The Echigo Tokimeki Resort Setsugekka is a luxury sightseeing train that takes you along the coast of the Sea of Japan and offers views of the majestic Mount Myoko.
At each stop, visitors will be treated to a variety of cuisines. Two trains operate only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, one each in the morning and afternoon. The morning train departs from Joetsu Myoko Station and goes to Itoigawa Station (French cuisine), while the afternoon train returns from Itoigawa Station and returns to Joetsu Myoko Station (Japanese cuisine). On the Shinkansen, this journey takes about 15 minutes, but the Setsugekka moves at a slower pace, taking the journey to about three hours.
Start the journey
To experience the Setsugekka train, you must book and pay a few days in advance. The resort will then mail you a ticket decorated like a postcard. The Setsugekka is a special train made entirely from Niigata Prefecture’s artifacts, from the food and drinks to the train itself.
The Setsugekka train passes through famous Japanese sights.
The first car of the Setsugekka has many large glass windows, which are up to 2.3 meters high. The luxurious interior is arranged in a lounge style facing the Sea of Japan and the Myoko mountain range on the other side, allowing passengers to fully enjoy the ever-changing view of the sea and mountains.
The second car uses natural oak wood from Niigata Prefecture and has a luxurious, mature restaurant-car design. The seats are placed at a 3-degree angle from the window so you can comfortably enjoy the view while dining. The reclining seats are comfortable and larger than the Gran Class seats on the Shinkansen.
The walls in the Sakura Lounge cafe and the bar counter in Car No. 2 are made of Japanese bird cherry wood. Furthermore, the cherry blossom patterns on the side of the bar counter were made by craftsmen from Tsubame-Sanjo, a town famous for its metalworking skills.
The first car of Setsugekka is for sightseeing passengers.
The Setsugekka train stops at Nihongi Station, Myoko Highlands Station and Noetsu Station before reaching its final destination, Itoigawa Station. At each station, visitors can purchase special local products and souvenirs. At each stop, loudspeakers will introduce visitors to the local attractions and products.
Enjoy special cuisine
After departing Myoko Highlands Station, you will be served a French lunch with fresh ingredients from Niigata Prefecture. This is an original French menu created by Iizuka Ryuta, head chef of Ryuzu Restaurant in Roppongi, Tokyo. The chef has received two Michelin Guide Tokyo stars for four consecutive years (2015 - 2018). The owner is a native of Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, and is familiar with Niigata's seasonal produce.
Each dish is served in a small wooden box. The appetizer is grilled beef that is then chilled. This is Echigo Joetsu Shorthorn cattle raised at Sasagamine Farm in Myoko City, at an altitude of 1,300 meters. The large temperature difference between day and night creates a rich flavor for the beef here.
Inside the Setsugekka train car.
The main course was a French-style fresh vegetable dish. Asparagus, potatoes, and daikon radishes were also produced in Niigata Prefecture, including the thick and juicy Yaoiro mushrooms, a specialty of Minami Uonuma City, and the Etsu no Maru eggplant, known as the king of eggplants. The next course was a Tsumari pork sandwich, a specialty of Tokamachi City, with the traditional Kanzuri spicy sauce. The side dish was summer vegetable ratatouille. The dish also included a corn soup with a concentrated sweetness.
The final leg of the journey
After finishing the meal, the Setsugekka train nears the end of its three-hour journey. For dessert, passengers are served two special coffees and teas. These two drinks are distilled using the yukimuro method, which uses snow to brew and preserve the ingredients. Between Noetsu and Itoigawa stations, the train runs along the coast, offering spectacular views of the Sea of Japan. A unique feature of this section is that the train passes through numerous tunnels as it descends from the mountains to the coast.
The food on the train is displayed in wooden boxes.
Tourists will receive souvenirs after finishing the trip.
The train passes by the famous Tsutsuishi Station, which is located inside a tunnel. The morning train just glides by while the afternoon train stops for passengers to get off and visit. It is a unique tunnel station that attracts railway fans from all over the country.
Before disembarking, passengers are given a souvenir depending on whether the train is morning or afternoon. The Setsugekka luxury sightseeing train is a suitable experience for passengers celebrating a wedding, birthday or proposal.
