This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
In addition to the lines we will introduce, local lines running through Akita Prefecture also include the Hanawa Line and Kitakami Line from Iwate, as well as two JR main lines and a variety of other lines, including mini-standard railroad crossings and single-track Shinkansen lines
In a broader sense, it refers to regional railway lines with few passengers, but here we selected them based on the following criteria.
Single track with few passengers, high possibility of closure
There are steam locomotive trains and sightseeing trains, and there are many spots for great photos.
In addition, routes that span two prefectures are considered local lines of the prefecture where the route starts.
JR Gono Line (Higashi Noshiro Station to Kawabe Station: 43 stations, 147.2 km)
Gono Line local trains (Kiha 40 and 48 series) retired in 2021
The final stop is not Goshogawara Station, but Kawabe Station in Inakadate Village
The Noshiro Line and Goshogawara Line were constructed to connect Noshiro and Goshogawara with the Ou Main Line, and the two lines were extended to connect them. Train operations are separated at Fukaura Station, but there are express trains that run the entire line, and from Kawabe Station onwards all trains run to Hirosaki Station
Recommended points of the JR Gono Line!
In Noshiro, where basketball is popular, there is a basketball hoop on the station platform. Another highlight from the train window is the sunset over the Sea of Japan, where you can enjoy the ever-changing colors of the sky
Juniko Lakes and Shirakami Mountains (Juniko Station)
Shirakami-Sanchi is the general term for the mountainous region on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures. Its virgin forests, mainly beech trees, are rare worldwide, and it became Japan's first World Heritage Site in December 1993
Lake Juniko (Shirakami Mountains)
Juniko Lakes is made up of 33 small lakes and ponds, and among them is Aoike Pond, which has a beautiful cobalt blue surface
Trains run from Akita Station to Hirosaki Station (one round trip) and Aomori Station (two round trips) almost daily from April to November, and in winter, the Aomori route runs only on weekends and holidays
HB-E300 series "Buna" formation
The train has low-floor 2+2 reserved seats with large windows, as well as fully flat 4-person box seats, and the observation deck spaces at both ends are used for events such as live Tsugaru shamisen performances and Tsugaru dialect storytelling
There are three types of carriages: "Aoike," "Buna," and "Kumagera," and the interiors are made with plenty of wood from the area along the line
JR Oga Line (Oiwake Station to Oga Station: 9 stations, 26.4km)
There are only 15 round trips of local trains, and from Oiwake Station onwards it is a commuter line that runs on the Ou Main Line to Akita
The trains are two-car trains painted in red and blue "Namahage colors," and the section between Akita Station and Oga Station, including the section between Akita Station and Oiwake Station on the Ou Main Line, is nicknamed the "Oga Namahage Line."
Recommended points of the JR Oga Line!
The railway line is far from the coast, and there are few places where you can see the ocean from the train window, but highlights include Mount Kanpu, the symbol of Oga, and the Funakoshi Suido iron bridge that connects Lake Hachirogata and the Sea of Japan
Roadside Station Oga (Oga Station)
The roadside station near the station is called "Namahage no Sato Ogare" and is a hub for tourism and regional revitalization
You can enjoy white peach soft serve at Oga Gelato, play with Akita dogs at the Akita Dog Petting Center, and take a cruise on Oga Bay on the sightseeing boat Sukai II from the pier
Oga Roadside Station <Information>
Name: Roadside Station Oga (Namahage Village Ogare)
Address: 1-19 Funakawa Shinhamacho, Funakawa Port, Oga City, Akita Prefecture
This is a rare "general-type AC battery-powered train" nationwide, which runs on electricity from overhead lines on the electrified sections of the Ou Main Line, and on charged batteries on the non-electrified sections from Oiwake onwards, making it an all-electric, environmentally friendly vehicle
Battery-powered electric train EV-E801 series "ACCUM"
Since the timetable revision in 2021, all trains have been operated by the battery-powered EV-E801 series "ACCUM" electric train
Akita Inland Line (Takanosu Station to Kakunodate Station: 29 stations, 94.2 km)
Nicknamed the "Smile Rail Akita Inland Line," this third-sector line runs through the mountains in the northern part of the prefecture and also offers express trains
Takanosu Station and Kakunodate Station are both JR stations and have separate station buildings and ticket gates
However, the platforms are connected and you may be able to transfer from there
Recommended points of the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway!
In Akita, hunters are called "matagi," and the Ani region along the line is known as the birthplace of matagi, where that culture remains
Utto Onsen Matagi no Yu (Ani Matagi Station)
This hot spring inn is about a five-minute drive from Ani Matagi Station and has an attached Matagi Museum where you can enjoy mountain cuisine such as bear hotpot and a mugwort drink called "Matagi's Dream."
Ani Matagi Station
Utto Onsen Matagi no Yu ＜Information＞
Name: Utto Onsen Matagi no Yu
Address: 67, Ani-Utado, Senboku-Watari Road, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture
A variety of event trains are planned for the Akita Nairiku Line, including the "Gotsuo Tamatebako Train," which lets you taste home-cooked cooking from local farmers, and the "Akita French Train," which uses local ingredients
Recommended points of the Yuri Kogen Railway Chokai Sanroku Line
Each of the 12 stations has its own unique charm, and they are all ones you'll want to get off at, including an unmanned station located in the middle of the countryside, a station that is combined with a post office, and a station where you can play with wooden toys
Maego Station
This is one of only three single-track lines in Japan that uses tablet and staff blocks, and you can see tablet and staff exchanges at Maego Station. For more details, please see the detailed explanation page on the official Yuri Kogen Railway website
Address: 68 Maegoshigishi, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-53-3436
Google Map
Obako
This is the nickname for all trains that run on the Chokai Sanroku Line, chosen through a public contest when the line opened
Special toy train "Nakayoshi Koyoshi" (car number YR2001)
There are trains such as the "Magokoro Train" staffed by attendants dressed as "Akita Obako" (traditional Akita women), and the "Toy Train" with lots of toys that children will love
The Ou Main Line and Uetsu Main Line in Akita Prefecture also have single-track sections, allowing you to experience the feeling of being on a local train
Tazawako Line (Omagari Station to Morioka Station: 17 stations, 75.6 km)
Due to demand as a commuter route, standard gauge rolling stock was introduced for the Akita Shinkansen
701 series train exclusively for the Tazawako Line
Along the line are tourist spots such as Koiwai Ranch, Lake Tazawa, and Kakunodate Samurai Residences in Iwate Prefecture
summary
The Akita Shinkansen, a mini-shinkansen, is a "local Shinkansen line" that runs on conventional lines and has a maximum speed of 130 km/h
Due to the heavy rain disaster in August 2022, the Ou Main Line, Gono Line, Akita Inland Main Railway, and Hanawa Line are currently closed as of September 11th, and restoration is awaited
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
![4550228_m](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/4550228_m-150x150.jpg.webp "Hot springs gush out in a place where there are no volcanoes! "Yuzawa Geopark" where you can see the mystery of the earth up close [Akita Prefecture]")
