Let's take a look at the WEST EXPRESS GINGA, Japan's newest overnight train operated by JR West.
On the way there, I rode in a Green Car first seat from Kyoto to Kii-Katsuura, then toured Kii-Katsuura and stayed at Hotel Urashima, and on the way back, I rode in couchette from Shingu to Kyoto.
■Train information
Train name: WEST EXPRESS GINGA
Total fare: 57,700 JPY / 400 USD
Section: Between Kyoto Station and Shingu Station
Seat on the way there: Green car first seat
Seat on the way back: Couchette (Nobinobi seat)
JR official website: https://www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/westexginga/
Nippon Travel official website: https://www.nta.co.jp/jr/train/westexpressginga/
・Cars and facilities
Car 1: Reserved seats in green car: first seats, private lounge
Car 2: Reserved seats in regular car: reclining seats, couchettes, changing room, powder room (women only)
Car 3: Reserved seats in regular car: reclining seats, family cabins, free space "Myojo"
Car 4: Free space "Yusei"
Car 5: Reserved seats in regular car: couchettes
Car 6: Reserved seats in green car: premier rooms, free space "Suisei"
Free Wi-Fi (all cars), power outlets (all seats), USB ports (all seats and private rooms in Green cars), women's changing room (car 2), AED (car 4), wheelchair-accessible seats (car 5), wheelchair-accessible toilets (car 5), large luggage storage (cars 2, 3, and 5)
・Fare (Kyoto - Kii-Katsuura/Shingu)
Ticket: 5,500 JPY
Reserved seat express fare: 3,170 JPY
Green car fare: 4,190 JPU
Premium room fare: 7,240 JPY
Reclining seats and couchette seats are 8,670 JPY (60 USD) one way
Green car reserved seat first seat is 12,860 JPY (88.7 USD) one way
Green private room premium room is 20,100 JPY (138.6 USD) one way
■Hotel
Name of facility: Hotel Urashima
Address: 649-5334 1165-2 Katsuura, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
Opened: 1956
Guest room: Nisshokan Western-style room
Water quality: Sulfur-containing sodium and calcium chloride spring, pH 7.3, cloudy protein, hydrogen sulfide odor, etc.
Official website: http://www.hotelurashima.co.jp/
■Table of contents
00:00 Intro
00:38 Kyoto Station
01:42 Boarding
03:22 Car 1, Green Car, first seat
06:00 Depart Kyoto Station
07:00 Explore the train
11:58 Shin-Osaka to Wakayama
13:58 Wakayama ramen
15:50 Turn the seat into a bed and take a nap
19:07 Kushimoto, the southernmost town on Honshu (watching the sunrise at Hashiguiiwa)
22:25 Lunch box for breakfast
24:09 Arrival at Kii-Katsuura and sightseeing
30:58 Popular Onsen Ryokan "Hotel Urashima"
36:20 Cave Onsen - Bokido
38:49 Nisshokan Western-style room tour
44:44 Stroll around the hotel (observation deck and shrine, etc)
47:08 Cave Onsen - Genbudo
47:45 Dinner buffet
51:53 Breakfast buffet
55:40 Shingu Station
56:56 Boarding
58:27 Car 5 - couchette seat
1:01:39 Departing from Shingu Station
1:04:12 Taiji, Koza, Kushimoto
1:07:21 Lunch box
1:09:00 Susami
1:10:32 Shirahama, Innami, Gobo, Wakayama
1:16:02 Dinner box
1:16:35 Hineno to Shin-Osaka
1:18:30 Last in-car announcement: Arrival at Kyoto
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