The Hokutosei sleeper train at Ueno Station, ready for another 16 hour and 35 minute journey to Sapporo, in Hokkaido, Japan's northern-most island.

The B-class sleeping accomodations on the Hokutosei.

It's a far cry from station-bought boxed lunch...

First snow sighting: a train yard in (I think) Morioka.

Rolling through a snowy train yard late at night.

Comfy.

The Hokutosei's dining car.

Snowy train yards make for eirily beautiful scenery.

The Hokutosei's friend, the Twilight Express. This train makes the 23-hour journey from Osaka to Sapporo.