Yasuyuki KAWANISHI + ICHIBANSEN / nextstations
​川西 康之 + 株式会社イチバンセン 一級建築士事務所 / ネクストステーションズ

The excursion train ‘Echigo TOKImeki Resort SETSUGEKKA’ has replaced the walls with huge windows for the grand view of ocean and mountains. It has started its operation in the western part of Niigata prefecture, Japan. In order to be a new symbol of this area, the train’s body was colored vermillion glowing with the nature. Even though the train consists of only 2 carriages and 45 seats, its rail travel gives you a blissful time and marvelous view of the local scenery you have never seen before.

Conventionally, most passengers might take it for granted that better train should have shorter traveling time, as it is just a public transportation in daily life or travels for them. Therefore, its speed had become faster dramatically thanks to the technological development in the world, especially Asian one such as bullet train called Shinkansen. Nevertheless, the general public tends to be forgetting and indifferent to enjoying the view from the train window, the traveling time spent with someone special to you or the journey itself. You are supposed to be able to have dramatic experience only in the place you are traveling by train now.

Accordingly, passenger’s precious time with Japanese hospitality must be the highest priority in our project, SETSUGEKKA. In terms of the interior, we are particular about the local materials including kawara tile flooring and domestic natural lumber in spite of the train’s steel body. Although it is said to be difficult to utilize natural wood in the coach owing to the flammability, the worker’s effort and modern technology such as fireproof material made this possible. For example, the walls consist of aluminum and 0.2 mm thickness natural sliced veneer of Japanese cedar, beech and birch.

In addition, the service of food and drink on board is nalso based on the local products in order to revitalize the local area; since Niigata prefecture is famous for sake brewery and stunning view of both ocean and volcanoes, the customers can have the special French meals and sake while enjoying the perfect view of natural landscape.

Compared to a limited express or bullet train, SETSUGEKKA is ridiculously slower because it takes 3 hours from the starting station to the terminal, despite the 13 minutes trip by Hokuriku Shinkansen. That is exactly why passengers can have enjoyable time with the relaxed journey that you have never experienced on the nominal train. In the next period after the rapid growth of Asia, this sort of innovative design and train service can be the new trend.

Train is one of the most influential presentations by the local, not just transportation system for the general public. In the case of SETSUGEKKA, due to replacing walls for windows and accepting local character positively, it had a powerful impact on the contemporary trend and concept of locality in Asia. Moreover, this project can be the first step of local design innovation in our global future.