JR West has announced details about the operation of the tourist train “Hana Akari” in the summer of 2025, with all cars equipped with green seats or above.
The “Hana Akari”, with its exterior color imitating the noble areca nut dye, is a modified Kiha 189 series express diesel car, and debuted in October 2024 in conjunction with the “Hokuriku Destination Campaign”. The train operates throughout Western Japan, changing areas with each season, and offers a leisurely and luxurious journey with on-board displays of local crafts and art works, and food services using local ingredients.
From July to September, the “Hana Akari” will operate one round trip each day between Osaka Station and Tsuruga Station for 21 days on Saturdays and Sundays, excluding some days. The outbound journey departs Osaka Station at around 10am and heads to Tsuruga Station, stopping at major stations on the Kosei Line along the west shore of Lake Biwako. The return journey departs Tsuruga Station at around 1pm, and the train returns to Osaka Station via the Hokuriku Main Line and Biwako Line on the eastern shore of Lake Biwako.
Advance reservations are required for the food service, which includes a kaiseki bento lunch box from a long-established restaurant in Ogoto Onsen on the outbound journey, and a set of famous sweets and fruit anmitsu from long-established confectionery shops in Hikone City and Omihachiman City on the return journey. In the Superior Green Car, the highest-ranking seats, Shiga Prefecture’s unique furnishings such as Otsu-e, Takashima Chijimi, and Nunobiki-yaki are displayed on display shelves.
Local tourist associations and others are scheduled to provide hospitality at major stations along the line, and passengers can use the stops to purchase local products. Attendants will be selling products on board, and on some days there will be promotional activities for the area and distribution of novelties.
