With all the sights, sounds, and history Kyoto City has to offer, from the Golden Pavilion to the thousands of torii shrine gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, most people forget that there is much more to Kyoto outside of the bustling capital city. Kyoto Prefecture actually reaches farther north, with its northernmost cities bordering the ocean on the Sea of Japan side, earning the area the nickname “Umi no Kyoto“, literally meaning “Kyoto of the Sea”.
For travelers looking to explore more than the usual tourist spots, there are trains departing from Kyoto Station which will take you for a scenic ride through the northern part of the prefecture to view other famous sites such as the beautiful Amanohashidate land bridge in Miyazu City. And now, Japan Railway (JR) has teamed up with a well-known designer to make the travel experience much more unique in this old-style Umi no Kyoto-themed train, set for departure soon!
The man in charge of the project is Eiji Mitooka, an award-winning design consultant who works for the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). The new limited express train will take visitors from Kyoto Station to cities bordering the ocean along the northern half of the prefecture, including Miyazu, Inechou, and Kyoutango City.
▼ Left: Amanohashidate in Miyazu; Right: Harbor houses in Inechou
Images: Kansai Window
The train has been designed with the concept of Umi no Kyoto in mind, complete with Japanese style wooden interior and a metallic indigo exterior with a sleek golden trim and logo.
The new two-car trains are meant to be a restructuring of the current “Tango Discovery” railway cars that were installed in 1996.
As of yet, the route and start date of the new Umi no Kyoto have not been revealed, but we will for sure be awaiting the announcement!
Source and images: Japaaan Magazine
Kyoto’s new Kuromi train is latest part of Sanrio star’s plan to Kuromify the world【Pics】
Japan Railways opening reservations for ridiculously luxurious Kyoto-west Japan sleeper train
Kyoto restaurant train reveals a different side of Japan not often seen by foreign tourists
New way to buy Shinkansen tickets, through messaging app, coming this fall
Travel to Kyoto on the Kyotrain: A Japanese train with interiors like a traditional Kyoto house
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
10 awesome Tokyo cherry blossom festivals and experiences for this year’s sakura season
Mister Donut wows matcha lovers in Japan with new Dora Matcha doughnuts
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
If you go to the hospital in Japan, your doctor might be wearing a Pokémon coat and scrubs【Pics】
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The all-new Kyotrain, maybe Japan’s most Japanese train ever, will take you to Kyoto this spring
JR West unveils new Japanese long distance train with special features for passengers
Japan’s “new normal” train manners poster: 7 steps for safe travel during the pandemic
Japan’s random-destination roll-the-die train tickets: An amazingly cheap way to go…somewhere
New Japan Rail Pass for non-Japanese passport holders coming soon
Shinkansen to permanently reduce number of inexpensive non-reserved seats on Nozomi trains
What to do if you forget your camera or other belongings on the Shinkansen
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
Japan’s new random-destination die-roll train tickets — Amazing bargain for just 36 bucks
Kyoto in summer: A special trip to Kifune shrine recharges the soul
Why do seats at some Japanese station platforms face away from the trains?
New Japanese mascot character: A train station monster that grabs children who don’t mind the gap
Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch
From Tokyo to Tohoku for less than 25 bucks? Our epic Seishun 18 Ticket Japanese train voyage