JR West launches Lake Biwa circuit for Twilight Express Mizuho

JR West has launched a new excursion route for its luxury sleeper train, the ‘Twilight Express Mizuho’, which circles Lake Biwa. A departure ceremony was held at Kyoto Station, attended by the Governor of Shiga Prefecture and 15 groups of passengers from across Japan.

To commemorate the introduction of the ‘Biwako Tour and Setouchi Course’ scheduled for March 2026, the traditional woodblock printing studio Takesado has produced a commemorative woodblock print poster. Designed by architect and interior designer Kazuya Ura, the artwork depicts the train near Katata and was created using traditional carving and printing techniques to capture the scenery and culture of the Shiga region.