The Resort View Furusato Train

Published on : 15/08/2017
by : Japan Experience

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The resort view Furusato train runs between Nagano and Minami-Otari and is covered with a Japan Rail Pass. All along the journey the view on the Northern Alps is breathtaking.

Ride through the Northern Japanese Alps

The Resort View Furusato Train runs between Nagano and Minami-Otari and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Along the way, the train stops at stations for short visits and spectacular views of the Japanese Alps, the gorgeous mountain range in central Honshu.

Fun throughout the entire journey

The Resort View Furusato Train went into service in 2010 with new hybrid diesel-electric HB-E300 series equipment, making it a more environmentally-friendly way to travel through the beautiful mountain scenery.

On board, wide seats with plenty of legroom ensure a comfortable ride. The large windows let you enjoy the scenery, and there's even a 'lounge' area just behind the driver's seat, where you can sit back and watch the driver at work, always interesting in Japan, beautiful is their professionalism.

There are screens all along the train's two carriages, displaying information about the places you've passed through or are approaching, as well as the view filmed at the front of the train and broadcast live.

This is the 'View' side of the Furusato.

Along the way, the view of the Northern Alps is breathtaking, truly the star of this rail line by JR East. The whole journey takes four hours, which may seem like a long time if you're just sitting on a train, but there's plenty to keep you entertained along the way.

The scenery alone is enough to keep your attention and make the time fly by.

Surprises at every stop:

After leaving Nagano at 10:04 a.m., the train makes several stops, the first of which is Obasute Station, where it lasts a quarter of an hour (10:28-10:44 a.m.) to let you appreciate the fantastic view over the entire Nagano Valley. Truly remarkable, with the famous rice terraces below the station, which offer traditional views of Japan in all seasons: in June, with the rice paddies in water and young plants, in September with the harvest, when the ears of rice are laid out on 'inawara' racks in the open fields. In the middle of winter, snow covers everything in immaculate white. This is the Furusato side of the train.

There's also a 15-minute stop at Matsumoto's main station, 11.29-11.43 a.m., to regain your strength and buy some food and drink, a good bento of fresh local produce for the rest of the journey.
You can also leave the train to visit the town and its great feudal castle.

Arriving at Hotaka Station, you'll have more than half an hour (12h02-12h38) to visit the nearby Shinto shrine, with its impressive shiny wooden main building. Mountains tower above you here, including the famous Mount Hotaka.

Ten-minute stop at Shinano-Omachi 1:00-1:10 p.m., in this beautiful light-wood station in the middle of the mountains, where sometimes taiko players welcome you for a mini-concert to make your heart beat faster.

The next station is Hakuba 13:42-13:46, site of the Nagano Olympic Games in winter 1998 and therefore a favorite spot for skiers, before arriving at the final destination of Minami-Otari at 14:04.

The return train leaves Minami-Otari at 3.16pm and arrives in Nagano at 6.31pm, but it's much less exciting than the outward journey, as it doesn't stop at every station for visits and entertainment.