Japan’s Only Sleeper Train: Sunrise Izumo Private Cabin Review

Hello, I’m Koromi, sharing travel tips for visitors to Japan!

This time, I’m taking a ride on the Sunrise Izumo, the only regularly operating sleeper train in Japan.

“Covering over 950 km overnight, traveling from Tokyo to Izumo.”

It’s not a luxury train—it’s a simple sleeper train with compact private compartments. Yet, reservations are always in high demand. Why? Because this train offers a unique sense of adventure, perfect for solo travelers.

Join me as I embark on a journey to Izumo aboard the Sunrise Izumo, and discover the charm of this special train!

9:15 – Arriving at the Tokyo Station Platform

Today, I’ll be boarding the Sunrise Izumo, departing from Tokyo at 9:50 PM. I’ve reserved a B-class Single compartment, and I’ll be traveling with my 2-year-old daughter.

The train usually arrives at the platform around 9:25 PM, so I head up to the platform at 9:15 PM to wait.

At 9:27 PM, the Sunrise Izumo rolls in, greeted by railway enthusiasts with cameras in hand.

This is the moment when you can truly feel the excitement and passion of train fans!

21:30 – Boarding the Sunrise Izumo

The moment has finally arrived—time to board!

With excitement still running high, there’s one thing I need to do immediately after getting on the train: get a shower card.

I took a shower at home just in case, but I still want to try the onboard shower. Luckily, I manage to secure a card!

Since the shower cards are limited in number, they sell out quickly. That’s why I head straight to Car 10, where the shower cards are available, before even dropping off my luggage in the room.

Now, let’s head to my room.

For this trip, I reserved a B-class Single compartment on the lower level of the double-decker car.

Descending the stairs, I arrive at the first floor.

Walking down the hallway, I see single compartments lined up on both sides.

And here’s my lower-level Single compartment!

It’s basically just a bed—more of a cozy hideout than a room.

The view from the window is also unique, offering an unusual angle that you don’t often experience. However, there’s one drawback: when the train is stopped at a station, the first-floor rooms are fully visible from the platform unless you close the curtains. If you were on the second floor, you probably wouldn’t have to worry about that.

The entrance space is compact but has just enough ceiling height for an average person to stand comfortably.

There’s a control panel where you can adjust the temperature and lighting.

It also features an alarm and a headphone jack. Apparently, passengers used to be able to listen to NHK FM radio, but that service has been discontinued, so the jack is now obsolete.

Amenities Provided

• Disposable cup
• Bedding set
• Comforter
• Firm pillow

The bedding consists of a soft, thin futon—a step up from the Nobinobi Seat—and a firm bead-filled pillow.

Now that I’ve settled in, I’m ready to enjoy the ride!

21:50 – Departure

On this Friday night, leaving behind the weary office workers gathered at Tokyo Station, the Sunrise Izumo finally sets off!

There’s something I’ve been looking forward to doing right after departure—

Turning off the lights and enjoying the night view of Tokyo Station!

From my window, I get a glimpse of the beautifully illuminated station. (It looks a bit hazy in photos, but in reality, it’s much more stunning!)

Types of Seats on the Sunrise Izumo

Now, let’s take a look at the different seating options available on the Sunrise Izumo.

What Are A and B Sleeper Classes?

Seats on the Sunrise Izumo are broadly categorized into two classes: A Sleeper and B Sleeper.

A Sleeper: Only One Type!

The A Sleeper class consists of just one type of private compartment, offering superior amenities:

• Single Deluxe (6 rooms)
  • Comes with an exclusive shower card, so you don’t have to rush to get one after boarding.
  • Equipped with a desk and a private sink inside the room.
  • Offers access to a dedicated shower room for extra comfort and privacy.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to stay in one, so I can’t provide firsthand details about the room.

B Sleeper: Five Different Options

The B Sleeper class includes five types of compartments:

• Single (80 rooms)
• Nobinobi Seat (28 seats)
• Solo (20 rooms)
• Single Twin (8 rooms)
• Sunrise Twin (4 rooms)

Single

The Single compartments are found on the first floor, second floor, and single-level sections of the train.

Each type has its own pros and cons:

• Single-level rooms offer more space but are closer to the train’s motor, making them noisier.
• Second-floor rooms provide the best views but tend to sway more.

Choosing the right Single compartment depends on your personal preference!

Nobinobi Seat

The Nobinobi Seat is the only open-plan sleeping area on the train.

• It features semi-private partitions, with walls separating only the head area.
• Instead of a proper bed, passengers are provided with a thin blanket-like covering for casual sleeping.

Solo

The Solo is a compact private room for solo travelers. However, unlike the Single, the Solo is located in motorized cars, which makes the space more narrow and slightly claustrophobic due to reduced ceiling height and width.

• The upper-level Solo rooms

• The lower-level Solo rooms have stair structures protruding into the space.

Single Twin

The Single Twin is a bunk bed-style compartment that can also be used as a spacious single room by folding the upper bed.

• When traveling with two people, the lower bed’s mattress can be removed to create a face-to-face seating area, making it easy to chat and relax.
• Despite its compact size, the room is cleverly designed to maximize space.

Sunrise Twin

The most sought-after room on the Sunrise Izumo is the Sunrise Twin.

• Unlike the bunk bed-style Single Twin, the Sunrise Twin features two beds placed side by side, making it ideal for families, couples, or friends traveling together.
• However, with only four rooms available, it’s the most difficult to book.

Though I haven’t had the opportunity to stay in one, this room remains a dream choice for many travelers!

These rooms are located in the same car as the A Sleeper Single Deluxe:

• The first floor houses the Sunrise Twin.
• The second floor is where the Single Deluxe rooms are located.

Sunrise Izumo & Sunrise Seto

The Sunrise Izumo runs coupled with the Sunrise Seto until they reach Okayama Station, where the two trains split and continue on their respective routes.

When departing from Tokyo, the train is structured as follows:

• The first 7 cars → Sunrise Seto (Bound for Takamatsu)
• The last 7 cars → Sunrise Izumo (Bound for Izumo-shi)

Since the Sunrise Train is essentially two trains combined, the total number of available seats is twice what was previously described.

Exploring the Onboard Facilities

The train is equipped with spacious restrooms, which are larger than those found on standard trains.

There is also a multi-functional restroom, which includes a diaper-changing station—though it doesn’t seem to get much use.

There is a vending machine onboard, but the selection is quite limited. For a more comfortable journey, it’s best to bring your preferred drinks in advance.

The shower room is available for use at any time, provided it is not occupied.

Here is a look at the changing area and shower space.

When you insert the shower card, a 6-minute timer appears on the screen. Since time is limited, it’s a good idea to plan the order in which you wash to make the most of it.

Shampoo and body soap are provided.

You might wonder, “Do I have to use the shower as the previous user left it?”
No need to worry! The shower room is equipped with a self-cleaning system. After each use, pressing the cleaning button will rinse the shower space, ensuring a certain level of cleanliness.

Security Features

Returning to the room, you’ll find that the private cabins can be locked with a 4-digit code that you register upon boarding. This adds an extra layer of security, allowing you to travel with peace of mind.

Items Brought Onboard

Here are some of the items I brought with me, many of which are for the kids:

• Various drinks
• Breakfast
• Snacks
• Toothbrush
• Portable humidifier (recommended if traveling during winter)

As mentioned earlier, the vending machine offers a limited selection of drinks, so I brought my preferred drinks frozen to enjoy onboard.

Also, during the winter, the cabin can become quite dry, so I highly recommend bringing a humidifier. If you don’t have one, you can also hang a damp towel in your room to help with the dryness.

Price for a Single Room

The price for a Single Room was 23,210 yen in total!

How to Spend the Early Morning

It might be a bit of a niche way to spend the morning, but I set an alarm to catch the view of stations during non-operating hours.

Here is the scene passing Kyoto Station at 4:00 AM.

At 4:30 AM, we made a stop at Osaka Station.

Although we stopped, the doors didn’t open. I assume it was a crew change.

As time passed, the night gradually turned into morning.
By 5:00 AM, the Seto Inland Sea appeared in front of me.

During the winter season, it’s a bit hard to catch a clear view of the Seto Inland Sea, as the days are short. It’s interesting how the view changes with the seasons.

By the way, depending on the seat position, you can either view the Seto Inland Sea or Lake Shinji.
On trains traveling from Tokyo, seats on the left side offer views of the Seto Inland Sea, while seats on the right side overlook Lake Shinji.

Since I couldn’t see Lake Shinji from my room this time, I decided to move to a shared space during breakfast.

The rural landscape of the San’in region stretches out before me.

Arrival at Okayama

The Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto trains are coupled together at Okayama Station and will be separated here.

After the separation procedure, the Sunrise Izumo will head toward Izumo-shi Station, while the Sunrise Seto will continue toward Takamatsu Station.

This separation process is quite a rare sight, and many people watch it with great interest.

Unlike trains like the Hayabusa and Komachi, which don’t require human intervention, the Sunrise trains involve staff performing the separation.

The separation was completed successfully!

The Sunrise Seto departs first. Safe travels!

Now, be careful not to miss your train!

Breakfast in the Shared Space

I had breakfast in the shared space of the train.

As I looked out over the beautiful landscapes of the San’in region and Shinji Lake, I enjoyed my meal.

During this time, if the weather is clear, the views are stunning.

The scenery around Shinji Lake particularly left a lasting impression on me.

10:00 – Arrival at Izumo-shi Station

The 12-hour journey has come to an end.

After being gently rocked in the quiet of the night, I woke up to beautiful landscapes outside the window.
This special time, traveling in a private space, is loved by solo travelers who enjoy the freedom of the journey.

As for my personal experience after spending the night onboard, I had no issues with discomfort like back pain. If you manage to secure food and drinks beforehand, the trip can be quite comfortable.

Although making a reservation is a challenge, I’d love to try other seats on another trip!

Thank you for reading until the end!

koromi

YouTuber / Mother of two

YouTube

A native Japanese in his 40s who likes to travel domestically.
Mother of two.
Office worker for 17 years → Blogger, You Tuber.