East Japan Railway Co. plans to operate an upscale restaurant train in the northeast this fall to promote delicacies and interior design themes native to the Tohoku region.
The "Tohoku Emotion" train will consist of three cars, JR East officials said. The first will accommodate 28 people with seven dining compartments, while the second will hold the kitchen and the last will fit 20 people in an open-dining area.
Menus will be prepared under the supervision of chefs from Tokyo and from Iwate Prefecture.
The interior will make use of Tohoku products, such as Sashiko-ori, a fabric from Fukushima Prefecture, the officials said.
The train will operate on weekends and holidays, with the first runs expected to take place on the 65-km Hachinohe Line along the Pacific coast. The line was damaged in the 2011 quake and tsunami.
JR East said it hopes the train will help the region's rebuilding efforts by hiking tourism. Details, such as prices and routes, will be posted on the railroad's website.