On August 29, 2024, JR West unveiled the new tourist train "Hanaakari" at the Kyoto Railway Museum in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City. The train will run along the Sea of Japan coast of Fukui, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures from October. The interior of the train, which has all reserved seats, is decorated with local products from Kyoto and Fukui, creating an elegant atmosphere. It will be open to the public at the museum until September 3.
The "Hanaakari" was designed by Yasuyuki Kawanishi (48), an architect who also designed the "West Express Ginga", by modifying a carriage used on the "Hamakaze" express train. The body of the carriage is decorated with gold floral patterns based on betel nut dyeing, which is considered the highest quality of crest dyeing.
The "Hanaakari" will consist of three carriages, one of which is a top-class green car. The walls of the two-person semi-private compartments are decorated with artworks made from Tango silk and floral ornaments made from Echizen washi paper, and the curtains are tied with Kyoto braided cord tassels. Kawanishi Yasuyuki said, "We designed it so that passengers can enjoy the daytime journey while chatting. We stop at stations for more than 10 minutes, so we hope passengers will interact with local people."
The first Hanaakari will begin operation on October 5th. It will make one round trip every week, on Saturdays and Sundays, covering a distance of about 180 km between Tsuruga Station (Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture) and Kinosaki Onsen Station (Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture). Within Kyoto Prefecture, the train will stop at four stations: Higashi-Maizuru Station and Miyazu, Amanohashidate, and Yuhigaura Kizu Onsen on the Kyoto Tango Railway, and will sell bento lunches with local cuisine.
