SL Express – Photo by Smoky Shin This train travels from Shin Kanaya to Senzu Station, in the Shizuoka prefecture. This line operates more than 300 days each year, making it one of the most accessible in terms of bookings. This steam train follows the course of the Oigawa River, at times crossing it via rustic bridges. The latter typically runs only on holidays and weekends. You can choose from Takasaki to Minakami Station, or the Shinetsu Line to Yokogawa Station. Itinerary: This train may take one of two different routes. You’ll also be able to access the Ikaho Onsen from Shibugawa Station, completing the Edo era mystique of your trip with yukata and local cuisine. You will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time as you meander through the Japanese countryside. Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Takasaki Station, and you’ll be rewarded with a very special steam train ride on your return trip. Grab your Japan Rail Pass, and have fun exploring the following SL trains. You, too, can experience the nostalgic thrill of the steam locomotive. Japan has preserved many of these trains, some dating back to the nineteenth century. Before the advent of the bullet train and the modern railway system, the steam locomotive, or SL train, was the fastest way to get around. Operating since 1998, the Furano Biei Norokko, with its refined wooden bench seats, is often used by tourists to visit the famous Farm Tomita, and during the season is often fully booked.The haunting whistle of a vintage train is so ingrained upon our collective consciousness that even the youngest of children often recognize the sound. SL Furano Biei Norokko Train (Hokkaido Railway Company) The carriages, decorated in a warm Showa period retro style, include box seats and a cafe car where you can buy bento boxes and other foods so you can really enjoy your travels.Īddress: 14-5 Odori, Kushiro-shi, Hokkaido ( Google Map) 6.
The SL made in 1940 travels between Kushiro and Shibecha, loudly blowing its whistle as it makes its way through the spectacular scenery. The site of the SL as it moves through the tricky terrain makes it popular even among train fans. The name “Fuyu-no-shitsugen” literally translated means “winter marshes,” so as the name suggests, this SL runs through the snow-covered marshes. SL Fuyu-no-shitsugen Train (Hokkaido Railway Company) HP: .jp/ (Japanese Only)Īddress: 2-112 Kanayaazuma, Shimada-shi, Shizuoka ( Google Map) 5. It is a guaranteed hit with children, so why not take them along for a summer they will never forget?
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Thomas and his friends, looking as though they have just jumped out of the TV show, have caused quite a buzz. Thomas the Tank Engine (Oigawa Railway)įor a limited time only, from June 11 to October 10, you can enjoy a trip on the famous Thomas the Tank Engine. The train runs at the slow speed of 35km, so you can get escape from the hecticness of everyday life and enjoy the scenery.Īddress: Kumagaya-shi, Saitama ( Google Map) 4. The train operates from mid-March to early December. The SL Paleo Express is a steam locomotive that runs between Kumagaya Station and Mitsumineguchi Station. As the train only makes one return trip a day on the weekends from mid-March to early November, getting a ticket can be difficult, so if you want to enjoy the 2-hour trip from Shin-Yamaguchi to Tsuwano, make sure to book early.įares: Adults JPY1,660 Children: JPY 830Īddress: Ogori, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi ( Google Map) 3. There are five different types of cabins on these retro trains, as well as an observation deck, so you can enjoy both the scenery as well as the history. The JR Yamaguchi Line, one of the few SL lines in west Japan, enjoys a great deal of popularity among tourists looking to see the SL Yamaguchi-go.
SL Yamaguchi Train (West Japan Railway Company) HP: .jp/sl/schedule (Japanese Only)Īddress: 2-112 Kanayaazuma, Shimada-shi, Shizuoka ( Google Map) 2. If you’re looking to enjoy the peaceful scenery, a trip on the SL is the way to do it.
Oigawa Railways operates the SL more than 300 days of the year, and is the number one in Japan by the number of trains operated and distance travelled. The SL Express, which follows the Oigawa River as it heads north, is a very retro steam engine which has been preserved in the way it was during the Showa Period.
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