Experience driving a real train at the Kuriden Museum! [Miyagi Prefecture]

Kuriden Museum (Kurihara Rural Railway Park)is a railway theme park located in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture, where passenger cars and electric locomotives formerly used on the Kurihara Rural Railway are preserved in working order and open to the public.

The park was renovated from the former Wakayanagi Station and rail depot, and offers attractions such as driving experiences and rail bikes, making it popular with people of all ages, not just railway fans

The Kurihara Rural Railwaywas a third-sector railway that connected Ishikoshi Station (a connecting station with JR Tohoku Main Line's Ishikoshi Station in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture) and Hosokura Mine Park-mae Station (Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture) over a distance of 25.7 km. It was discontinued in 2007.

The Kurihara Rural Railway has a long history, first opening in 1921 (Taisho 10) as the Kurihara Railway from Ishigoe Station to Sawabe (Kannari, Kurihara City) along National Route 4

The line was then extended to Iwagasaki (Kurikoma Iwagasaki, Kurihara City) in 1922 (Taisho 11), and to Hosokura Mine (Uguisuzawa, Kurihara City) in 1942 (Showa 17), and the entire line was opened

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Hosokura Mine has grown into one of Japan's leading lead and zinc mines

The Hosokura Mineis located at the foot of Mount Kurikoma and is believed to have been discovered around the 9th century. It produced silver, lead, zinc, and other minerals.

During the Edo period, it was directly managed by the Sendai Domain (Date Domain)

Mining continued under several operators from the Meiji period onwards, and in 1934 (Showa 9), Mitsubishi Metal Mining (now Mitsubishi Materials) acquired management rights. Production increased due to special demand caused by World War II, and the mine became one of Japan's leading lead and zinc mines, ranking second and third in lead and zinc respectively

The Kurihara Railway expanded its line to Hosokura Mine to transport products from the mine, and in the 1950s it was electrified and renamed the Kurihara Electric Railway

Hosokura Mine reached its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, but the subsequent global recession caused by the oil crisis led to a collapse in the prices of zinc and other minerals, putting pressure on the mine's management, and it closed in 1987 (Showa 62)

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The rise and fall of Hosokura Mine determines the fate of Kuriden

Kurihara Electric Railway was also hit hard by the closure of the Hosokura Mine, with freight handling being halted and the financial situation continuing to deteriorate due to the decline in the mining population, and the closure of the line was even considered. However, at that time, local governments (at the time) and bus companies invested in the line, and it was decided to continue as a third-sector railway

In 1995 (Heisei 7), due to the deterioration of electrification facilities, electric train service was discontinued and operation was switched to diesel cars. Accordingly, the company name was changed to "Kurihara Rural Railway." Kurihara Rural Railway's financial situation did not improve after that, and subsidies from the prefecture were terminated, so it was finally closed in April 2007 (Heisei 19)

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"Kurihara Rural Railway Park" was created to preserve the image of the Kurihara Rural Railway

was created in 2017 (Heisei 29) to preserve the memory of the Kurihara Rural Railway, which was a beloved mode of transportation for the local residentsKurihara Rural Railway Park.

The facility utilizes the former Wakayanagi Station, which was the base of the Kurihara Rural Railway, and its premises, and the former Wakayanagi Station has been restored to its original state. The former Wakayanagi Station platform and locomotive shed house the electric railcars, diesel railcars, electric locomotives, and diesel locomotives that were used on the Kurihara Rural Railway, and are preserved and open to the public, some of which are still operational and can be used for driving experiences

The park consists of the Kuriden Museum (a paid facility) which houses preservation facilities such as the old Wakayanagi Station and rolling stock, as well as valuable company documents from the time of operation over the past 100 years and a diorama that recreates the appearance of the line, and the Kuriden Lawn Square, which has play equipment for children

Particularly popularthe KD95 diesel railcar driving experience, which is open to anyone 18 years of age or older (limited dates and times). During the summer holidays,a parent-child diesel railcar driving experienceis also offered for those 11 years of age and older.

that run along the original railway tracks like bicyclesrailbikeswhere you can ride in actual trains that were used in the past. TheKD test ridespark is bustling with many tourists.

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Kurihara Rural Railway Park Preserved Vehicles

M15 type electric train. This train was used during the Kurihara Electric Railway era. Original Kurihara Electric Railway model. Preserved in static display.

The KD95 seriesis a diesel railcar introduced after the railway became the Kurihara Rural Railway. It is an original Kurihara Rural Railway design, characterized by its headlights modeled after the lanterns of the Hosokura Mine. Three of these railcars are preserved, two of which have been restored and are in working order, and are used for rides and driving experiences.

ED20 typeelectric locomotive (No. 203) used for freight transport at the Hosokura Mine. One unit is also preserved at the "Hosokura Mine Park-mae" station (vehicle image provided by Kuriden Museum).

with one axle at the front and rear (four wheels in total, compared to the usual two axles = eight)KD10 railcarpreserved items include

Kuriden Museum <Information>

• Name: Kurihara Rural Railway Park Kuriden Museum
• Address: 17-1 Kawakita Tsukanone, Wakayagi, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0228-24-7961　
• Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00)
• Official URL:Kuriden Museum

Google Map

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Hosokura Mine Park, where Kuriden trains are preserved

Hosokura Mine Parkis a facility that opened in 1990 (Heisei 2) after the closure of the Hosokura Mine, utilizing a portion of the old mine tunnels to allow visitors to learn about the history of the Hosokura Mine. When it first opened, the Kurihara Rural Railway was also in operation, and "Hosokura Mine Park Mae Station" was the terminal station.

After the line was closed, the station building and platform were preserved, and the electric locomotive ED20 No. 202 and freight cars used during the Kurihara Electric Railway era are preserved on the premises

Hosokura Mine Park is a 777m long tourist tunnel where you can experience geology dating back approximately 20 million years and learn about the history of the Hosokura Mine and modern industry

It was reopened after renovation in 2016. It is also used as a place of learning to learn about why a mine was established in Hosokura, the characteristics of the minerals that were actually mined, and what life was like around Hosokura at the time

The tunnels are kept at a constant temperature of around 14°C throughout the year, and are also used as a sake brewery, allowing visitors to learn about the environmental characteristics of the tunnels. Guided walks by geopark guides are also available from April to October

[Slider Park]offers a thrilling experience: a 333m aerial ride up on a pair lift, followed by a 555m long slide down. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the foothills of Mount Kurikoma. When you visit Kurihara Rural Railway Park, be sure to stop by Hosokura Mine Park as well.

Hosokura Mine Park <Information>

• Name: Hosokura Mine Park
• Address: 2-3 Yanagisawa, Uguisuzawa Nango, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0228-55-3215
• Business hours: March to November: 9:30 to 17:00, December to February: 9:30 to 16:00
• Official URL:Hosokura Mine Park

Google Map

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