Japan’s New Sleeper Train: Venture Beyond Tokyo To Lesser-Known Coastal City

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California keeps teasing us with a new bullet train that seems like it will never come to fruition, but if there’s one place that has the concept down pat, it’s Japan.

Known for their lightning-fast Shinkansen trains, Japan is undoubtedly one of Asia’s easiest countries to explore by rail as America lags behind the times with ‘slow travel’ Amtraks.

It’s often said by travelers that Tokyo is never a bad idea, but neither is venturing beyond the world’s biggest city as Japan is teeming with lesser-known cities like Kobe, Fukui, and another ready to embrace the spotlight as the end-cap to a new sleeper train route.

While the latest rail journey won’t zoom at Shinkansen speed, you can sit back and relax in your own private cabin assigned to every passenger, whether you’re globetrotting solo or have loved ones tagging along.

Understanding Sleeper Trains: A Hotel Loophole

Japan is pricey; there’s no way around it. That’s one of many reasons why booking a sleeper train is one of your best budget options.

Rather than pay for a combination of a daytime train, flight, and/or hotel, you can use a sleeper train as a loophole to get some shuteye all while traversing to your next destination.

The concept has taken off in Europe, but it’s certainly no stranger to Asia either. Purchasing a hotel plus one-way flight could easily cost you upwards of $250 in Japan, though there’s no official word just yet how much a ticket aboard this new route will cost.

Since this is not a bullet train as referenced above, the full journey is expected to take around 12 hours from Tokyo (departing from an undisclosed station).

As stated, all travelers will have their own private cabins for groups of 1 – 4 people. Even solo travelers can opt for solitude in their own cozy digs with a fold-up table and pull-out bed for when it’s time to catch some z’s.

Additionally, there will be a lounge open to all passengers, though there’s no confirmation yet on the lounge’s operating hours since this is an overnight ride.

Venture Beyond Tokyo To A Vibrant Coastal City

If you find yourself bored in Tokyo, I’m not gonna lie, maybe exploring the world isn’t for you.

Not being able to find something to do here is an impossible task, whether it be late-night karaoke bars, wandering the maze of back-alley izakayas, real-life Mario Kart racing, or checking into a hotel with dinosaur robots serving as front desk agents — and that’s just scratching the surface.

That being said, Tokyo comes with a hefty price tag upon arrival. Sure, you can score great airfare on Japan’s growing budget carrier Zipair, but scoring a reasonably priced hotel without sacrificing comfort can be a tough task, and given its the world’s largest city, crowds are everywhere, and we know how overwhelming that can be over time.

That’s why you don’t have to treat Tokyo as a one-and-done destination; you can venture off and explore Japan’s fascinating culture elsewhere.

Aomori is just the place to do to fulfill your sense of wanderlust as even places like Osaka are becoming more mainstream.

What To Do In Aomori

Located along Mutsu Bay, this highly underrated city is a draw for foodies, adventurers, and art and culture enthusiasts.

Japan in general is known for an incredible array of seafood, some more palatable to western tastebuds than others, but being a coastal city, there’s no doubt exploring local markets for catch of the days and fresh sushi is an absolute must.

Best of all, it’s far cheaper than Tokyo. Easily score a comfortable boutique hotel under $50, plus popular attractions like Asamushi Aquarium is only $8 to enter and visiting the staggering Showa Daibutsu Buddha is only $2.75.

Plus, there is a surprising amount of outdoor attractions that are must-sees too:

Train Tickets & Launch Date

We at Travel Off Path gazed into our crystal ball deep into the future to discover this new sleeper train, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan out your grand adventure.

There is no official date as of yet, but the latest report expects The Cassiopeia train to be retired this summer in place of the new Tokyo-Aomori sleeper train slated for Spring 2027.

Tickets are not on sale either being so far away, but keep following us here at Travel Off Path for more updates on Japan’s most exciting train launch in years!