An architecture scholar and railway enthusiast, the author of this book suggests sixteen ways to get the most out of Japanese railway travel, hoping to awaken in adults everywhere their long-buried desire for adventure. Youth is a state of mind with no expiration date.

Drawing on twenty years of author Peter Lee’s personal experience, this book on Japanese railway travel culture helps readers rediscover the romance of travel by rail: leisurely explorations of the world that allow contemplation of one’s own inner landscape. The book explains the history of the Japanese Railway’s “Seishun 18” ticket and argues that age shouldn’t be a barrier to adventure – anyone can enjoy their own youthful rail journey, anytime, anywhere, so long as they embrace it with enthusiasm.

The author guides the reader across seasons and cities, exploring Japan’s iconic railway routes. These include Enoshima’s summertime seaside electric railway and the literary landscape of Dazai Osamu’s stove-heated trains, as well as the Yokai “ghost” and Wakayama cat-themed trains, designer luxury trains, and even railway experiences on trains designed by internationally renowned architects Kazuyo Sejima and Kengo Kuma. In fact, the author’s detailed descriptions of train car aesthetics and local customs along each route paint a picture of trains as “mobile architecture”. Literary allusions and stories about history and culture abound, immersing readers in each railway’s unique atmosphere.

While looking at the trend of railway companies inviting cross-disciplinary collaborations with designers and architects, the author also observes the ways in which Japan’s regional revitalization efforts have taken care to create links between railways and tourism, thereby reviving local economies and culture. With its romantic, lyrical tone, this book will satisfy railway enthusiasts’ passion for detail, yet will also fascinate intellectual readers with a love of design, aesthetics, and culture. Embark on a railway journey and rediscover the meaning of travel!