Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" Western-style Private Room! Experience and Tips for Reservation.

Do you want to ride the popular Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" in a Western-style private compartment, but are you wondering what kind of seat it is, what kind of service it offers, and whether it is safe to use it with children?

I was curious too, and did a lot of research.

Emma

So, in this article, I will tell you more about the Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze". 　

At the end of the article, I will also give you tips on how to reserve a Western-style private room on the "Shimakaze", which is extremely difficult to reserve.

The Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" are well-equipped and offer a very comfortable train trip.

The advantages of using a Western-style private room are as follows.

By the way, I have been in the travel industry for about 20 years. I have always been researching and using various services and trends in travel, both for work and private use.

The other day, on my way back from a trip to Shima Spain Village, I used a Western-style private room on the Kintetsu "Shimakaze" limited express train.

Based on this experience, I would like to tell you about the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" Western-style private rooms in an easy-to-understand manner.

Emma

By reading this article, you will know how the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" Western-style private rooms look like and how to make a reservation.

What is a Western-style private room on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze

The Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" is a very popular sightseeing train, and reservations are difficult to obtain.

Among them, even more difficult to get is the private rooms, of which there are only two in the "Shimakaze" train carriages.

There is one Western-style private room and one Japanese-style private room.

Western-style private room

Western-style private rooms have an L-shaped sofa and table facing the window.

The Western-style private room is a style where you sit with your shoes on. The seats are positioned facing a large window, so you can enjoy the view of the train while riding.

Japanese-style private room

(Image source: Kinki Nippon Railway > Shimakaze)

Japanese-style private rooms have a sunken kotatsu style, and passengers take off their shoes to get in. Seats are facing each other, so passengers can sit and talk while taking their time.

Details of the Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze"!

Now, let's take a look at the "Shimakaze" Western-style private rooms.

The Western-style private room and the Japanese-style private room are located next to each other, but if you close the door, you can't hear the noise from the next private room at all.

We had a 5 year old and a 2 year old, and it was very nice to be able to ride without worrying about them making noise.

We could not hear the neighbors at all.

When you enter the western style private room, there is an L-shaped sofa and table facing a large window.

Here is another view from a different angle.

The sofas are spacious and comfortable, and it is nice to be able to ride while relaxing!

The seat at the back is equipped with an iPad on the wall.

Across from the seat with the iPad is a large monitor. This monitor is linked to a tablet and allows you to view the forward image of Shimakaze and the Kintetsu website.

There is also a stool under the monitor. There is also an air purifier next to the left side of the monitor.

Emma

It is as if you are in a hotel room somewhere.

Incidentally, I tried to view the forward image of the Shimakaze using an iPad, but I couldn't figure it out, so I asked the conductor to set it up for me.

The view from the large windows was breathtaking.

However, it was a little embarrassing that the sofa was placed facing the window so that we had to look at the people on the platform every time we stopped at a station (laugh).

Advantages of Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze

You can enjoy your meal in a private room without going to the cafe car.

It is no exaggeration to say that the biggest advantage of the private rooms of the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" is that you can enjoy your meals in the private room!

Normally, when eating on the "Shimakaze", you can only eat in the café car basically, except for the most take-out items.

There are 19 seats in the café car, but it can get crowded right after the café car opens, and sometimes you have to wait.

But in a private room, you can eat the entire menu of the popular café car!

It is also served by attendants and delivered to your seat!

On the desk in the Western-style private room, we have various pamphlets prepared for us.

Here is a pamphlet and meal menu of Shimakaze.

Here is a pamphlet about Shimakaze goods and other items.

When ordering a meal, press the black button seen at the back of the pamphlet, and an attendant will come to your private room.

The meal menu of Shimakaze. The "curry" and "pilaf" meal menus are only available in the cafe cars and private rooms.

All of them are so attractive that it is hard to choose one.

Here is the alcohol menu. Shimakaze original label beer is also intriguing.

Coffee, tea, and juice are also available. The sweets set is also hard to throw away.

Emma

What is interesting is that they sell akafuku!

I decided to try the menu, which is only available in the cafe vehicle or private rooms, so I decided on the Hamaguri Seafood Pilaf.

I forgot to take a picture, but my husband chose curry.

Emma

The pilaf was filled with seafood, including two large clams, shrimp, scallops, and squid.

It was very tasty. It was amazing to be able to enjoy such food on the train!

Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Express "Shimakaze" are perfect for traveling with children!

The Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" are perfect for traveling with children.

Emma

As mentioned earlier, if you close the door, you will not hear any noise from the private room next door.

When you are traveling with children, you have to pay a lot of attention on the train so as not to disturb those around you, but in a private room, you don't have to worry about that.

It is nice to be able to use a private room without worrying about the people around you.

Also, in a private room, there is a place where you can have a relaxing conversation with the conductor, which is a good memory for children who love trains.

This is a commemorative boarding pass. The conductor will bring it to your private room.

Since our family made a reservation online, the express ticket is ticket-less.

Conventionally, there is a seal to be stamped on the express ticket, but since there is no place to stamp it, we decided to have it stamped on the commemorative boarding pass.

The conductor was very considerate and gave my son the stamp.

My son was very happy to be a temporary conductor!

In addition to the commemorative train pass, we also received a sticker.

I got the sticker, a collaboration between Shuo Sango and Shimakaze, at Ukata station.

Tips for reserving a Western-style private room on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze"

There are only two private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" per train.

Since there are quite few to begin with, you will not see any travel tours using private rooms on the Shimakaze.

Reservations for Shimakaze can be made either at the station counter or on the Internet.

At the station counter, express tickets can be purchased from 10:30 a.m. one month prior to the boarding date, but it is practically impossible to stand in line at the counter at that time.

If this is the case, our recommendation is to make a reservation via the Internet.

I have compiled a list of tips for making Internet reservations for Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu "Shimakaze" limited express.

Emma

I was able to successfully reserve a Western-style private room on Shimakaze on the day it went on sale using the following method!

Here are the steps in order.

Aim for the Shimakaze departing from Kenshima

Before making a reservation for the Kintetsu limited express "Shimakaze," I had done a lot of research on how crowded it was, and if anything, the "Shimakaze" bound for Kenshima was crowded.

I think it was probably due to the operating hours.

All "Shimakaze" trains bound for Kashikojima are right around lunch time, which is a good time for those who want to enjoy a meal as well.

Some of the "Shimakaze" trains departing from Kashikojima are a little early for dinner, so it is understandable that many people prefer to take the Kashikojima-bound "Shimakaze" train.

There are only two private rooms on the "Shimakaze" and they are extremely difficult to find, so aim for the "Departure from Kashikojima" when reservations are easier to get!

Remove the weekend if possible.

I traveled for two days and one night, departing on Sunday and returning on Monday.

I tried to make a reservation for the Sunday departure "Shimakaze" to Kashikojima by standing by at 10:30, the time the tickets went on sale.

I was sunk after about 10 minutes of the release time, with the result that I could only get a private room, let alone a premium seat, in pieces.

The private room had an "X" sign for available seats the moment I connected to the site.

I got myself together and made a reservation for the next day, Monday, at 10:30, the release time of the Shimakaze train from Kashikojima, and my reservation was successfully completed.

At the time I made my reservation, the Japanese-style private room was still available.

Register as a member so that you can proceed immediately at the 10:30 release time.

Shimakaze" goes on sale at 10:30 a.m. one month in advance, and the key to winning the extremely difficult private room reservation is to make your purchase as early as possible at 10:30 a.m.

Emma

You can make reservations for Kintetsu limited express trains without registering as a member, but if you enter your credit card information on the day the tickets go on sale, you will leave the front line of the battle at this point.

For this reason, you should register as a free member in advance and enter your credit card information as well.

On the day of the launch, prepare and make your reservation according to the following process!

By the way, I made my reservation at 10:30 a.m. using the method described above, and received a reservation notice at the same time.

Please use the method I introduced to get a reservation for a private room on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze".

Summary (Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" Western-style Private Room! Experience and Tips for Reservation.)

In this article, we have introduced the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" Western-style private rooms.

The Western-style private rooms on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" are well-equipped and provide a very comfortable train ride.

The advantages of using a Western-style private room are as follows.

Emma

Please try our tips for reserving a Western-style private room on the Kintetsu Limited Express "Shimakaze" and enjoy a Western-style private room on the "Shimakaze"!