Japan Takes Travelers On A Sake-Filled Trip Through The Countryside
Nothing pairs better with sake than a beautiful view, and Japan’s JR line understands that perfectly. Sake fans are being invited onto a boozy mini trip through the countryside where fans can sip on the famous rice wine as the views pass by.
The Shu*Kura train will take passengers through Japan’s “snow country” and weave through the valleys and past mountainsides as travelers kick back and sip on some premium sake.
The journey will also be accompanied by local music and food from various prefectures to pair perfectly with the beverage.
Shu*Kura is split into three cars, each of which was made from recycled series 40 and 48 diesel cars.
The first car will present stunning views of the countryside and seating for the performances. The second will house standing tables modeled after sake crates where commuters can congregate around as they would in a real-life izakaya—a Japanese traditional pub. And within the third car, there will be the main bar and dining areas.
The train will only be in service in the spring and fall and will take a total of three hours to make the round trip. The sake train will run between Joetsu Myoko, TÅkamachi, Niigata, and Echigo Yuzawa.
Japan is slowly opening its borders as the pandemic wanes. Different initiatives are being taken up by the country to promote travel among its citizens and to stimulate the economy. Last month, the government made a bold move to encourage youngsters to drink more.
[via Robb Report and Travel and Leisure, images via various sites]
