For all rail buffs, here is a collection of articles on some of the cool and beloved trains that made headlines in Japan in 2021.

       An artist's rendition provided by Kintetsu Railway Co. shows the exterior of the sightseeing limited express Awoniyoshi.

       << Luxurious sightseeing train linking Osaka, Nara, Kyoto to hit tracks in April 2022 >>

       OSAKA -- Kintetsu Railway Co. will launch a luxurious sightseeing limited express connecting the western Japan cities of Osaka, Nara and Kyoto in April 2022, hoping to attract mainly post-pandemic inbound tourists. Full story.

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       A diesel "Kiha 40, 47" train, the same type that will be used for the "Futatsuboshi 4047." The train pictured is part of JR Kyushu's "Ibusuki no Tamatebako" sightseeing service. (Photo courtesy of Kyushu Railway Co.)

       << New SW Japan sightseeing train to sweep passengers along gorgeous coasts from fall 2022 >>

       Will you go east, or to the west?

       That's the question you'll have to answer if you're hopping on the "Futatsuboshi 4047," a Kyushu Railway Co. (JR Kyushu) sightseeing train set to link southwest Japan's Nagasaki and Saga prefectures on two seaside routes starting in autumn 2022. Full story.

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       The redesigned "detective train car" is seen in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture. (Mainichi/Tatsuya Shibasaki)

       << 'Detective Conan' train in west Japan gets redesign >>

       YONAGO, Tottori -- One of the two West Japan Railway Co. trains wrapped in images from popular manga and anime series "Detective Conan" that run mainly on Tottori Prefecture's JR Sanin Line has undergone a redesign. Full story.

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       Iyonada Monogatari train cars, which will be retired in December. (Photo courtesy of Shikoku Railway Co.)

       << Popular west Japan sightseeing train to be retired in Dec.; special events planned >>

       MATSUYAMA -- The popular "Iyonada Monogatari" sightseeing train on the western Japan island of Shikoku will be retired in December, with a replacement set for a spring 2022 debut, Shikoku Railway Co. (JR Shikoku) has announced. Full story.

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       And finally, here is an article to add to your expectations for more fun rides in 2022.

       The new "Kamome" shinkansen bullet train cars are seen at Hitachi Ltd.'s Kasado Works factory in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Dec. 22, 2021. The new bullet train will run on the Nagasaki route (the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen line) of the Kyushu Shinkansen Line in southwest Japan from autumn 2022. (Mainichi/Takatoshi Wakiyama)

       << Bullet train cars to run on new Nagasaki route of Kyushu Shinkansen Line unveiled to media >>

       KUDAMATSU, Yamaguchi -- The latest bullet train model to run on the new Nagasaki route of southwest Japan's Kyushu Shinkansen Line were unveiled to the media at Hitachi Ltd.'s Kasado Works factory in this west Japan city, where they are manufactured, on Dec. 22. Full story.

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