 train, with kumiko woodwork, stained glass and electroformed gold panels; Mitooka also designed THE ROYAL LOUNGE YOKOHAMA.
Run by Tokyu Corporation, since 2017.
Japan Tourism Awards (10th, 2026): Judges' Special Award.
Stay before or after
Ugata, Ise-Shima
AubergeThe Hiramatsu Kashikojima
THE HIRAMATSU HOTELS & RESORTS 賢島
THE HIRAMATSU HOTELS & RESORTS Kashikojima is one of the two hotels for the third night of the Tokaido Cruise Train to Ise-Shima.
Kashikojima, Ise-Shima
HotelShima Kanko Hotel The Bay Suites
志摩観光ホテル ザ ベイスイート
Shima Kanko Hotel The Bay Suites is the other hotel for the third night of the Ise-Shima journey.
Subashiri, Mount Fuji
RyokanGora Kadan Fuji
強羅花壇 富士
Gora Kadan Fuji is at Subashiri, about 30 km north of Mishima, where the Ise-Shima and White Fuji journeys end.
Q&A
The Royal Express allocates its places by ballot, opens each season for applications on a set date months in advance and has no booking in English. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan applies for you, for the route and suite you choose, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
From ¥240,000 per person, two sharing, for the 1-night Shimoda Cruise Plan (January 2027, a room with a semi-open-air bath at Seiryuso); the 2-night White Fuji plan is ¥470,000 to ¥530,000 per person (January 2027); the 1-night Tokaido-Fuji journeys start at ¥390,000 and the 3-night Ise-Shima journey is ¥990,000 to ¥1,150,000 per person, two sharing (November and December 2026).
Shimoda Cruise Plan (Izu), Friday departures: Friday departures on 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2027. Shimoda Cruise Plan (Izu), Monday and Tuesday departures: Departures on Tuesday 12, Monday 18 and Monday 25 January 2027. White Fuji Winter Cruise Plan (Izu): Friday departures on 15 and 29 January 2027. Tokaido Cruise Train: Ise-Shima: Friday departures on 6 and 13 November and 11 December 2026 (ballot closed; first-come waiting list until 30 days before each departure). Tokaido-Fuji (Yokohama to Gifu): Friday departures on 27 November, 4 and 18 December 2026 (ballot closed; first-come waiting list until 30 days before each departure). Tokaido-Fuji (Gifu to Yokohama): Sunday departures on 29 November, 6 and 20 December 2026 (ballot closed; first-come waiting list until 30 days before each departure).
Junior high school age and over (about 12) at departure.