Japanese Railway Experience 2025 | JR East "Resort View Furusato"
"The Resort View Furusato" is another sightseeing train operated by JR East, which has been in service since October 2010.
Its official name in Japanese is "リゾートビューふるさと" (Rizōtobyū Furusato), and its official English name is "Resort View Furusato."
The name was chosen because the scenery the train passes through—including mountains, rivers, lakes, the sky, and the rural "satoyama" landscapes—evokes a sense of Japan's timeless "furusato" (hometown), while also symbolizing a journey of encounters, bringing travelers together with both the scenery and fellow passengers.
The train operates between Nagano and Minami-Otari, running along the Shin'etsu Main Line, the Shinonoi Line, and the Ōito Line.
Since our trip was based out of Tokyo, riding the entire route round-trip in a single day would have been too rushed and would have left too much time on the train.
Therefore, we decided to only take the segment between Nagano and Matsumoto. We spent a few hours exploring Matsumoto and then returned to Nagano on the train's return journey.
The schedule is as shown above. Riding all the way to Minami-Otari would take too long, leaving no time to explore the area.
Therefore, we took the Shinkansen ASAMA 603 from Ueno at 07:30 in the morning and arrived at Nagano at 09:13.
I actually really enjoy taking the early morning Shinkansen. I prepare my breakfast in advance, eat it as soon as I get on the train, and then start feeling drowsy right after eating. A short, dozy nap later, and it's just the right time to arrive at the station.
During the cleaning process, I noticed that even the "Cleaning in Progress" barrier had the mascot of Nagano on it - it was really cute.
You probably think it's called "Apple Bear," right?
Actually, its name is "Sanpo Bear" (Strolling Bear)... which is kind of funny.
The billboard on the site seems to mean that a new virtual IP has been released?
I took this photo while standing outside JR Nagano Station. The weather was really good, with high visibility and very comfortable.
But on a sunny day, it's a bit bad with a glass roof, as it's a bit too hot.
Everyone knows Nagano because of the Winter Olympics, right? At least I do. Look, there’s a huge 1998 Winter Olympics theme at the station.
I saw the walking bear on the locker again. You really are omnipresent.
After exiting Nagano Station, I took a photo of the concourse. It's quite impressive. I wonder if it's made of real wood or imitation wood?
9:13 to 10:04, about 50 minutes left. I need to hurry.
It’s almost time. After a while of wandering around, it’s almost time to go to the station and catch the bus.
Sure enough, it was already parked at the platform. For some reason, this platform at Nagano Station is incredibly noisy. It feels like the noisiest station I've ever been to in Japan, even though there aren't many trains. Is it because of the building's structure? I don't understand.
The words "リゾートビューふるさと" are printed on the side. It says "Express/All seats reserved/bound for Minami-Otani".
There were quite a few people and the occupancy rate was good. It seemed that the locals also liked the good weather.
There is a viewing area at the front of Carriage 1 and the rear of Carriage 2. The windows are enlarged and the seats are outward-facing, allowing you to enjoy the scenery.
Ahem, this guy is so embarrassed that he has to pay for two people's ticket price.
The view from the rear of the car shows a typical Japanese countryside.
This train also has a highlight. When passing through Yishe, the train will stop for a while, allowing you to get off and take a walk and enjoy the scenery.
The scenery is really nice, no wonder we have to stop for a while to let you feast your eyes.
When photographed from this angle, the car looks particularly shiny and bright, which also shows that there are quite a lot of people on it.
You can walk over to the station hall opposite via the overpass.
The view overlooking the Nagano Basin (also known as Zenkoji-dair) from the platform at Osa Station is considered one of Japan's three greatest train window views and is also famous for its "Tanabe no Tsuki" (the moon reflected in the 48-flowered fields of Choraku-ji Temple).
There's supposedly a monument on the platform dedicated to Matsuo Basho's poetry and a haiku submission box, but I couldn't find it.
Walking across the overpass, I found that it had been renovated more than once and was equipped with all kinds of auxiliary facilities.
It was a rare mid-air perspective, so I quickly took a picture; but I also noticed that everyone seemed to be preparing to return to the car.
I took a quick photo while there was no one on the opposite platform. There is always a special feeling about an empty platform.
After settling in, the train started moving shortly after.
Personally, the stop at Yishe for a scenic view was the highlight of the entire trip. After all, there was no food counter on the train, only a cart with a train attendant, and the merchandise wasn't very extensive.
Arriving in Matsumoto right on time at 11:29, we headed out to explore.
Overall, the experience was decent, but nothing particularly outstanding.
If, like us, you're planning a half-day trip to Matsumoto, you might consider taking this train; otherwise, it's probably unnecessary.
By the way, I heard there's a night view version of this train, and it seems to be quite popular. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun ranked the area around Isa Station as the top "best moon-viewing spot." Furthermore, Isa Station has been designated a "Night View Heritage Site of Japan," a natural night view heritage site. So, I think it's quite impressive. If you're interested, you can learn more about it.
