[Tohoku] Introducing third sector railway lines where you can get iron stamps in Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures!

A ``tetsuin'' is a mount on which the company name and route name of a local railway is written, and is the railway version of the red stamps of shrines and temples.

This is a project started by the Third Sector Railway Council and Travel Yomiuri Publishing in June 2020, with the hope that people will ride the railway to collect stamps, just like collecting goshuin stamps at temples and shrines.

Why not take a trip to collect the much-talked-about iron seals while also supporting local trains in Tohoku?

Please note that each price in the article is the amount as of October 20, 2022.

What is the iron seal book required to receive an iron seal?

This is a book specifically for recording the iron seal, and without it you will not be able to receive the iron seal.

In addition to all five colors, there are also golden ones, and you can purchase them at the railway company counter for 2,200 yen (tax included) (some prices may vary).

If you collect the iron seals of all 40 companies participating in this project, you will receive a ``Tetsuincho Meister Card (paid)'', and on some routes you can receive special benefits by presenting it.

iron seal design

From Tetsuincho official Facebook

Like a goshuin, the name of the company or route is written on top of the red stamp, and each railway company has its own unique stamp, and some are handwritten.

In addition to regular iron seals, there are also limited editions, commemorative editions, and collaboration editions, and the designs are sometimes updated, making for a rich variety.

How to get iron seal

It is the same for all railway companies and can be purchased by following the steps below

1. First, purchase a Tetsuincho: at a station counter, tourist information center, etc.
2. Next, look for the station where you can get the iron seal: Listed on each company's official website
3. Purchase a ticket for the same day and pay the registration fee: Registration fees start from 300 yen

Tetsuin-cho and iron-in stamps can often be purchased at the same counter, and the lowest fare is OK for train tickets (admission tickets are not accepted).

Three-section railways participating in Tetsuincho in Tohoku

The participating railway companies in Tohoku are Yamagata Railway in Yamagata Prefecture, Abukuma Express and Aizu Railway in Fukushima Prefecture. ) Railways have also been added as part of the Tohoku region.

Yamagata Railway (Flower Nagai Line: Akayu Station - Arato Station)

As the nickname suggests, there are many famous flower spots along the former Japanese National Railways Nagai Line, which has now become three sections, and became famous as the location for the 2004 movie "Swing Girls."

Recently, the double characters of the rabbit ``Mochii Stationmaster'' and the railway girl ``Ayukai Ringo'' have become popular.

Stations where you can get iron stamp books and iron seals on Yamagata Railway

You can purchase iron stamp books and iron seals at the counter at Nagai Station between 10:00 and 17:00.

The design surrounds a red seal with a railroad motif, and features illustrations of four types of flowers: cherry blossoms in Nanyo City, dahlias in Kawanishi Town, irises in Nagai City, and safflowers in Shirataka Town. I am.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Nagai Station
• Address: 1 Sakaemachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-2002
• URL: Yamagata Railway official homepage

GOOGLE MAP

Abukuma Express (Abukuma Express Line: Fukushima Station - Tsukigi Station)

Nicknamed Abu-Q, it runs parallel to the Tohoku Main Line and the Abukuma River, and is the first third-sector railway in Japan to be fully electrified with AC, and its new AB900 series trains are popular.
This line runs from Fukushima Station to Tsukigi Station in Miyagi Prefecture, but there are also trains that continue on the Tohoku Main Line to Sendai Station.

Stations where you can get iron stamp books and iron seals on Abukuma Express

You can purchase tickets at the ticket counter at Fukushima Station on the Abukuma Kyuko Line from 5:30 to 23:15.

In the center are depictions of the 8100 series, the main train of the Abukuma Express, peach blossoms, a specialty of Fukushima, as well as Azuma Kofuji and the snow-shaped "Seed Rabbit" that appears on the northeast slope of Kofuji in spring. It's a red stamp.

Also printed on the bottom of the mount is a photo of the 8100 series running through the countryside.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Fukushima Station
• Address: 1-1 Sakaemachi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture
• Phone number: 024-522-1322
• URL: Abukuma Express official homepage

GOOGLE MAP

Aizu Railway (Aizu Line: Nishiwakamatsu Station - Aizukogen Ozeguchi Station)

From Nishi-Wakamatsu Station to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, it runs on the JR Tadami Line, and in the south, it runs directly to Tobu Railway via Yagan Railway, making it a useful line that connects the Tokyo area and Aizu. Masu.

The ``Oza Toro Observation Train,'' which connects a trolley car and a parlor/observation car, runs between Aizu-Tajima Station and Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, and is very popular.

Stations where you can get iron stamp books and iron seals on Aizu Railway

Tickets can be accepted at the ticket office at Aizu-Tajima Station from 5:30 to 21:00, from early morning until late at night.

The letters are handwritten by station staff, and the long sauce part of the word "kai" is said to be an image of Mt. Bandai, and the red stamp is large with the logo and a picture of the train seen from the front.

There is a standing bar corner for local sake at the station, so it's a good idea to enjoy a local sake while you write.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Aizutajima Station
• Address: Tajima Nishibanbako, Minamiaizu-cho, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
• Phone number: 0241-62-0065
• URL: Aizu Railway official homepage

GOOGLE MAP

Yagan Railway (Aizu Kinugawa Line: Shin-Fujiwara Station - Aizukogen Ozeguchi Station)

This line connects the Tobu Railway Kinugawa Line and Aizu Railway, and is nicknamed the ``Hotto Spa Line'' because there are many famous hot spring resorts along the line, such as Kinugawa Onsen and Shiobara Onsen.

As it runs through the mountains, there are 18 tunnels and 64 bridges along the approximately 30km route, making it a popular scenic route.

Stations where you can get iron stamp books and iron seals on Noiwa Railway

In addition to being handled at the checkout office inside the ticket gate at Shin-Fujiwara Station between 6:00 and 21:00, you can also register at Yunishigawa Onsen Station between 9:00 and 16:00.

The iron seal is a bookmark type, and features the Noiwa Railway's mascot character ``Yagapi'' and its symbol mark.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Shin-Fujiwara Station
• Address: 399-28 Fujiwara, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0288-77-3777
• URL: Noiwa Railway official homepage

GOOGLE MAP

summary

Here we have introduced three Sansec Railway companies that issue iron stamps in the Tohoku region and one company in Tochigi Prefecture that operates in Minamiaizu, Fukushima Prefecture.

You can visit Aizuwakamatsu with one transfer from Tobu Asakusa Station in Tokyo, and if you use the Yamagata Shinkansen or Tohoku Shinkansen, you can also take a day trip from the Tokyo metropolitan area and get the iron stamp on the Yamagata Railway or Abukuma Express.

In 2022, the 150th anniversary of the railway's opening, why not enjoy a trip to collect iron seals from Tohoku?