Japan’s winter train journeys have been making global headlines again with three of the world’s top ten.

Intro
The World’s Top 10 Winter Train Journeys
What Makes A Snowy Train Journey in Japan Extra Special?
Step Off The Train And Enjoy a Japanese Winter
Bonus Recommendations

Intro

If you love winter, train journeys, and Japan (and who doesn’t?) then we’ve got some great news for you. Three of the top 10 winter train journeys in the world are in Japan, according to a recent survey. Here atJRPass.com, we love a good data-driven study and this latest survey has scored the top 10 winter train journeys around the world on a variety of metrics. As well as Japan, there are some true heavyweight winter contenders on the list including Canada, Switzerland, and Sweden, but in our opinion, Japan having three entries on the list takes the top prize! Let’s take a look at Japan’s three frontrunners as well as why the country is so loved as a winter travel destination. 

The World’s Top 10 Winter Train Journeys

The three top ranking Japanese winter train journeys in the global top 10 were as follows: 

• The Stove Winter Train, Tsurugu Railway, Aomori
• The Tadami Line, Fukushima to Niigata
• The Kurobe Gorge Mountain Railway, Toyama 

Impressively, the Stove Winter Train came 2nd out of the whole list! The survey’s description of this journey states, “With its route experiencing the highest annual snowfall in the dataset at 460 cm, this cosy and nostalgic journey takes passengers through snow-blanketed landscapes while offering a unique experience: traditional coal stoves onboard, where you can warm up and even grill local snacks like squid.

Popular among travellers for its intimate atmosphere and cultural charm, the train earns a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, and sees 600 monthly searches.”

That’s right, the train is actually driven by a Japanese coal stove called a daruma (as pictured above) which is also used to grill snacks for passengers. The stunningly beautiful Tadami line from Fukushima to Niigata also ranked highly and features in the banner image of this article. As you can see from the photo, it’s one of the most beautiful train journeys for a reason. Look at those views. We’ve also written at length about the Kurobe Gorge railway in the past on this blog.  

Located in the Northern Japanese Alps, with the peaks of Mt. Tateyama and Mt. Akazawadake – known as the Roof of Japan, on one side and Kurobe Gorge on the other, the region offers some of Japan’s most spectacular winter scenery. Divided by the Kurobe River, Kurobe is also one of the deepest gorges in Japan. The entrance to the gorge is marked by the famous red Shin Yamabiko Bridge, which is 166 meters long – the longest of the many bridges spanning Kurobe Gorge – and an attraction in its own right. As well as its untouched forests, spectacular and rugged cliffs, and natural volcanic hot springs, Kurobe Gorge is arguably most famous for Kurobe Gorge Railway – a beautifully scenic sightseeing rail journey with some open-sided carriages to appreciate the full splendour of the incredible views. Kurobe Gorge Railway was originally built to help with the construction of Kurobe Dam but has become a major tourist attraction in recent years. This gorgeous journey is one of the most picturesque in Japan and covers more than 20km of scenery on a winding route between Unazuki Station and Keyakidaira Station, which includes more than 40 tunnels and bridges. Unazuki, where Kurobe Gorge Railways departs from, is a famous hot spring town and you can even bathe in an outdoor onsen with unique views of the gorge and trains rumbling past. There are also several stops along this remarkable railway journey, where travellers can disembark and see the sights, including at Kanetsuri Station, which features ‘Mannen Yuki’ (the ‘ten thousand year old snow’) – a compacted wall of snow that lasts even during the summer, and which can be viewed from an observation deck at the station. It’s not a wonder it made the world’s top 10 list!

What Makes A Snowy Train Journey in Japan Extra Special?

Well, that’s the question, isn’t it? Clearly with three winter train journeys out of the world’s top 10, Japan has something special to offer when it comes to snowy vistas, but what are the reasons for this? Let’s look at the evidence. First of all, Japan experiences some of the heaviest snowfall in the world - and it’s a unique type of snow too. In fact, the snowiest city in the world (with more than 100,000 residents) is Aomori in Japan, which is located in an area referred to as ‘snow country’. Japan may be located at a southern latitude and often associated with subtropical weather, but it also has some of the highest snowfall in the world. This is due to the combination of cold, icy winds coming from Siberia colliding with moisture from the Sea of Japan. The result is both heavy snowfall and a superior quality of snow - ‘Japow’ or ‘Japanese powder snow’ as it’s called - and it is this unique combination that makes Japan such a special place for fans of winter sports and snowy vistas. And it’s not just beautiful to look at. With such consistent snowfall, cold temperatures, and spectacular mountain ranges, it’s no surprise that Japan is one of the world’s best destinations for skiing and snowboarding, with Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps being especially popular. With more than 500 ski resorts, from beginner to expert slopes, you’ll have plenty of choice. It’s not all about sports though as we explained above, the country’s love affair with snow is also celebrated in unique snow festivals and illuminations too. The iconic Sapporo Snow Festival is arguably the most famous, but they take place right across the country and they’re not to be missed - both as an authentic tradition to experience and also as a must for fellow lovers of snow, ice, and illuminations. All in all, Japan experiences very special and extra beautiful winter weather and where better to view it than through the winter of a train as it winds slowly but surely through the most beautiful white landscape?

Step Off The Train And Enjoy a Japanese Winter

Of course, when you step off the train (and back into the cold) it’s time to enjoy what Japan’s stunning snow-covered destinations have to offer. Thankfully, winter is a wonderful time of year to visit this incredible country. It’s typically quieter with fewer queues for attractions, there are unique festivals of snow and ice to discover, stunning winter illuminations, winter sports for the adventurous, plentiful indoor activities and hot springs for those looking to warm up, delicious winter dishes to enjoy, and celebrations like Christmas and New Year. The latter, in particular, is one of Japan’s biggest and most important annual holidays. You can find out more in our guide to Spending New Year in Japan. 

 

Winter is also an important season in Japanese mythology. The icy cold of winter is associated with the Shinto concept of purification and there are echoes between the season and one of Japan’s key creation myths about the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. She was so offended by the actions of her brother, Susanoo no Mikoto, that she hid in a cave and the absence of her warmth and light brought darkness to the world. Thankfully the other gods were able to trick her out of the cave using a mirror to startle Amaterasu with her own reflection and they were able to return her to the sky. The sun’s return is celebrated on 21 December, the Winter Solstice, each year in Japan, and is sometimes referred to as The Festival of Light. You can read much more about Japan’s incredible folklore and mythology, including the terrifying Yuki-Onna (Snow Woman) in our Folktales of Japan blog post and if you’re interested in finding out more about Shintoism, one of the two main religious practices in Japan alongside Buddhism, then don’t miss our Spiritual Guide to Japan. 

And as we mentioned earlier, Japan is a winter paradise if you’re a fan of snowboarding and skiing with some of the world’s best resorts to choose from. For the perfect introduction to getting started in winter sports, try our Starting Guide to Skiing and Snowboarding in Japan. In short, there’s a wealth of fascinating things to see, do, and learn in Japan over the winter months, which makes it a brilliant time to visit with your trusty Japan Rail Pass for getting around. 

Bonus Recommendations

Winter is coming and here at JRPass.com, we have a wealth of informative articles here on our blog to help you plan your snowy rail journey with travel tips, recommendations, and more. Here are a few suggestions to get you started: 

• Want to read more about the Kurobe Gorge rail journey from our list? Read our full blog article on exploring the Kurobe Alpine Route in the Northern Japanese Alps for more. 
• Looking for more special train journeys? We have a number of articles dedicated to Japan’s world-leading domestic rail network. Read our guide on How To Navigate Japan’s Railways or Japan’s Trains: Did You Know… for much more.
• And if you’re interested in visiting Japan during winter then be sure to check out our guides on Spending Winter in Japan and Japan’s Winter Wonderlands.