Japan: home of yogurt Pepsi, sushi nail art and middle-aged men in schoolgirl uniforms. While much of the island nation's culture can be described as eccentric, Japan is also responsible for many a brilliant invention.
Add to the list of Japan's achievements its forthcoming see-through trains. According to Travel and Leisure, railway firm Seibu Group is celebrating their 100th anniversary by enlisting the services of designer Kazuo Sejima to create a “limited express” train which will be reflective, providing as little intrusion into the surrounding views as possible.
“The limited express travels in a variety of different sceneries, from the mountains of Chichibu to the middle of Tokyo, and I thought it would be good if the train could gently coexist with this variety of scenery,” Travel and Leisure quoted Sejima as saying.
Seibu Group, too, was enthusiastic about the announcement. “We aim to provide a new public space, almost park-like, where people will come together,” the group wrote in a statement. “It’s more than just a means of movement, it’s a destination in its own right. The train will serve commuters, people seeking relaxation, and tourists drawn by its unique appearance.”
The country also recently announced a new bullet train service from Tokyo to Hokkaido.
Japan's see-through train is expected to open to the public by 2018; between this and India's underwater bullet train, we're not sure which one we want to ride first.
[Photo via Travel and Leisure]
