Unique local area trains that will make you feel like you’ll lose out if you don’t get on!

photo by Hasegawa Takashi

All over Japan, in every nook and cranny of the country, trains are running happily today, like every other day. Every day, they fervently and earnestly work hard for everyone who’s also doing their best. Incidentally, there’s a new air to those trains these days… There have been a variety of high entertainment value, unique local area trains that have been successively emerging. From the very popular to the extra-ordinary ones, this time we are introducing the unique trains who are making their appearances in different areas of the country.

Hokkaido Asahiyama Doubutsuen-Gou

The most popular way to get to Asahiyama Zoo is the ‘Asahikawa Doubutsuen-Gou’. It’ll be exciting even before the arrival at the zoo. With cars like the grassland ‘savannah go’, and the ‘rainforest jungle go’, each train car has a different themed interior. Ladies wearing mogu mogu mate costumes come around, so the children are sure to not get bored until they reach their final destination of Asahikawa. Because it runs irregularly and is reserved seating only, making a reservation early is your safest bet. The set plan that includes the express train ticket, bus ticket, and the zoo admission ticket is the most economical.

Times of operation: Irregular
Areas of operation: Sapporo Station ~ Asahikawa Station
Fare: Depends on set plans or times
Questions: JR Hokkaido Asahikawa Doubutsuen-Gou
Notes: Runs only 1 roundtrip per day.Runs irregularly so be sure to check the website beforehand.

Aomori Prefecture Stove Train

The ’Stove Train’ plows through the snow in the midst of the Tsugaru winter. That appearance looks more like a snowplow than a assenger train. The inside is very cozy because of the old-school coal-burning stove. It is part of the unsaid agreement to get on with a can of beer or sake cup, and some dried squid to cook on the stove. Even if it is for just under the 50 minutes, the warmth of the stove, the laughing Tsugaru accented voices, folk songs and the clapping vibrating throughout the carriage, is a complete 360 from the freezing cold outside.

Times of operation: Dec 1 ~ March 31
Areas of operation: Tsugaru Goshogawara Station ~ Tsugarunakazato Station
Fare: Regular fare + Stove car fare 400 yen (children and adults same price)
Questions: Tsugaru Railways
Notes: Runs only 3 roundtrips per day (Be careful of running days in December). Service status might change so be sure to check beforehand.

Iwate Prefecture Kotatsu Train

The ‘Kotatsu Train’ that runs on Iwate Prefecture’s Sanriku Railways gained popularity through a very popular Japanese morning television drama series. Every year from only December till March, during the times that the kotatsu (low table with heater strapped on the bottom) becomes commonplace, it runs through the Sanriku region. Enjoying the view while sitting around a kotatsu and chatting, like the name suggests, is very popular. It takes 100 minutes to run through the Sanriku Riasu-shiki coast, which is famously known for its superb view, while you sit warmly in a kotatsu. There are 12 kotatsu boxes or 48 seats available, so perfect for the use of groups as well. Because they are dug-out kotatsu, there is no worry of your feet touching others or your feet going dead. The Kotatsu train is reserved seating only so reservations are necessary.

Times of operation: Early December ~ Late March Sat/Sun/Holidays
Areas of operation: Kuji Station ~ Miyako Station
Fare: One way 1850 yen + reserved seat fee 310 yen
Questions: Sanriku Railways
Notes: One roundtrip per day. Need to make phone reservations one month in advance of your boarding date (0193-62-8900).

Niigata Prefecture Yumezora

With lots of tunnels between Muikamachi Station and Saigata Station on the Hokuhoku Line, the scenery is boring… Therein emerged Japan’s first theater train ‘Aozora’. Every time the train enters into the 5 tunnels, a different movie is shown on the ceiling of the car. They are so passionate about this that the movies change depending on the season. When the train enters the tunnel, the lights dim and it makes a quick transformation into a theater with the showing of a movie and the accompanying music. Every time the train enters a tunnel, there are cheers heard from within the cars.

Times of operation: Saturday/Sunday/Holidays, Golden week, Summer holiday time, Winter holiday period
Areas of operation: Echigoyuzawa Station ~ Naoetsu Station
Fare: Depends on area traveled
Questions: Hoku Hoku Line
Notes: Runs 2 roundtrips per day.

Gunma Prefecture Wind Chime Train

We can feel the summer mood on the ‘Fuurin train’ running on Gunma Prefecture’s Joumou Electric Railways. Every August, wind chimes that have a Senryu (comic haiku) written on a hanging strip of fancy paper, that arrived through a public appeal, hang side by side on the ceiling. Gunma’s summer tradition will surely satisfy both your eyes and your ears.

Times of operation: Late July to Mid September (irregular)
Areas of operation: Kawanishinoseguchi Station ~ Myoukenguchi Station
Fare: Depends on area traveled
Questions: Noseden
Notes: Runs irregularly so be sure to check beforehand.

Wakayama Prefecture Toy Train

The train that runs for the sake of the children, in Wakayama Prefecture is the ‘Toy Train’. In order for children to enjoy the train ride, they adorned everything with a playful mood, installed gacha gacha machines, and created seats to look like picture books and rocking horses, with colorful straps. Even adults will return to being children again and enjoy it. There is a worry that the children might not want to get off though. Incidentally, on the Kishigawa Line, the ‘Strawberry Train’ adorned with strawberries, and the ‘Tama Train’ that uses the former stationmaster Tama (the calico cat) as a motif, are running as well.

Times of operation: Everyday
Running areas: Wakayama Station ~ Kishi Station
Fare: Depends on area traveled
Questions: Wakayama Dentetsu
Notes: Runs irregularly so be sure to check the website beforehand.

Kagoshima Prefecture Tamatebako

While overlooking Japan’s most active volcano Sakurajima floating in the sea and runs south is the ‘Tamatebako’. White smoke and a ‘shuuuu’ sound greet the people who try to board the train. But, this is not a threat. It is done in memory of a famous Japanese folk story, Urashima Taro. You’ll surely be surprised if you don’t know, but it is a little amusing. They do have the counter seats where you can look directly outside at the scenery, that are distinct to the JR Kyushu trains. JR Kyushu has many other trains that are a little odd, like the ‘Asobo-i’ which has a cafe as well as a wooden pool installed and the ‘Let’s go with the A Train’ which is equipped with a bar, in a luxurious interior made just for the adults.

Times of operation: Everyday
Areas of operation: Kagoshima Chuo Station ~ Ibusuki Station
Fare: Train ticket + One way express ticket adults 2130 yen children 1060 yen
Questions: JR Kyushu
Notes: Runs 3 roundtrips per day. Reserved seats only so reservations before boarding are necessary.

Summary

This time we introduced trains in areas that are kind of far from the city center, but how was it? Each of the trains had their own individualistic build, making them interesting and somewhat profound. For ones who are interested, how about stretching out and giving it a try? Combined with the appeal of the trains themselves, it’s sure to be a great trip.