Now it’s time for a distinct journey in Japan, as I journey on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare from Tokyo to Takamatsu, Shikoku, Japan.
I really like taking in a single day sleeper trains; it’s an effective way to journey. Depart from one location within the night and arrive at one other the following morning. Not solely that, however you’ve saved time by not having to guide a resort room for the evening. It’s a win-win and a novel approach to journey.
You additionally get to journey on the sluggish tracks and see the drastic change within the panorama throughout Japan as you go from Tokyo to Shikoku.
Japan used to have many in a single day sleeper practice choices in service however now it’s been lowered all the way down to just one remaining service, the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare.
Depart Tokyo important station at 21:50 from platform 9 and arrive in Okayama at 06:27 am, after which proceed onwards to Takamatsu, on Shikoku island round 07:00 am to start out your day.
Inside this weblog publish, I’ll stroll you thru how I made my reserving and clarify my total expertise of travelling on the final Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare in Japan in addition to share some journey ideas for Shikoku Island.
Learn how to guide a reservation on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare
At this stage, I want to point out that it wasn’t simple reserving a personal room on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare.
Particularly when reserving with a Japan Rail Pass. Right here is my recommendation on find out how to make a reservation.
Merely put, you’ll be able to’t guide your seat reservation on-line or through an app with a Japan Rail Move.
You have to converse with a ticket agent at one of many ticket counters situated at choose places round Japan, principally subsequent to standard practice stations.
The worth of the practice journey on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare is included within the Japan Rail Move.
Ticket reservations go on common sale for the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare a month upfront.
However solely the transportation aspect of the ticket is roofed by the move, not the non-public room value which would require an extra reservation charge on high of your journey.
All tickets are reservation solely on the Dawn Specific; there aren’t any Inexperienced Automobile or non-reservation sections, so you have to guide a reservation to your journey to journey on the Dawn Specific.
Please don’t get on to the practice with no reservation as all journeys on the Dawn Specific are at all times totally booked. It’s the one remaining sleeper practice in Japan so this can require some planning to your journey.
How did I guide my non-public room on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare?
I used to be forewarned in regards to the recognition of the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare as I tried to guide a reservation final yr once I had a one-week Japan Rail Move and all reservations had been already full for the validity of my Japan Rail Ticket.
So, this time round I used to be not going to be left upset.
As of November 2023, the Japan Rail Move has not solely elevated in value, however you need to now buy your Japan Rail Move on-line upfront.
You are able to do this both earlier than you arrive in Japan while you’re in your house nation or when in Japan (costs will differ relying on which possibility you are taking).
You possibly can not stroll as much as the ticket workplace and buy a Japan Rail Move.
So, when you’ve your on-line reserving and also you go to gather your Japan Rail Move, they often permit you to make one reservation reserving with their help.
That is once I extremely advocate you need to guide your reservation on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare.
Why? As a result of with out your Japan Rail Move, you’re unable to make the reservation. It is advisable to bodily have the ticket move on you to make the reservation.
(JR East Journey Reservation Heart at Yokohama station, one of many many locations throughout Japan the place you’ll be able to accumulate your Japan Rail Move.)
Reserving your reservation right away can also be essential as a result of, as stated earlier than, the Dawn Specific requires reserving one month upfront, so it would already be offered out.
It’s irritating for Japan Rail Move holders that that is the one technique of reserving the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare.
Ask your ticket reserving agent when issuing you together with your new Japan Rail Move to make the reservation right away.
As talked about they’re very happy that can assist you together with your first reserving so be sure that it’s for the Dawn Specific.
(A room with a view!)
Generally they may have the ability that can assist you with extra extra bookings however usually, it’s just one reserving, relying on how busy it’s.
Phrases to make use of when making the reserving with the ticket agent:
Tokyo Dawn Specific Seto and Izumo trains to Himeji, and Okayama (onwards to Takamatsu) or onwards to Matsue and Izumo. The practice splits into two at Okayama and goes in several instructions so first see if they’ve availability to Okayama, the primary leg of the in a single day sleeper practice.
I collected my Japan Rail Move on September twenty fourth to start out utilizing it on the twenty fifth. I bought a three-week move. We checked out all of the choices nonetheless accessible for the three-week period.
The primary week was utterly offered out of all reservations. Just one Nobi Nobi seat was accessible on the twenty fifth; no non-public rooms had been accessible.
Then bingo! We discovered one! On October 2nd, one kind A single non-public room was accessible.
This was just about every week later into my Japan Rail Move validity. So, be warned, you might need to stay versatile and backtrack in your meant route round Japan or work your route across the Dawn Specific reserving.
The journey a part of the ticket was included within the complete value of my Inexperienced Automobile three-week Japan Rail Move and the Nobi Nobi reservation would have additionally been included in my Japan Rail Move for no extra value on the twenty fifth.
As I opted for the sort A single non-public room, the extra reservation value was 10,800 yen, about £60.
All kind B rooms had been offered out for the entire 3 week interval of my Japan Rail Move. I’ve heard they’re essentially the most tough room kind to buy and at all times get booked up first, since kind B is just about a resort room with two single beds on a practice.
(What the Nobi Nobi part appears like.)
To be trustworthy, I used to be greater than excited to have a reservation for a single room since they had been all totally booked final time, even the Nobi Nobi room kind.
I needed to share my reservation expertise with you because it’s not a simple course of to guide these reservations on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare.
It’s the final sleeper practice service nonetheless in operation in Japan and intensely standard so please type out a reserving plan in place to keep away from disappointment.
And naturally an enormous thanks to the unsung heroes of the entire operation, the ticket reserving agent who was extremely useful and managed to seek out one remaining single non-public room.
She had by no means heard of the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare earlier than and was amazed to see how standard it was, being totally booked for nearly an entire week.
She was very sort to undergo each practice every day looking for one remaining reservation.
On the finish of the day, it’s the luck of the draw, and the recognition of bookings will fluctuate relying on the time of yr, so better of luck and don’t surrender, you by no means know what would possibly occur.
Completely different rooms on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare
(Nobi Nobi may not be essentially the most snug possibility for everybody, but it surely’s the simplest to guide.)
I’ll stroll you thru the totally different room and lodging varieties; on the Dawn Specific, you’ve three totally different sleeping choices:
Nobi Nobi reservation: That is essentially the most fascinating sleeping possibility on the Dawn Specific and for In a single day Sleeper trains typically. The Nobi Nobi possibility could be very typical for Japan.
Bunched all collectively throughout two ranges, the Nobi Nobi is a flat laborious carpeted flooring break up into particular person pods with curtains to divide the rooms for privateness.
The key phrase right here is tough flooring! You’ve been warned and it’s not for everybody’s consolation, however it’s the most inexpensive technique cost-wise and best approach to guide a reservation.
You should have a window, AC vent, private gentle, an especially small desk and a plastic cup with a cup holder. I additionally didn’t discover any particular person plugs, just one plug within the hallway.
I might counsel bringing a chargeable energy financial institution should you want to cost your units in a single day.
Additionally, remember that you’ll have to retailer your luggage in your Nobi Nobi space; you’ll be able to’t block the hallway.
Every Nobi Nobi room will present a sheeted mat and pillow case and no towel. It’s extraordinarily primary however would possibly work as an possibility for you. Consider it as a lay-flat seat in some respects.
I might counsel shopping for a pillow from Daiso; they’ve a blow-up journey version for 100 yen, or you can use a down jacket in case you have one to fill the pillowcase.
Nobi Nobi is the simplest possibility by way of availability, so why not give it a go?
The Nobi Nobi possibility is included in your Japan Rail Move reservation and won’t require any extra prices.
(Sure, that is the precise dimension of the room, it’s a tight squeeze for a lot of Westerners, but it surely’s snug)
Kind A cabin: If you want for full particular person privateness then the sort A solo cabin is the one for you.
It contains a big commentary window with blinds for full darkness, a single mattress with sheets, pillow and blanket, however no towel.
There may be additionally one working desk (you utilize the mattress because the chair), plastic cup and cup holder, slippers, a mattress pyjama set, a radio and an alarm clock (radio was discontinued and didn’t work).
For those who want to depart your room safely locked when you roam across the practice, there’s a non-public door that has an inside lock and an out of doors quantity mixture lock.
The room additionally has one private energy plug, a aspect part for baggage storage (it was a decent match), a coat hanger and a hook.
There are two lamps, one for private lighting and the opposite for common room lighting.
I’m 182cm in top and I used to be capable of nearly match on the mattress comfortably for a great evening’s sleep. My head did need to go below the desk to suit however I switched my finish of the mattress and was snug in the long run.
Kind B cabin: Non-public two single-bed rooms. I used to be unable to take a look into these rooms as they’ve non-public doorways. I imagine they’ve all of the above amenities as kind A cabins however for 2 individuals with the addition of a chair for the working desk.
The totally different Dawn Specific routes you’ll be able to take
The Dawn Specific stands out as the final In a single day Sleeper in Japan however you continue to do have a number of choices in terms of arrival locations.
The Dawn Specific travels between Tokyo, Himeji and Okayama.
The Seto and Izumo Dawn Specific trains are related/coupled collectively.
(Be sure to don’t miss the Dawn Specific practice splitting up; it’s one of the best present on the town at 06:30 am.)
At Okayama, the Dawn Specific will cease so the carriages can disconnect from one another.
You might be welcome to hop off at Okayama briefly to observe the 2 practice carriages detach.
Then the Seto a part of the Dawn Specific runs southbound to Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture, which is situated within the north of the Shikoku island.
That is the journey that I took and will probably be reviewing under; the sleeper practice half is identical because the Izumo a part of the practice so you will get an thought of all of the amenities and so on.
If you would like, you’ll be able to switch to a JR practice throughout the platform that may also take you to Takamatsu should you favor a seat fairly than a sleeper mattress.
The Izumo a part of the Dawn Specific will journey north to Matsue and Izumo within the Shimane Prefecture.
(Dawn Specific parked up at Takamatsu station.)
Keep in mind to change to Okayama relying on the place you wish to go.
On the best way again to Tokyo, the practice may also make a cease in Osaka.
When making my reserving, I requested to go to Matsue and Izumo and acquired a ticket reservation for Okayama.
I’m unsure if this was completed as a result of a misunderstanding or in the event that they meant that I switched trains in Okayama to succeed in Matsue and Izumo.
I’m unsure what occurred (this occurs in Japan typically) however my plans modified anyway because the reservation was made every week into my Japan Rail Move.
Ended up going to Takamatsu, so all is properly on this planet.
I feel it’s okay to change trains with a JR Japan Rail Move in Okayama as they do have a seating space accessible.
Completely different costs of the Dawn Specific
(The Nobi Nobi room is primary however included within the Japan Rail Move, and it’s the simplest reserve.)
Your Japan Rail Move will cowl the practice journey prices of the ticket, the bottom fare, Nobi Nobi, the essential possibility is not going to incur any extra expenses and will probably be utterly lined by the move.
(Solo cabin room kind A, very small however does the job!)
Room kind A: A non-public single room reservation onboard the Dawn Specific value me an extra 10,800 yen, round £60.
(Unable to get a glance into the room kind B, sorry.)
Room kind B: A non-public room with two single beds. I imagine the extra reservation charge would set you again 17,000 yen (£95).
As we had been unable to seek out one among these choices accessible, I used to be unable to confirm the precise value. I feel the associated fee has gone up since November 2023. (If somebody might share this info with me through e-mail I might be very happy to replace this part.)
I imagine this reservation is for 2 individuals as properly which could clarify why it’s such a preferred possibility.
In a single day sleeper trains in Japan
The Dawn Specific is among the final remaining all-year-round in a single day sleeper trains nonetheless in operation that you would be able to guide with the Japan Rail Move.
The Moonlight Nagara that operated between Tokyo and Ogaki was seasonal however has been suspended as of 2020.
In fact, you’ll be able to elevate your Japanese sleeper practice expertise to the the following stage by travelling on the Twilight Specific Mikukaze. When you see the worth tag of this luxury journey, you’ll rapidly study that the JR Japan Rail Move received’t cowl it.
Again in 2010 once I first visited Japan and was utilizing a Japan Rail Move to journey across the nation, I bear in mind seeing many sleeper practice choices had been in operation.
I even travelled from Tokyo to Sapporo, which was an exquisite journey to cowl in a single day.
The seated sleeper service on the 485 North East Specific was included within the Japan Rail Move.
They’d a service known as the In a single day Specific Prepare Hokutosei from Ueno station to Sapporo station. The service was discontinued in 2015.
Most of the former sleeper practice routes in Japan at the moment are generally lined by funds airways, so I can perceive why the service might need turn into much less standard through the years and went out of service.
(You possibly can seek for different journey choices with the 12go Asia search field above.)
Even with the mass enchantment of trains being a preferred mode of transport throughout Japan, it’s unhappy to see just one remaining inexpensive service nonetheless in existence.
Nevertheless, sleeper trains in Europe in recent times have additionally confronted a decline however have lately had a preferred bounce again with the rise in demand for trains as a mode of transportation. Older providers, such because the Nightjet from Berlin to Vienna, have began to open up once more.
Possibly Japan may also see a change in opinion because the Dawn Specific is in such excessive demand and is at all times totally booked most days. Solely time will inform, but it surely appears the evening trains of the previous are being transformed into off-track accommodations.
Nevertheless, Japan has seen an increase in inexpensive sleeper buses, in a single day sleeper ferry journeys with Sunflower Ferries and a rise in inexpensive home flights with funds airways.
With the Shinkansen increasing to Sapporo in 2030, perhaps a necessity for in a single day sleeper trains in Japan usually are not wanted and are purely for nostalgia fairly than practicality.
Properly, I for one adore the in a single day sleeper practice expertise idea, and having the chance to strive a minimum of one in a single day sleeper practice in Japan with the Japan Rail Move is a pure bonus to my journey to Japan.
I really like the concept that I can fall asleep in Tokyo, get up on the island of Shikoku and begin my journey in Takamatsu. It’s a part of the enjoyable of travelling. Journey shouldn’t be at all times in regards to the vacation spot, the journey could be equally pleasing.
Bogs and bathe state of affairs on the Dawn Specific
(Very clear bathrooms contemplating they’re on a practice!)
Earlier than we get began, I needed to notice that I didn’t deliver a towel with me. Towels usually are not included within the kind A non-public solo room or the Nobi Nobi kind reservation.
What the state of affairs is within the kind B two single-bed rooms, once more, I’m unsure as I used to be unable to entry that room kind, however I’m going to say no as properly.
Fortunately I had an onsen towel on me that I might use. Only a heads as much as deliver your towel; Daiso promote one for 300 yen should you don’t have a spare one.
When it comes to the bathroom room onboard, I used to be pleasantly shocked – it was very clear and spotless. There was additionally a sink to clean palms in.
Exterior the bathroom there was a big sink and a mirror. Excellent for brushing your enamel and a lightweight face wash within the morning.
Now let’s speak in regards to the bathe room.
(The sold-out purple gentle of doom! All bathe tickets offered for my journey, no bathe for me!)
They’d a fairly peaceable bathe room on the practice. One space was a dry room the place you can change garments, and there was a hairdryer, basket and desk to maintain your gadgets from not getting moist, in addition to a big mirror. Then this leads into the bathe room, which is fairly spacious and outfitted with rails and even bathe cleaning soap and shampoo.
The bathe works for a restricted 6 minutes every time, and also you management the time with the beginning/cease button. The bathe has lots of strain, and the entire space is fairly clear.
(Half one of many bathe room, the altering room.)
The bathe works by shopping for a ticket token from a merchandising machine on the practice.
The machine takes 100 and 500 yen cash, and a lightweight indicated that the machine didn’t take notes regardless that it had a slot for notes. I imagine you run the danger of not getting change if you are going to buy with a notice, so greatest to make use of cash closest to the precise quantity.
Nevertheless, once I checked, the machine stated it had run out of tokens (“Bought out”). I’m unsure if this meant that the practice had a restricted quantity of tokens they may promote for the journey and so they had all offered out, or that the machine had run out of tokens.
(The bathe room itself, a great deal of house, handrails and shampoo on supply)
My suggestion can be to purchase a bathe ticket token the second you get on the practice, as I used to be unaware that the bathe tokens are restricted and I missed out on having a bathe.
Sadly, this additionally means I can’t let you know how a lot the bathe value. I feel it was 320 yen, however I’m unsure as a result of the worth might need gone up lately. No indication of the worth was talked about wherever in English. Sorry for the shortage of assist.
What was clear was {that a} refund was not attainable, so watch out when buying a bathe card relating to the change and with the ability to use the cardboard.
Lounge space on the Dawn Specific
On the Dawn Specific, you’ll discover a lounge space with 4 chairs on all sides going through outwards in the direction of the panoramic window and a protracted tabletop desk in entrance of you.
Excellent for working in your laptop computer, watching a film in your cellphone or having a drink or a meal earlier than you fall asleep. No plugs within the space, and it’s a quiet zone.
(Japanese merchandising machine on a practice! Like it!)
Subsequent to the lounge space is a merchandising machine should you want to buy a drink, in addition to the machine for the bathe tokens.
I’m unsure about smoking rooms as I don’t smoke, however I did spot a vacationer asking in confusion the place the smoking cart was, so I’m unsure whether or not they discovered it, however I by no means noticed them once more so they may have gotten fortunate. I did odor smoke on the practice, so perhaps one is out there. Better of luck!
My total expertise travelling on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper from Tokyo to Shikoku
Total, my expertise of travelling on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper from Tokyo to Shikoku was constructive.
Waking up round 06:00 am and with the ability to expertise a surprising dawn over the Japanese countryside from the consolation of my mattress in a personal solo sleeper cabin on a practice is an incredible second.
It will have been good to have an additional hour in mattress; perhaps departing round 22:50 from Tokyo station and arriving in Takamatasu at 08:00 am would have been a lot most well-liked.
Arriving at 07:00 am is slightly too early in my view, and 08:00 am would have been a greater time. I assume that the occasions are chosen this manner as a result of the tracks usually are not used throughout these hours, permitting the sleeper practice to go at a slower pace.
It was irritating {that a} towel was not offered; even a small onsen-style towel would have completed the job. Even inexpensive capsule accommodations provide towels, so this caught me off guard.
And don’t get me began on the restricted bathe token drama. Arriving in Takamatsu at 07:00 a.m. after having a bathe might need been a greater expertise.
(Even a small onsen towel to make use of the sink would have been nice)
I seen that the bathe room remained empty more often than not. What number of passengers had been capable of have bathe tokens, I do surprise.
As resort check-in time in Japan is fairly strict with some accommodations not permitting check-in till 3:00 pm, you’re type of left caught feeling groggy for the remainder of the day, particularly when it’s sizzling and humid prefer it’s been in Japan this yr.
My suggestion can be to discover a native public onsen bathtub the place you’ll be able to pay a one-off charge to have a bathe and clean up. You is perhaps in luck with some native onsens if they provide a morning service at 07:00 am.
Bathe subject apart, I couldn’t think about a greater approach to journey to Shikoku from Tokyo than the sleeper practice to start out the journey across the island.
Attending to strive the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper was an unimaginable expertise that I loved loads and would strive once more. Possibly subsequent time I get a Japan Rail Move I’ll strive the Nobi Nobi reservation and head to Izumo as an alternative.
Let’s hope that the final inexpensive in a single day sleeper practice possibility in Japan stays in service for a few years to come back, so extra travellers can expertise this distinctive manner of travelling throughout Japan.
Crossing the Seto Bridge by sleeper practice to Shikoku
Take within the great vistas as you cross the Seto Bridge onto the island of Shikoku.
It’s the nice view of the ocean and coastal environment that makes Shikoku’s panorama additional particular, particularly within the morning because the solar begins to rise.
It’s an much more unimaginable expertise to admire the surroundings from the bridge onboard a sleeper practice. Benefit from the journey!
Takamatsu station will greet you with an enormous smile
You possibly can’t miss Takamatsu practice station. It’s laborious to overlook because the station will greet you with a large smile! Takamatsu is the right metropolis to start out your journey round Shikoku island.
From right here you’ve many choices. You possibly can seize a ship and head on over to Naoshima island by native ferry to discover the artwork island which has many artwork installations, initiatives, galleries and shows scattered throughout the island.
You possibly can discover one or all the 88 temples circling the entire island of Shikoku as a part of the Shikoku Pilgrimage trails (or Shikoku Henro).
Head to the Iya Valley for unimaginable mountain climbing and discover a few of the many Vine Bridges that you’ll find within the space.
Discover town of Matsuyama and its unimaginable historic fortress, and make certain to not miss out on the native ramen which is understood for its distinctive candy style and use of udon noodles.
Or why not decide up a rental bike and uncover the unimaginable community of biking throughout the Shimanami Kaido seven bridges over the Setouchi Sea?
There’s a lot to do on the island of Shikoku, hope you’ve a good time! Let me provide you with some recommendations on what to do round Takamatsu for the day.
(Be happy to observe my video about exploring the island of Shikoku.)
My advice for what to do in Takamatsu for the day
So, you’ve arrived in Takamatsu station by the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare at roughly 07:00 am. Here’s what I might counsel you do.
To begin with, you’ll be able to lock your luggage up at one of many many station lockers after which find a public onsen to clean up.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to guide an evening at JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu, which is situated throughout from the practice station.
For those who do select to remain an evening right here then you’ll be able to ask the resort to retailer your luggage till check-in. You might also ask if it’s attainable to make use of the onsen bathtub for company earlier than your room is prepared.
It’s at all times price a strive. The resort has an incredible sky bar with nice views of town and surrounding islands as properly of the Takamatsu fortress ruins.
Fortunately, the highest attraction in Takamatsu opens at 06:00 a.m., so I might extremely advocate spending your morning strolling across the Ritsurin Garden.
(Entrance ticket will set you again 420 yen, and you’ll simply discover the gardens for a number of hours.)
The Ritsurin Backyard is well-known for its 1700s-style backyard that includes formal landscaping, ponds and bridges.
The morning is fairly a pleasant time to stroll across the gardens as you’ll have most of them to your self. Hold an eye fixed out for the hungry coy carp that wish to swim across the bridges. You possibly can even go on a ship experience if you want.
For me, the spotlight of the Ritsurin Backyard is the teahouse expertise, which is each peaceable and charming. For 700 yen you’ll be able to take pleasure in a matcha teahouse ceremony which comes with a candy chestnut deal with.
You possibly can then keep within the teahouse for so long as you want, even within the Kikugetsutei room, which has an exquisite viewing spot overlooking the mote and surrounding backyard.
They also have a pillow that you would be able to sit on marking the king’s seat, permitting you to see eight totally different viewing angles of the backyard from one spot within the room. It’s the right viewing location of the backyard in my view.
(Tasty Udon lunch price attempting in Takamatsu.)
Then for lunch, I might advocate going to a Udon noodle restaurant known as: “(郷屋敷 サンポート店)” near the practice station. They’ve a preferred lunch dish amongst the locals that you would be able to strive in Takamatsu. It goes particularly properly with tempura and was good to strive chilly.
For the remainder of the day, I might head to one of many ferry terminals and perhaps go to the artwork island of Naoshima.
Thanks for studying my weblog publish in regards to the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare to Takamatsu, Shikoku, Japan
Thanks for passing by my weblog and studying about my journey on the Dawn Specific In a single day Sleeper Prepare to Takamatsu, Shikoku, Japan.
I hope you discovered this text most helpful in the direction of planning your journey on a Japanese sleeper practice.
You probably have any additional questions on this journey, please do get in touch with me.
Particularly should you want any journey ideas for exploring the island of Shikoku, I might be very happy to assist.
Have an incredible time exploring Japan by sleeper practice!
