Visitors to Japan can now travel along a scenic stretch of the country’s Pacific coast aboard a luxury train.

The Japan Times reports that railway operators Tokyu Corp and Izukyu Corp have started operating the Royal Express train between Yokohama and Shimoda, a city about 180km further south on the Izu Peninsula. The journey takes approximately three hours and travellers are offered views of the Pacific Ocean for much of the way.

The Royal Express is an eight-car train which seats up to 100 passengers. Inside it offers dining car, an events carriage that can host wedding ceremonies and other functions, plus a children’s car with a ball pool.

“Izu is a wonderful place with beautiful nature and hopefully this train will cheer up the communities located along the railroads where it’s running,” designer Eiji Mitooka was quoted saying at the train’s launch ceremony.

A series of travel packages are available for the train, the most expensive of which is priced at JPY200,000 (US$1,800) and includes a round-trip journey plus a one-night stay in a hotel suite.