Train Cruise

We travel from Kyoto Prefecture along the western coast of Lake Biwa and beyond to Tsuruga on the Sea of Japan. Admire the late fall scenery on the cable car and rope way to the peak of Mt. Hiei, where we catch a glimpse of Japan's largest lake. We visit vestiges of the locally funded, now-defunct Kojaku Railway, and we meet a blacksmith, an antique shop owner and a cooper who all relocated to the area. We arrive at Tsuruga, once the international train's boat connection to the Trans-Siberian Railway.

We travel from Osaka Station, the gateway to western Japan, through neighboring Hyogo Prefecture. We explore a rural line that was revitalized by local residents, then travel to the Seto Inland Sea to relish fresh oysters. Next, we ride the futuristic Super Hakuto. At a 400-year-old post town that has changed little over time, we hear tales about master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Further on, we travel through mountains on the Hamakaze to a bag-producing town where we meet Japan's sole wicker-trunk weaver. At our final destination Kinosaki, we relax in 1,400-year-old hot springs and reflect on the treasures Hyogo has to offer.

The Sanriku Railway Rias Line runs 163km the length of Iwate Pref. in Japan's northeast, from Kuji Station in the north through Sakari Station in the south. The only way to conquer the rugged coastline was to go through it, with no fewer than 80 tunnels. Brilliant scenery and the sea awaits when you exit each tunnel. Travel the Sanriku Railway that was the beacon of hope for the region's quick recovery after the Sanriku coastline suffered much damage during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Starting from Hachioji in Tokyo's west, our journey takes us to Mt. Fuji, then into the mountains of Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures. We watch traditional puppet theater. We alight at Mt. Fuji Station on the Fujikyu line, the closest railway to the peak, and enter a spiritual lava cave in the bowels of the mountain. As we make our way north, we stop by a Buddhist temple with a vineyard and a colossal radio telescope. Discover amazing scenery and sights deep in the mountains outside Tokyo.