A paw-some day trip: dogs ride Japan bullet train

More than 20 furry passengers boarded the sleek shinkansen train for a one-hour ride to the resort town of Karuizawa

A whole carriage was dedicated to the pooches on Saturday's tour

On Japan's bullet trains, dogs usually have to travel in a carrier, but on Saturday they could stretch their paws and enjoy the scenery on a special pet-friendly express.

At Ueno station in Tokyo, 21 furry passengers boarded the sleek shinkansen train for a one-hour ride to the resort town of Karuizawa with their owners.

"We travel a lot together, but in the past I've felt bad about keeping my dog in a cage," she said, adding that the journey had been stress-free so far.

"It's like we're at home. I'm happy we can ride the train without worrying," said 39-year-old Yoko Okubo, who joined the trip with her corgi.

A whole carriage was dedicated to the pooches on Saturday's tour, a pilot project organised by railway company JR East and its subsidiary JR East Start Up.

"We've received requests from customers who want to have a relaxing time with their dogs on the train," she said.

Japanese trains are famous for being spotlessly clean, and one of the biggest challenges was to maintain the impeccable standards on board, she said.

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Originally published as A paw-some day trip: dogs ride Japan bullet train