Hop aboard The Rail Kitchen Chikugo, Fukuoka’s specialty sightseeing and gourmet food train! Operated by the Nishitetsu Rail Company, this luxury experience was created to bring people together through the food, scenery, and crafts of the Chikugo Region.
For a unique way to enjoy the charms of a Japanese train while filling your stomach with a seasonal course meal, this is the perfect activity to add to your Fukuoka itinerary. Continue reading to learn more about The Rail Kitchen Chikugo!
Table of contents
- Travel Vlog
- Where is the Chikugo Region?
- Booking Tickets
- Ride the Rail Kitchen Chikugo
- Final Thoughts
- Where to Stay in Fukuoka
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Travel Vlog
Join me as we ride through the Chikugo Region from Tenjin Station to Hanabatake Station. Along the way, we will be trying the summer course menu!
Where is the Chikugo Region?
The Chikugo Region is one of the four areas in which Fukuoka Prefecture is divided. It is located in the southern part of the prefecture and is known for its abundant resources, history of crafts, and the flowing Chikugo River. Included in the region are the cities of Chikugo, Ogori, Kurume, Ukiha, Okawa, Yame, Yanagawa, Miyama, and Omuta as well as the towns of Tachiarai, Oki, and Hirokawa.
During a ride on the Rail Kitchen Chikugo, experience the allure of this region with all of your senses.
Booking Tickets
Reservations must be made in advance to ride the train. These can be made online, by phone, or in person at the counter. (It is recommended to make reservations online as the in-person counters are usually busy).
Making Reservations Online
You will need to submit a request for the date you are interested in. If seats are available, you will receive a follow-up email with information on how to complete payment. (Credit Cards are accepted.) The email confirmation sent after payment is needed on the day of boarding.
Check here for more details about reserving tickets online. (The reservation form is in Japanese, so I recommend Google Translating the page if you need help understanding.)
Note that dietary restrictions and allergies are generally not accommodated. Additionally, a minimum of 10 guests must ride for the trip to be scheduled. If the minimum number of participants is not met, the trip may be canceled.
Different Tour Plans
As of now, there are four different tour plans available. The plans are priced the same and serve the same food, but vary in duration, operating days, and areas visited. A brief overview of the courses is written below. For more information, see here.
- Thursday- Savor the Region [Thursday Lunch Course] – This is a round-trip plan that starts and ends at Tenjin Station. There is a roughly 30-minute stop at Hanabatake Station for exploring the train and taking commemorative photos. (2 hr, 41 min)
- Friday- Savor the Region [Friday Travel Lunch] – This is a one-way route from Tenjin Station to Omuta Station. Along the way, the train stops at Dazaifu, Hanabatake, and Nishitetsu Yanagawa. (4 hr, 38 min) There is a long stop at Dazaifu so you can get off the train and explore the shrine and shopping street. Learn more about Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine here! Guests are allowed to get on or off the train at different stops en route.
- Saturday/Sunday/Holiday – Savor the Region [Early Lunch] – This early course allows you to travel mid-morning and end by 12:35 pm. It is a roundtrip plan from Nishitetsu Tenjin Station. (2 hr, 43 min)
- Saturday/Sunday/Holiday – Savor the Region [Late Lunch] – This is a one-way course from Tenjin Station to Omuta Station with a brief stop at Yanagawa. You can get off the train at Yanagawa and continue on your own if you like. Learn about what to do in Yanagawa here! (2 hr, 8 min)
Ride the Rail Kitchen Chikugo
It’s time to ride the train! Since all of the trips depart from Nishitetsu Tenjin Station you’ll want to head there (unless you are joining a trip mid-route.)
I made my way to the second floor of the station and showed the staff the email confirmation of prepayment. They showed me where to wait and gave me a card with my assigned car number and seat.
The Rail Kitchen Chikugo is made up of three cars and can seat 19 parties or 52 people. The interior is beautifully decorated, and is a far cry from your normal train!
The inside was designed with elements that represent the Chikugo Region including a bamboo-woven ceiling from Yame, Okawa furniture, indigo-dyed art pieces, and artistic depictions of the Chikugo River on the tiled walls.
Once seated, I chose a welcome drink there is an alcoholic and non-alcoholic option. The strawberry sparkling wine was very tasty!
Aside from the welcome drink, there is a large selection of additional drinks you can order including locally-made beer, shochu, and fruit wine. The menu is written in multiple languages.
And with that, we were off!
Right away, I noticed that there was quite a bit of movement as we rode. Taking photos was easy enough, but getting steady video was difficult! (Those who get motion sickness easily may have difficulty eating while on the train).
Even though I have ridden the same train route many times before, it felt so different to be in the special rail car with a different atmosphere and seating arrangement. Somehow, the scenery outside seemed more beautiful than usual.
During the ride, information about the region was shared, but only in Japanese.
After we left the city, we were served our first course – a colorful selection of 6 small appetizers! Each dish was placed in a section of a wooden box with an illustration and written description underneath.
The mugwort tofu and sea snail were not my favorite, but I was quite impressed with the overall variety of flavors and textures.
Following the appetizer selection came the fish dish. The buttery seaweed sauce was delicious and mellowed out the flavor of the marinated mackerel.
About an hour in, we reached the halfway point of the ride and our furthest destination, Hanabatake Station. Here we were able to get off the train to take commemorative pictures and explore the other cars. I might be a kid, but it was so exciting to wear a conductor’s hat!
Can you believe that there is a full kitchen (with an oven) and bar on the train? Be sure to check these out in car #2!
The train’s exterior features a red and white checkered pattern that was inspired by a picnic tablecloth – a nod to the train’s gastronomic theme.
The logo features elements of Chikugo Region products including sake, fruits, and Yanagawa River punting.
Back on board the train, we started to make our way back to Tenin Station.
The main meat dish was a tender, braised pork rib with a side of mashed potatoes and bread. The pork was juicy and had a sweet, almost caramel-like glaze to it.
Finally, it was time for dessert (a sweet meringue with blueberry sauce and ice cream) and a coffee to end the meal.
Like clockwork, our meal was finished just as we rolled back into Tenjin Station. Even though it was only 12:30, it felt like the day had already been packed with adventure and excitement.
Final Thoughts
Taking a ride on the Rail Kitchen Chikugo was a unique way to explore different areas of Fukuoka and stimulate the senses through food, drink, and atmosphere!
Since the menu changes with the seasons, I’m curious to know what is in store during other times of the year. The early lunch course I joined was one of the shorter ones that starts and ends in Tenjin Station. I found it a good route to experience the train and enjoy a nice meal while leaving time in the day to do other things. There are longer routes with stops in Dazaifu and Yanagawa (two popular sightseeing spots), so those would be good choices for those wanting to explore those spots.
During the trip, I was able to enjoy the concept of train travel to connect regions and experience a meal with a view that changed with each passing moment.
Where to Stay in Fukuoka
If you are looking for the most convenient areas to stay in Fukuoka, I recommend either Tenjin or near Hakata Station. Both of these areas are central locations making it easy to travel via foot, bus, train, or taxi. There are also many restaurants, cafes, bars, parks, museums, shopping spots, and more at your fingertips.
Want to see more amazing places in Kyushu? Check out my book!
This book is a visual introduction to the grandeur of Japan’s Kyushu region. The 80 pages of full-color photographs and text depict various spots for sightseeing, enjoying nature, and experiencing seasonal festivals. Enjoy perusing the pages and discovering some of Kyushu’s lesser-traveled treasures!
Looking for more places to explore in the Chikugo Region? Check out these posts!
- Craft Inn 手 [té]: An Immersive Art Experience in Yame, Fukuoka
- Day Trip to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine from Central Fukuoka
- Weekend in Yanagawa: Hina-matsuri, Canal Punting, and Cherry Blossoms
- Hands-on Indigo Dyeing at Aizome Kasuri Kobo – Yame, Fukuoka