Tokyo / Nagoya — JTB Global Marketing & Travel (JTBGMT) and Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) have announced a landmark collaborative project: the operation of a special train exclusively for international visitors, designed to showcase uninterrupted views of Mt. Fuji from the train windows. This marks the first inbound-tourism-exclusive special train ever operated by JR Central.
The initiative forms the centerpiece of a new inbound package tour titled “Mt. Fuji & Shizuoka Wasabi Farm Tour with Hokusai Special Train & Shinkansen”, which will officially launch under JTBGMT’s SUNRISE TOURS brand on Thursday, 27 November 2025.
The project is supported by Shizuoka Prefecture and the Shizuoka Prefecture Tourism Association, reinforcing regional efforts to attract international visitors beyond Japan’s traditional “Golden Route”.
Project Background: Reimagining Mt. Fuji Tourism
For decades, SUNRISE TOURS has offered Mt. Fuji and Hakone itineraries popular with overseas travelers. Building on this demand, JTBGMT and JR Central set out to design a new route that allows visitors to experience Mt. Fuji from the Shizuoka side, combining iconic scenery with local culture, history, and gastronomy.
JR Central aims to encourage international travelers to use the Tokaido Shinkansen to access Shizuoka Prefecture, then transition seamlessly onto conventional rail lines that run closer to Mt. Fuji, offering slower, more immersive viewing experiences.
This collaboration enables exactly that—creating a direct-service sightseeing train that transforms rail travel itself into a core tourism experience.
Tour Highlights
1. Art Museum–Themed Train Inspired by Hokusai
The special train’s interior is designed around the concept of an “art museum on rails”, featuring visual elements inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Onboard displays immerse passengers in ukiyo-e aesthetics, complemented by commentary from a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter.
Guests also receive Hokusai-themed postcards, allowing them to take a piece of Japanese art culture home.
2. Cultural Rediscovery and Regional Revitalisation
The tour emphasizes rediscovering local cultural and historical value, enabling international visitors to access areas that are often difficult to explore independently. By pairing Mt. Fuji scenery with Japanese art, shrines, waterfalls, and agricultural experiences, the tour promotes deeper engagement with Shizuoka Prefecture while encouraging visitor dispersal beyond major urban hubs.
3. JR Central’s First Mt. Fuji View Special Train for Inbound Visitors
Passengers will enjoy Mt. Fuji views from multiple rail perspectives:
- Tokaido Shinkansen (approach to Shizuoka)
- Tokaido Line (parallel to the Shinkansen)
- Minobu Line, which runs along the western foothills of Mt. Fuji
A key innovation is the direct service from Mishima Station to Fujinomiya Station, eliminating transfers. The train will also:
- Stop at Higashi-Tagonoura Station (north-side windows)
- Stop at Fujine Station (east-side windows)
- Operate at reduced speed on sections of the Minobu Line to allow extended scenic viewing and photography
Tour Details
- Tour Name:
Mt. Fuji & Shizuoka Wasabi Farm Tour with Hokusai Special Train & Shinkansen - Itinerary (Outline):
Tokyo Station → Tokaido Shinkansen → Mishima Station → Special Train (Direct) → Fujinomiya Station →
Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre (Shizuoka) → Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine →
Shiraito Falls & Otodome Falls → Lunch → Wasabi Field Tour with grating & tasting experience →
Gotemba Premium Outlets (selected plans) → Mishima Station → Tokaido Shinkansen → Tokyo Station - Special Train Operating Section:
Tokaido Line (Mishima) → Minobu Line (Fujinomiya), direct service - Operating Dates:
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
19 March – 22 December 2026
(Some dates excluded) - Participants:
Minimum: 2
Maximum per booking: 80 - Tour Information:
https://www.jtbgmt.com/en/g-web/tourIndex_2026#ETA009
