The “Seven Stars in Kyushu” luxury sleeper cruise train, which will start making the rounds of Kyushu next autumn, has been quick to catch on with well-off people not only in Japan but also in the Middle East and Hong Kong. The name of “Seven Stars in Kyushu” was derived from the seven prefectures on Kyushu Island and the seven cars that constitute the dedicated train.
The package touts a “mind-relaxing space, one of the most luxurious in Japan”, experiencing the culture and traditions at each destination. JR Kyushu officials said the company wants foreigners to account for half of all customers in the future, but it is mostly domestic travelers that have so far caught on to the novel allure of cruises that do not take place on the ocean.
So far JR Kyushu received 814 applications for eight trips that depart between October and December 2013, more than seven times the number of available slots. For more info: http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/cruisetrain/message.html Source: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/business/AJ201301020014
