JR Trains Speed Through the Windows, The Outside World Remains Unchanging, The Scenery Always Fresh
Although Hokkaido is considered niche among Japan's major cities, it boasts numerous natural attractions with countless beautiful scenery along the way. The most convenient way to traverse these breathtaking views is to choose to ride Japan's highly developed JR lines for an in-depth exploration. Riding JR trains allows you to easily reach your desired destinations, which is incredibly convenient, and previously, the concept of travel might have involved sleeping on the train, getting off to take pictures. However, when you're on a JR train, you simply can't bring yourself to sleep, because the scenery outside the window constantly unfolds before your eyes as the train speeds by – this is truly travel with your soul.
Upon arrival at the airport, it was easy to find the JR ticket service hall and the station entrance thanks to clear guidance. Despite not speaking Japanese, the differences between signage and Chinese were not that significant. There were also many Chinese-speaking service staff at the station, which is one of the reasons why choosing to travel in Japan is so convenient.
Following the completely understandable Japanese instructions, after exiting the airport hall and passing through a passage, I arrived at the Kansai Station hall. Although it's called a station, due to the JR lines extending to many densely packed stations, I found it more akin to taking the subway – incredibly convenient.
Japanese travel services are renowned for their attentiveness. As soon as you enter the hall, you'll find a prominent JR ticket center, with staff already waiting to assist you. If you prefer to purchase tickets yourself, it's even more convenient. If you need to inquire about riding or transfers, or if you want to find the optimal departure times or search for train schedules online, you can ask the staff for help.
Most importantly, starting last summer, JR introduced Hello Kitty-themed trains. The entire train was decorated with a childlike charm, and every little detail could strike directly at your girly heart. As a 18-year-old, I was incredibly lucky to ride the Hello Kitty-themed train and, barely having settled in, I exclaimed: 'This completely revived my inner youth!'
The train featured a color scheme of white and pink, and the car interiors were inspired by Hello Kitty's ribbons. The car bodies used satin ribbon designs. Car 1 was a special exhibition space, and Car 2 put a lot of effort into the interior design. In short, all 8 cars fully embodied the cuteness of Hello Kitty. Moreover, every space on the train is extremely suitable for taking photos, even the restrooms were not spared – the washbasins were transformed into giant sticker photo booths. Perhaps big-head sticker fans will spend the entire time not sitting in the seats, but instead taking photos in the car.
Because JR train schedules are frequent and punctual, it can also save you a lot of waiting time, and within the validity period, you can use the Japan Rail Pass to ride unlimited times. This is a very cost-effective travel method.
Even though the fatigue from an early morning flight, I couldn't fall asleep as the scenery constantly changed minute by minute, and I had already been captivated by the scenery before even stepping foot on Hokkaido. Thinking about the exciting itinerary ahead, my spring-up mechanism was already eager to embark on this eight-movement box-like amazing journey!
