Outdoors

All the Design & Story Trains of the JR Kyushu railway are designed to bring passengers unique experiences. However, a few trains stand out for providing outstanding views along the way. Ibusuki No Tamatebako The idea for the Ibusuki No Tametebako train came from the folk tale Dragon’s Palace. When the doors open for passengers to board, the vents at the top release white smoke — just like the treasure box in the story. The train runs along the coast between Kagoshima-Chuo and Ibusuki, offering ocean views, including Kinkowan Bay and the peninsula of Sakurajima. When you reserve your spot, you can choose what kind of seat you want. Car-1 has teak wood seats in a style you’d typically find in yachts and cruise ships, whereas the seats in Car-2 are made from cedar wood from Kyushu. In both cases, you can swivel the seats on the ocean side of the train. Car-2 also has comfortable sofa seats, kids’ seats, and a space for wheelchairs. Isaburo / Shimpei Isaburo and Shimpei are two trains named for key figures in the development of railroads during the Meiji period. The original route ran between Kumamoto-Hitoyoshi and Yoshimatsu — the train traveling in…