- My husband and I paid $230 for Gran Class tickets on the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan.
- On our way from Tokyo to Nagano, we enjoyed complimentary snacks and drinks.
- Overall, we thought the premium travel experience was worth the money.
My husband and I have talked about going to Japan for years. Last year, we finally made solid plans to visit Hakuba, a popular ski destination near some of Japan's mountain ranges.
We planned to spend a few days in Tokyo first, so we researched Japan's famous high-speed bullet trains. Eventually, we landed on a Shinkansen line that could take us 138 miles from Tokyo to Nagano, a town an hour's drive from Hakuba, in under two hours.
After some research, we opted for the premium Gran Class. Our two tickets aboard the Kagayaki train from Tokyo to Nagano cost 34,480 yen, or about $230. Standard seats would've been closer to $55 a piece, but we were intrigued by the premium perks, like comfy seats and additional amenities and services.
I'm so glad we upgraded — our time spent in the luxury of the Shinkansen Gran Class was a highlight of our Japanese vacation.
Our Gran Class tickets gave us access to a lounge before boarding our train.
Because we booked Gran Class tickets, we had access to Tokyo Station's View Gold Lounge. On the day of our trip, we arrived about an hour and a half before our 12:48 p.m. departure so we'd have time to check it out.
When we entered, the front-desk staff welcomed us and helped store our suitcases. Then, an attendant escorted us to a table near the window and provided a menu with options for light snacks and nonalcoholic drinks.
We each selected hot green tea and munched on complimentary sugar cookies.
The lounge was beautifully designed, with a minimalistic Japanese aesthetic. It wasn't crowded — there were only half a dozen other guests — so it was also nice and quiet.
After our tea and snacks, we grabbed our tickets and boarded the train.
Before boarding our train, we headed to a ticket-dispensing machine near the entrance of Tokyo Station.
We entered the confirmation numbers we received with our advanced purchase, and the machine printed out our physical tickets.
At the platform, we were greeted by an attendant, who helped carry our two medium-sized suitcases into the train car and stowed them before we headed to our seats.
The Gran Class cabin was spacious, elegantly designed, and quiet.
The Gran Class cabin was smaller than I expected — I counted 18 seats in total — which made for a very quiet environment.
As soon as I stepped on the train, I immediately felt relaxed. Between the reclining seats and soft LED lighting, the space was tranquil and elegant.
We were greeted with welcome bags on our seats, which contained salted milk chocolate, water bottles, wet wipes, and food and beverage menus.
Slippers were also available in the seat pockets in front of us.
The complimentary food and drink service was quick and delicious.
A cabin attendant took our complimentary food and drink orders as soon as our train left Tokyo Station.
I had white wine, and my husband chose a Japanese beer. Although the menu had a Western fare option, we both selected the Japanese bento box instead.
Our drinks came first, followed by our bento boxes, which included tasty Japanese-style mini quiches, dried apples, and yuzu (a citrus fruit) layered with butter and coconut.
After our meal, we ordered another round of complimentary drinks and enjoyed the ride.
We soaked in the views as we zipped out of Tokyo and rode past the countryside.
The Kagayaki Shinkansen train can reach about 160 miles an hour.
Outside our window, I watched Japan's countryside and snowy mountains passing by. We rode past different scenery, with the occasional farm or home popping up.
Before we knew it, our train was approaching the station in Nagano.
We absolutely loved the premium train service.
Our experience departing the cabin was as seamless as when we boarded. The attendant brought our suitcases to our seats, and because our seats were in the first row, we were the first ones off the train.
Overall, I'm glad we purchased Gran Class tickets. Our experience with the premium train cabin was elevated and relaxing, which was exactly what we wanted.
I couldn't have asked for a better ride — we felt refreshed and ready to ski.
