Inside Japan’s Most LUXURIOUS Train 🇯🇵 FIRST Class in Hokkaido

Board the Fuyu-no-Shitsugen-go (Winter Wetland Train) at Kushiro Station, a rare steam train that only operates for several weeks a year. It's a one-hour journey to Shibecha Station, passing through the 70,000-acre Kushiro Wetland, Japan's largest. Keep an eye out for deer, eagles, and red-crowned cranes (Japan's national symbol). The train has a fantastic atmosphere, with locals cheering from the side of the tracks and photographers capturing its beauty. There's an onboard bar and cafe carriage where you can enjoy a beer and snacks. Be aware that the carriage with the barbecue stove can get extremely hot, so I'd recommend sticking to the cafe bar or other carriages for comfort.

Stop at Nemuro Hanamaru, the original branch of a popular sushi chain, located in the middle of nowhere. The secret here is the incredibly fresh, thick cuts of fish, many of which are fished from the waters around Cape Nemuro. Be careful who you leave in charge of ordering, as they might order the entire restaurant! The portions of fish on the rice are much larger than typical conveyor belt sushi restaurants, making it a truly satisfying meal. The seafood comes from some of the most fertile and delicious seas in Japan, and even the world.

Drive to Cape Nosappu, Japan's easternmost accessible point. It's incredibly cold here, with temperatures around -16 degrees Celsius with wind chill, so bundle up! This is where you can see the 'Arch of the Four Islands,' a monument symbolizing the four disputed Russian Kuril Islands that stretch from Hokkaido to the Kamchatka Peninsula. On a clear day, you can even see these islands out to sea. It feels like the edge of the world, desolate but impressive. You'll also notice Russian signs in the coastal towns, a remnant of past travel between Russia and Japan.