NAGOYA–Kintetsu Railway Co. said it will start operating a restaurant train featuring French cuisine with local products on Nov. 1 between Nagoya and the scenic Ise-Shima area of Mie Prefecture.
The train, called “Les Saveurs Shima,” will make only one round trip a day and operate six days a week, except on Wednesdays, Kintetsu officials said.
The train will depart from Kintetsu Nagoya Station at 11:05 a.m. and arrive at Kashikojima Station in Shima, Mie Prefecture, a popular tourist destination, at 1:35 p.m.
On the return journey, it will leave Kashikojima Station at 4:35 p.m. and pull in at Kintetsu Nagoya Station at 7:12 p.m. on weekdays and 7:08 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays.
The train will stop at Ise-shi, Uji-Yamada, Isuzugawa, Toba and Ugata stations along the way.
A full-course meal of authentic French cuisine with seafood, meat and other items produced in Mie Prefecture will be offered for 33,000 yen ($207) on weekdays and 36,000 yen on Saturdays and holidays.
A French set meal, which will come in wooden boxes, will be available for 19,000 yen on weekdays and 21,000 yen on Saturdays and holidays.
The prices include one-way fares.
Kintetsu plans to sell tickets on Sept. 1, when the company will begin accepting reservations online for November and December services.
Travel agencies in May will start marketing tour products that include rides on Les Saveurs Shima.
The train will comprise four cars with a total of 50 seats, all of them available only by reservation.
The train will be decorated with a logotype on its front and sides.
The logo was designed to evoke the double image of the saw-toothed coastline of Ago Bay and a plate.
Kintetsu officials said they hope to attract tourists primarily from the greater Tokyo area and the Tokai region, as well as travelers from overseas.
“We hope to present memories of trips to our passengers not just as a carrier but also by offering these authentic meals,” a Kintetsu official said.
AloJapan.com