Head to Kyoto on a Train with Old-World Charm

The Hankyu Railway Company, a rail company that operates in and around Osaka, introduced a train connecting Osaka to Kyoto seven times a day at weekends and on public holidays, for the appealing price of just 400 yen (around €3).

The Kyotrain Garaku stands out against the landscape. Its interior decoration gives a taste of the former imperial capital, arranged with the greatest care. Traditional shoji sliding doors, dark brown woodwork and miniature zen gardens plunge passengers into an environment that evokes a traditional inn. Two of the wagons have window-facing seats, offering travellers an uninterrupted view of the landscape as it scrolls by.

Four of the six cars each represent a particular season. The walls of the first car are adorned with maple leaves, while bamboo symbolises winter in the second. Spring is embodied by cherry blossoms in the third. Finally, the fourth depicts summer with geranium flowers. Passengers will find all modern comforts on board, with free WiFi and anouncements in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Those who enjoy train journeys can also take the Tohoku Emotion, a train that travels across north-east Japan and showcases Japanese cuisine.