Sky view, $10,000 room: Here’s what you can enjoy on the Japanese luxury train

Here’s what well-heeled tourists get to enjoy in the futuristic champagne-gold Shiki-shima train, operated by East Japan Railway:

A Japanese railway company has launched a new luxury sleeper train with sky views, bathtubs and dark wood interiors, five-star lounge, dining and observatory cars and a menu devised by a Michelin-starred chef. The price for a four-day trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido in northern Japan: US$10,000.

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Here’s what well-heeled tourists get to enjoy in the futuristic champagne-gold Shiki-shima train, operated by East Japan Railway…

• The 10-car train that made its maiden journey on May 1 accommodates just 34 passengers in 17 suites, which only adds to its exclusivity.

The train has only 17 cabins, all suites, and the most expensive room, known as Shiki-Shima Suite. (AFP Photo)

• The most expensive room, the Shiki-shima, costs US$10,000 for a four-day-trip.

• The luxury suites have traditional tatami rice straw mats and bathtubs made from Hiroki cypress wood.

The luxury sleeper Shiki-Shima can accommodate up to 34 passengers. (AFP Photo)

• The train includes a lounge area with exquisite traditional Japanese interiors and a dining room that serves cuisines exclusive to regions it passes through.

• The observatory cars in the front and rear offer panoramic windows and glass ceilings to soak in Japan’s scenic beauty.

The luxury sleeper Shiki-Shima has 10 cars, including a lounge car, a dining car and two observatory cars. (AFP Photo)

The bathroom of the Shiki-Shima suite. (AFP Photo)

• The journey includes stops in the northeast Tohoku region, which was hit by the 2011 tsunami.

• The train is fully booked until March 2018.

• Demand for luxury trains are on the rise in Japan. Kyushu Railway Co launched its Seven Star luxury coach four years ago, and JR West is set to launch its Twilight Express Mizukaze in June.

An observatory car of the Train Suite Shiki-Shima, (AFP Photo)