The luxury train Seven Stars in Kyushu began operations in 2013 on the island of Kyushu, the southernmost and third-largest island in Japan. The name “Seven Stars” is derived from the fact that it offers a journey through the island’s seven prefectures and consists of seven cars (excluding the locomotive): a dining car, a bar lounge car, and five sleeping cars with 14 suites. Guests can choose between a four-day route or a two-day route.
The meticulously designed suites feature a lot of light-colored wood, reflecting the Japanese aesthetic. The train’s restaurant offers gourmet local cuisine, using seasonal ingredients from the island. The lounge car is surrounded by panoramic windows that bring the scenery inside as passengers sit at the bar or around small tables, with piano music playing in the background.
Kyushu is a volcanic, mountainous island. Its highest peak is also Japan’s largest active volcano, Mount Aso, which rises to 1,592 meters. The island boasts impressive natural sites—canyons, sea cliffs, hot springs, geysers, and more. It is considered the cradle of Japanese culture and is known as “the island of longevity,” as some of the world’s oldest people were born and lived there.
The shorter, two-day route starts at Hakata Station in the northern part of the island and reaches the port city of Nagasaki in the southwest. Yes, this is the same Nagasaki that suffered the second atomic bomb in 1945 and has since rebuilt. The longer route also departs from Hakata but makes a 3,000 km circular journey around the entire island. The train stops for extended periods at major attractions, allowing for walking tours or activities.
