The new model, dubbed Spacia X, is the next in the Spacia series of trains first rolled out in 1990. Featuring a variety of seats and exterior and interior details which give an impression of Japanese crafts from the Edo period (1603 to 1867), the trains will run between Tobu Asakusa Station in Tokyo and Tobu Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen stations in Tochigi Prefecture.

Tobu stated that the new trains, set to debut on July 15, were thought up to build passengers' anticipation for trips to Nikko, a famed sightseeing spot north of the greater Tokyo area.

The six-car trains are a rich shade of white, inspired by the pigment used on the Yomeimon gate at Nikko Toshogu Shrine. The frontmost cars feature hexagonal windows with frames modeled on Japan's traditional "kumiko" nail-free woodworking technique.

All the seating will be on a reservation basis. The sixth car, which will be the front when the train heads toward Asakusa, features a spacious private room for up to seven people called the "Cockpit Suite," with a front-facing track view from just behind the conductor's or driver's room, along with several compartment rooms for up to four people. The first car features a "Cockpit Lounge" with sofas and a cafe counter. Car No. 2 houses premium seating in rows of three, while cars three to five are equipped with standard seats in rows of four, as well as semi-private box seats.

Spacia X will make between two and four round trips daily on the Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen lines. The company plans to double the series from two to four trains during fiscal 2024. Tickets will go on sale on June 15. Use of the private rooms and other facilities will incur additional charges.

(Japanese original by Yoshitaka Hagiwara, Saitama Higashi Bureau)