The main attraction of the resort ride is the view of the Sea of Japan. (Photo: Justin Velgus)

JR Resort Shirakami

Enjoy a luxurious view in a luxurious train

Justin Velgus   - 1分钟阅读时间

The Resort Shirakami is a pleasure train system that runs from Akita Station to Hirosaki in Aomori along the Gono Line. There are three trains in total all with their own names and models, but they all are more or less the same and share similar characteristics.

These photos highlight a winter ride on the "Buna" train, so named because of the thousands of "buna" or Japanese beech trees in the nearby World Heritage Site Shirakami Sanchi. Naturally, the train makes several stops around Shirakami Sanchi and other locales along the Akita and Aomori coastline. While the spring, summer, and fall surely bring their own unique charms to the rural landscape, the winter season creates something special, something I can only describe as timeless serenity.

Justin Velgus

Justin Velgus @justin.velgus

Justin Velgus (ジャスティン ベルガス) is the Miyagi Prefecture expert for Japan Travel and a long-term contributor since 2012 with a focus on the Tohoku region.  Justin has written extensively for JT, and other publications such as VisitMiyagi and Sake Today, amassing over 350 published articles...