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This luxury Japanese train could rival a five-star hotel

A trip on the Shiki-Shima will set you back over €7,000.

IT’S GOT MICHELIN-starred chefs, solid cypress bathtubs and a cosy snug complete with roaring fire: the Shiki-Shima could hold its own against any five-star hotel. Not bad for a train.

In a country best known for its super-fast Shinkansen bullet trains, the emphasis in Japan’s latest extravaganza on rails is on savouring the moment, with no expense spared to create a very luxurious travelling experience.

Dining room
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The 10-car train has huge viewing windows through which customers can see the northern Japanese countryside used to grow the ingredients in seasonal delicacies prepared by the onboard chefs.

Tokyo to Hokkaido 

After dinner they can gather for a drink around the piano or sit and soak up the atmosphere next to the fireplace — actually a trick created by steam and coloured light — on a journey that takes them from Tokyo to the northernmost island of Hokkaido and back again.

The light-gold ‘Train Suite Shiki-Shima’ sleeper — meaning ‘Four Seasons Island’ — departed Ueno Station in Tokyo for its maiden journey on Monday, carrying 33 passengers, according to operator East Japan Railway.

Despite the hefty price tag, there is no shortage of customers — tickets are booked out until March next year.

The Shiki-Shima is not the first uber-luxurious train to hit the tracks in Japan.

In 2013, Kyushu Railway unveiled its Seven Stars service with a piano and a bar, top-end dining and luxury suites, while West Japan Railway will launch the Twilight Express Mizukaze sleeper in June.

© AFP 2017

Read: Tourist suffers severe bite from Komodo dragon after ‘ignoring warnings about getting too close’

Read: Canada recalls batch of Bombay Sapphire gin they accidentally made 77% alcohol

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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Feb 26th 2015, 11:10 PM

    Arizonly two llamas lads!

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    Mute Bazalini
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    Feb 26th 2015, 10:52 PM

    Llama Queens

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    Mute Ciaran Norrby
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    Feb 27th 2015, 9:47 AM

    The black one was captured first…typical racist Americans!

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    Mute John C Thomas
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    Feb 26th 2015, 11:44 PM

    You would think after a few world wide smash hits singing, Llama del ray would keep out of trouble.

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    Mute Swanky Joe
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    Feb 26th 2015, 10:47 PM

    Lam me out of here

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    Mute Ray rogers
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    Feb 26th 2015, 10:53 PM

    Llamas have long necks

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    Mute John Phoenix
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    Feb 27th 2015, 6:45 AM

    The local news here in Arizona ran with this at 4pm today:
    “Llama drama. It’s our top story today”.

    Good fcuk. The local news here is just awful! They go on and on about this for 10mins then say “in other news a major accident…”
    Makes me face palm!
    Oh and the “news” says “the animals were obviously scared…”…um, Ya think? You’re flying a bleeding helicopter right over their heads, Ya gobsh*tes!!

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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    Feb 27th 2015, 6:04 AM

    ‘By the time I get to Phoenix they’ll be Llama Chops……’

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    Mute kartz
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    Feb 27th 2015, 11:34 AM

    Ask the Chinese how difficult it is to catch a lama. They’ve been chasing Dalai Lama for decades!

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    Mute Eoin Cowan
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    Feb 27th 2015, 5:53 AM

    TINA GET SOME FOOD!!!!!!!

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    Feb 26th 2015, 11:06 PM

    Look at them frolic!

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    Mute Michael Russell
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    Feb 27th 2015, 12:07 AM

    Those llamas will never beat these gangster alpacas

    http://youtu.be/2c9tUUz4avg

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    Mute Jebediah Springfield
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    Feb 26th 2015, 11:13 PM

    They need a good shearing is what they need after pulling that stunt.

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    Feb 27th 2015, 12:15 PM

    Cool!

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    Mute kartz
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    Feb 27th 2015, 11:44 AM

    This time there’s no Eric Parker to slam them to the ground. “No English. Llama. Walking around”

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