Shinkansen Gran Class
Apr 18, 2021 | 6:11 pm
#46
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Apr 18, 2021 | 6:59 pm
#47
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Jul 14, 2022 | 8:46 pm
#48
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Anybody else tried this yet? I rode it on the Hokuriku line recently. Probably not worth the money, but I have to say the seats were extremely comfortable. Free food and drink ( but the food was pretty mediocre.) Very quiet. Power outlets at every seat. There are 6 rows of 3 seats. A single and a pair of seats in each row. The single seat is very private. Lighting is good (not overly bright like a lot of Shinkansen cars.) Windows are a little small (not great if you like watching the scenery.)
It is very much worth it. Name another train in the Anglosphere that is as comfortable and classic! Name one!
Last edited by armagebedar; Jul 24, 2022 at 8:39 pm Reason: consecutive posts
Jul 14, 2022 | 9:43 pm
#49
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It is the most comfortable and classy rail seat on Earth. Quiet and smooth, which is what one expects on a Shinkansen. The food is NOT mediocre. It’s some of the best quality train food that’s not cooked on board. The coffee, in unlimited quantities, is excellent. You are served by one or two attendants. Windows are not small, they are adequate. Thanks to the Japanese, rail transport is on the move world-wide and I won’t accept any negative criticism of the Japanese rail system!
I rode it a couple of dozen times this past winter on days trips to go skiing. It's really only comfortable if you sit in the front row and put your feet up on the wall. Also it always feels and smells kind of sterile to me.
Jul 15, 2022 | 1:43 am
#50
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Rocky Mountain Mountaineer in Canada
The Ghan in Australia? (Strinosphere)
Eastern & Oriental Express in Singapore and Malaysia? (C'mon, don't tell me that it's the Singlosphere)
Blue Train in South Africa?
Never been on either but they look comfortable and classic from my seat on the edge of the internet.
Jul 16, 2022 | 1:23 am
#51
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I guess these are all in a different category - more tourist attraction than transport, but ...
Rocky Mountain Mountaineer in Canada
The Ghan in Australia? (Strinosphere)
Eastern & Oriental Express in Singapore and Malaysia? (C'mon, don't tell me that it's the Singlosphere)
Blue Train in South Africa?
Never been on either but they look comfortable and classic from my seat on the edge of the internet.
Rocky Mountain Mountaineer in Canada
The Ghan in Australia? (Strinosphere)
Eastern & Oriental Express in Singapore and Malaysia? (C'mon, don't tell me that it's the Singlosphere)
Blue Train in South Africa?
Never been on either but they look comfortable and classic from my seat on the edge of the internet.
Some have attendants, some don’t. Some serve drinks and food, some don’t. Just ride it!
i agree with this point. i did it just because i wanted to experience the tunnel and i had the pass paid for. 5 hours on train (To Hakodate) vs 1.5 hours on a plane is LOL. Hakodate to Sapporo is another 6 hours i think.
(Since this is FT and I assume the reader is a non-Japanese citizen) I'd pay 14040 per flight (or 10800 if you flew with a Oneworld airline on a non-Oneway ticket) and get to the city in 3 hours and a bit.
you can pay the same 80 USD to upgrade to plane first class.
PS: If you already bought a JR Pass and has nowhere else to go beyond sapporo, then stop by aomori and hakodate. you get some good views at hakodate and good tuna, scallops and apple at aomori
(Since this is FT and I assume the reader is a non-Japanese citizen) I'd pay 14040 per flight (or 10800 if you flew with a Oneworld airline on a non-Oneway ticket) and get to the city in 3 hours and a bit.
you can pay the same 80 USD to upgrade to plane first class.
PS: If you already bought a JR Pass and has nowhere else to go beyond sapporo, then stop by aomori and hakodate. you get some good views at hakodate and good tuna, scallops and apple at aomori
Last edited by armagebedar; Jul 18, 2022 at 3:35 am Reason: combined consecutive posts
Jul 16, 2022 | 6:41 am
#52
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It is the most comfortable and classy rail seat on Earth. Quiet and smooth, which is what one expects on a Shinkansen. The food is NOT mediocre. It’s some of the best quality train food that’s not cooked on board. The coffee, in unlimited quantities, is excellent. You are served by one or two attendants. Windows are not small, they are adequate. Thanks to the Japanese, rail transport is on the move world-wide and I won’t accept any negative criticism of the Japanese rail system!
https://www.cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp/english/
Jul 16, 2022 | 2:39 pm
#53
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Jul 18, 2022 | 5:27 am
#54
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I have a tangentially related question for those who speak (some) Japanese. Is “gran” sometimes used interchangeably to mean “grand”? Such as an NHK “gran sponsor” on a TV show or the Shinkansen “gran class”? Or is there a completely different and separate meaning unrelated to the English word “grand”? Since the Japanese love to shorten everything (make up becomes make for example), it seemed natural that gran may be short for grand. But I leave it up to the linguistic experts here to educate us all.
Jul 18, 2022 | 4:59 pm
#55
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I have a tangentially related question for those who speak (some) Japanese. Is “gran” sometimes used interchangeably to mean “grand”? Such as an NHK “gran sponsor” on a TV show or the Shinkansen “gran class”? Or is there a completely different and separate meaning unrelated to the English word “grand”? Since the Japanese love to shorten everything (make up becomes make for example), it seemed natural that gran may be short for grand. But I leave it up to the linguistic experts here to educate us all.
Jul 18, 2022 | 5:25 pm
#56
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I have a tangentially related question for those who speak (some) Japanese. Is “gran” sometimes used interchangeably to mean “grand”? Such as an NHK “gran sponsor” on a TV show or the Shinkansen “gran class”? Or is there a completely different and separate meaning unrelated to the English word “grand”? Since the Japanese love to shorten everything (make up becomes make for example), it seemed natural that gran may be short for grand. But I leave it up to the linguistic experts here to educate us all.
Jul 19, 2022 | 12:02 am
#58
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Jul 19, 2022 | 6:16 pm
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It's not only a Japanese thing. For example, English speakers use French pronunciation when referring to to "Grand Prix" racing events. We prefer to say "Gran Pree" or "Grom Pree" rather than "Grand Pricks" Sometimes "gran" indicates a phrase of Italian rather than a French origin. The GT badge on a sporty touring car refers to Gran Turismo, which Detroit mimicked (I think) with the "Gran Torino," ... although it might as well be "Gramp's Torino."