Cruise train
Train Suite Shiki-shima
TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA is JR East's ten-car sleeper cruise train, with 17 suites and observation cars at both ends, running one-, two- and three-night journeys out of Ueno station in Tokyo.
From 2027 the three-night journey crosses to Hakodate and southern Hokkaido and returns through Aomori and Niigata, while the one-night journey goes to Matsumoto and the metalworking towns of Tsubame-Sanjo.
From
¥470,000 per person
Length
One to three nights
The train
17 suites, 34 guests at most
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 (4)
3 nights
3-night journey, spring to autumn
From Ueno (Tokyo) · Aizu-Wakamatsu (Human Hub Tenneiji Soko, chopstick making), through the Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate (breakfast at maison FUJIYA Hakodate, the Hakodate Magistrate's Office at Goryokaku, a chartered Hakodate tram), a night at Noboribetsu Onsen (Takinoya) or Lake Shikotsu (Tsuruga Bessou Ao no Za), then back to Aomori for Kuroishi (nebuta fan making, dinner in Hirosaki) or the Sannai-Maruyama Jomon site and Aomori Museum of Art, and Murakami in Niigata (Murakami tea and salted salmon)
April to September 2027, Monday departures: 5, 12 and 19 April, 10, 17, 24 and 31 May, 14, 21 and 28 June (applications closed), 5, 12 and 26 July, 23 August, 6, 13 and 27 September 2027
1 night
1-night journey, spring to autumn
From Ueno (Tokyo) · Matsumoto (the former Kaichi School, a National Treasure, and the restaurant Kappo Matsumotokan), the Chuo line, Sanjo and Tsubame in Niigata (breakfast at the ryotei Yukiro Uohyo, the knife maker Tojiro)
April to September 2027, Saturday departures: 3, 10, 17 and 24 April, 8, 15, 22 and 29 May, 5, 12, 19 and 26 June (applications closed), 3, 17, 24 and 31 July, 7, 21 and 28 August, 4, 11, 18 and 25 September 2027
2 nights
2-night winter journey
From Ueno (Tokyo) · Mizusawa and Kitakami in Iwate, Goshogawara and Hirosaki in Aomori, Shiogama in Miyagi
December 2026 to March 2027, Tuesday departures: 1, 8 and 15 December 2026; 12 and 19 January, 2 and 16 February, 2 and 9 March 2027 (applications closed)
1 night
1-night winter journey
From Ueno (Tokyo) · Mashiko pottery town in Tochigi, Kobuchizawa and Hakushu in Yamanashi
December 2026 to March 2027, Saturday departures: 5, 12 and 19 December 2026; 9, 16, 23 and 30 January, 6, 13, 20 and 27 February, 6, 20 and 27 March 2027 (applications closed)
The suites
SHIKI-SHIMA Suite
1 on board
A two-floor maisonette in car 7: a tatami room upstairs with a sunken kotatsu-style table and a bedroom below, with its own hinoki cypress bath.
Deluxe Suite
1 on board
On one floor in car 7, taking about half the car, with a ceiling 2.9 m high, a mock fireplace and its own Kiso hinoki cypress bath.
Suite
15 on board
Three to a car in cars 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9, with shower, washbasin and lavatory; two sofas become the beds at night; windows low as well as high; one is barrier-free.
Before you go
Dining
Meals are served in the dining car DINING SHIKI-SHIMA (car 6), cooked from scratch on board, and at restaurants along the way, with the train's fourth head chef, Takuya Saito, overseeing the menus from 2027. On the 2027 routes guest restaurants cook on board, among them Turandot Garyukyo (Yuji Wakiya) in Akasaka, the Niigata Sushi Association's chefs and Restaurant UOZEN in Sanjo, with dinners off the train at Aomori French Gastronomy En or Osteria Enoteca Da Sasino in Hirosaki.
How it is booked
Train Suite Shiki-shima allocates its places by ballot and opens each season for applications on a set date months in advance. 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.
Good to know
Journeys start and end at the private lounge PROLOGUE SHIKI-SHIMA by platform 13 at Ueno station, where the farewell party is also held. Guests board only through the lounge car, car 5.
Every fare
From ¥470,000 per person, two sharing a Suite, for the 1-night winter journey (December 2026 to March 2027, applications closed). For April to September 2027: ¥500,000 per person, two sharing a Suite, for the 1-night journey; the 3-night journey runs from ¥1,100,000 per person in a Suite to ¥1,500,000 in the SHIKI-SHIMA Suite, and ¥2,770,000 for one guest alone in the SHIKI-SHIMA Suite.
About the train
Ken Okuyama of KEN OKUYAMA DESIGN designed the train (2017), with a 'modern Japanese' interior of wood, metal, lacquer and washi, and crafts from eastern Japan such as Akita Mokko sofas and Tendo Mokko pieces; uniforms by Naoki Takizawa.
Run by JR East, since 2017.
Stay before or after
Shikotsuko Onsen, Lake Shikotsu
RyokanLake Shikotsu Tsuruga Bessou Ao no Za
しこつ湖鶴雅別荘 碧の座
Tsuruga Bessou Ao no Za on Lake Shikotsu is one of the two places the 3-night journey stays on its second night.
Marunouchi, Tokyo
HotelPalace Hotel Tokyo
パレスホテル東京
The Palace Hotel Tokyo is a short ride from Ueno station, where every journey starts and ends.
Q&A
Train Suite Shiki-shima allocates its places by ballot and opens each season for applications on a set date months in advance. 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 ¥470,000 per person, two sharing a Suite, for the 1-night winter journey (December 2026 to March 2027, applications closed). For April to September 2027: ¥500,000 per person, two sharing a Suite, for the 1-night journey; the 3-night journey runs from ¥1,100,000 per person in a Suite to ¥1,500,000 in the SHIKI-SHIMA Suite, and ¥2,770,000 for one guest alone in the SHIKI-SHIMA Suite.
3-night journey, spring to autumn: April to September 2027, Monday departures: 5, 12 and 19 April, 10, 17, 24 and 31 May, 14, 21 and 28 June (applications closed), 5, 12 and 26 July, 23 August, 6, 13 and 27 September 2027. 1-night journey, spring to autumn: April to September 2027, Saturday departures: 3, 10, 17 and 24 April, 8, 15, 22 and 29 May, 5, 12, 19 and 26 June (applications closed), 3, 17, 24 and 31 July, 7, 21 and 28 August, 4, 11, 18 and 25 September 2027. 2-night winter journey: December 2026 to March 2027, Tuesday departures: 1, 8 and 15 December 2026; 12 and 19 January, 2 and 16 February, 2 and 9 March 2027 (applications closed). 1-night winter journey: December 2026 to March 2027, Saturday departures: 5, 12 and 19 December 2026; 9, 16, 23 and 30 January, 6, 13, 20 and 27 February, 6, 20 and 27 March 2027 (applications closed).