Japan’s New Ultra-Luxury Sleeper Train is the ‘Ferrari’ of the Railroad

The Train Suite Shiki-shima, dubbed the world’s most luxurious public transportation, set out on its maiden voyage on Monday.

The train’s appearance has been designed by Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama, who has also worked on the Ferrari Enzo and P4/5 as well as the Maserati Quattroporte.

According to Designboom, the 10-car train features traditional materials such as wood paneling, “washi” Japanese paper and lacquer.

The Train Suite Shiki-shima, which is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), has a total of 17 rooms, with two large suite rooms and 15 smaller ones, all complete with a tatami mats floors and cypress bathtubs.

Staff members, dressed in custom-made uniforms by Uniqlo creative director Naomi Takizawa, will tend to the needs of guests.

The dining area serves up a menu of seasonal food by Michelin-starred chef Katsuhiro Nakamura, with ingredients and culinary style reflecting the local regions through which the Train Suite Shiki-shima travels through.

The luxury vehicle also includes glass observatory cars at the front and back of the train, showing a panoramic view of eastern Japan’s landscapes.

The Train Suite Shiki-shima runs through areas including Nikko, Hakodate, Aomori, and Tsubame, according to Travel + Leisure.

Multi-day seasonal trips in the spring or autumn are available with applications being taken for trips from December 2017 through the end of March 2018.

Several winners of a drawing to be the first to ride the train were announced in April.

CNN reported that only one out of every 76 applicants was able to take a spot on the train’s first trip this week.

Prices for the suites start at 750,000 yen (about $6,750) for single-occupancy and double-occupancy costs around 500,000 yen (about $4,500).

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