Seven & Seven Bar

7 Luxury Trains with Next-Level Dining Cars

"Getting on Japan’s most exclusive sleeper train, the Seven Stars, requires some luck—and we mean it. Aspiring passengers must enter a lottery months in advance for a chance to experience it. But manage to snag a seat, and you’ll be in for a truly outstanding ride. That applies to everything from the 10 beautifully appointed cabin suites to the amenities and the dining car. Called Jupiter, the carriage features a similar decor to the rest of the ride: rich wood paneling, beautifully carved screens, plush floral fabrics for the chairs, and suffused lighting. Once seated, passengers are served seasonal cuisine from the island of Kyushu—the part of Japan the train travels through—crafted by a team of local masters that only works with trusted farmers in the area. The quality of the food is excellent and varied, as dishes are customized to each journey, although you can expect classics like takiawase (an assortment of bite-sized vegetables served with fish, meat, or tofu), and takikomi gohan (seasoned rice cooked with seasonal ingredients, from mushrooms and vegetables to meat and fish). Besides the train, guests also have the opportunity to eat at some of the region’s most sought-after restaurants, from the French La Verveine to the all-Japanese Imoto—one of Kyoto (and Japan)’s best dining spots—where dinner is a full omakase affair of 10 to 12 dishes that change seasonally. Tickets start at $4,330 per person for a two-day trip."