[Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture] Experience driving a train that actually ran on Kuriden. ``Kurihara Denen Tetsudo Park'' is also popular for its rail bikes, which run on the tracks in the same way as bicycles.

Kurihara Denen Tetsudo Park , located in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture, is a railway theme park that preserves the passenger cars and electric locomotives used on the former Kurihara Denen Tetsudo and opens them to the public. The park is located on the site of the former Wakayagi Station and train depot, and offers attractions such as driving experiences and rail bikes, making it popular not only with railway fans but with a wide range of generations.

Kurihara Denen Tetsudo was the third railway line that connected 25.7km between Ishigoe Station, which is a connecting station with JR Tohoku Main Line Ishigoe Station (Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture), and Hosokura Mine Park-mae Station (Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture). It is a sector railway and was abolished in 2007 (Heisei 19).

The Kurihara Country Railway has a long history, first opening in 1921 (Taisho 10) as the Kurihara Tramway from Ishigoe Station to Sawabe (Kannari, Kurihara City) along National Route 4. Later, in 1922 (Taisho 11), it was extended to Iwagasaki (Kurikoma Iwagasaki, Kurihara City), and in 1942 (Showa 17), it was extended to Hosokura Mine (Uguisuzawa, Kurihara City). All lines are now open.

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

The Hosokura Mine is located at the foot of Mt. Kurikoma, and is said to have been discovered around the 9th century, producing silver, lead, and zinc. During the Edo period, it was run under the direct control of the Sendai domain (Date domain). After the Meiji period, mining continued under several managements, and from 1934 (Showa 9), Mitsubishi Metal Mining (currently Mitsubishi Materials) acquired management rights, and production volume increased due to special demand such as World War II. The mine has become one of Japan's leading lead and zinc mines, ranking second in lead production and third in zinc production.

The Kurihara Tramway extended its route to the Hosokura Mine in order to transport the products from the Hosokura Mine, and it developed greatly, and in the 1950s, it was electrified and the name changed to the Kurihara Electric Railway.

The Hosokura Mine reached its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, but then the world recession caused by the oil crisis caused the price of zinc and other materials to plummet, putting pressure on mine management, and the mine was closed in 1987.

The rise and fall of the Hosokura Mine will determine the fate of Kuriden.

Kurihara Electric Railway was also seriously affected by the closure of the Hosokura Mine, and cargo handling was suspended.Coupled with the decline in the mining population, the business situation continued to deteriorate, and the company considered abolishing the line. However, at that time, municipalities along the line (at the time) and bus companies invested, and it was decided to continue as a third sector railway.

In 1995 (Heisei 7), train service was discontinued due to aging electrification equipment, etc., and service was changed to diesel-powered vehicles. Along with this, the company name was changed to "Kurihara Denen Tetsudo". Kurihara Denen Tetsudo's business conditions continued to fail to improve, and subsidies from the prefecture were discontinued, so it was finally shut down in April 2007.

``Kurihara Denen Railway Park'' was created to preserve the remnants of the Kurihara Denen Railway.

Railway Park was created in 2017 to preserve the vestiges of the Kurihara Denen Railway, which has become a popular means of transportation for citizens .

The former Wakayagi Station, which was the base of the Kurihara Denen Railway, and its premises were used, and the former Wakayagi Station has been restored to its original state. Trains, diesel cars, electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, etc. used by the Kurihara Denen Tetsudo Railway are preserved and exhibited at the former Wakayagi Station platform and locomotive shed. It is used for such things.

The park includes preservation facilities such as the former Wakayagi Station and rolling stock, as well as valuable in-house documents from the 100 years of operation, the Kuriden Museum (a paid facility) with a diorama that recreates the area along the line, and children's play equipment. It consists of the "Kuriden Lawn Square" with a

Particularly popular the experience of driving a KD95 , which is open to anyone over the age of 18 (limited dates and times). Additionally, during summer vacation, we offer an on-site diesel car driving experience for parents and children

also a rail bike a KD test ride where you can ride an actual vehicle (1.8 km round trip). It is crowded with tourists.

Kurihara Denen Railway Park Preserved Vehicle

M15 type train . This is a train that was used during the Kurihara Electric Railway era. Kurihara Electric Railway original. Static preservation.

KD95 type . This is a diesel train that was created after the Kurihara Denen Railway became a railway, and is original to the Kurihara Denen Railway, with a distinctive headlight modeled after the cantera of the Hosokura Mine. There are three preserved vehicles, two of which have been maintained and kept in working condition, and are used for ride events and driving experiences.

ED20 type . This is an electric locomotive (No. 203) used to transport cargo at the Hosokura Mine. One car is also preserved at Hosokura Mine Park-mae station (vehicle image provided by Kuriden Museum).

Other items preserved include a KD10 diesel car

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Kurihara Denen Railway Park Kuriden Museum
• Location: 17-1 Wakayagi Kawakitazukanone, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0228-24-7961　
• https://kuridenrailpark.wixsite.com/kuriden
• Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00)
• Closed: Tuesdays (the following day if Tuesday is a holiday), New Year holidays
• [Various fees]　
• Admission fee: General 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen, Preschool children free

◆Driving simulator

• 300 yen per time

◆Old Wakayagi Station building open day　　

• Museum opening day
• *Closed in winter (December to March) due to freezing.
• Opening hours: 10:00-16:00

◆Premises tour

• free

◆Rail bike ride event

• 1 car (4 seats) 500 yen

◆KD ride meeting

• 300 yen per time (free for preschoolers)

◆Children's campus driving experience (summer vacation only)

• 5,000 yen per time

◆Diesel car driving experience

• First time 30,000 yen, 2nd and subsequent times 25,000 yen, 6th and subsequent times (multiple sessions) 40,000 yen

• URL: Kuriden Museum

• access:
• Railway: Take the Kurihara Citizen Bus (Kurihara Denen Line or Wakayanagi Line) from Ishigoe Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line for about 10 minutes, get off at the Wakayanagi Nakamachi or Ginko-mae bus stop, and walk for about 5 minutes, or take the Tohoku Shinkansen Kurikoma Kogen Station to Kurihara Approximately 15 minutes by citizen bus bound for Ishigoe Ekimae on the Wakayagi Line, then approximately 5 minutes on foot from the Wakayagi Nakamachi bus stop.
• By car: From Tohoku Expressway Wakayagi Kananari IC, take the prefectural road Nakata Kurikoma Line towards Wakayagi Station for about 5 minutes.

GOOGLE MAP

"Hosokura Mine Park" where Kuriden's railway cars are also preserved

Hosokura Mine Park is a facility where you can learn about the history of the Hosokura Mine, which was opened in 1990 (Heisei 2) after the Hosokura Mine closed, and is located in a part of the old mine shaft. When it first opened, Kurihara Denen Tetsudo was in operation, and Hosokura Mine Park-mae Station was the terminal station.

After the line was discontinued, the station building and platform were preserved, and the electric locomotive ED20 type 202 and freight cars used during the Kurihara Electric Railway era are preserved statically on the premises.

Hosokura Mine Park is a 777m long sightseeing tunnel where you can experience the geology that dates back 20 million years and learn about the history of the Hosokura Mine and modern industry. It was reopened in 2016 (Heisei 28). It is also used as a place to learn about why the mine was created in Hosokura, the characteristics of the minerals that were actually mined, and what life was like around Hosokura at the time. The temperature inside the mine is maintained at a constant temperature of around 14℃ throughout the year, so it is also used as an old sake brewery, and you can learn about the environmental characteristics of the mine. From April to October, guided walks by geopark guides are also available.

[Slider Park] is a 333m aerial walk on a pair lift, and a thrilling slide with a total length of 555m going down. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the foothills of Mt. Kurikoma. When you visit Kurihara Denen Railway Park, be sure to stop by Hosokura Mine Park as well.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Hosokura Mine Park
• Location: 2-3 Yanagisawa, Nango Uguisawa, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0228-55-3215
• business hours:
  • March - November / 9:30 - 17:00 / December - February / 9:30 - 16:00
• Closed: Tuesdays (the next day if it is a holiday), New Year holidays
  • *Open without holidays during Golden Week and summer vacation
• Admission fee:
  • Sightseeing mine tunnel viewing/adults 500 yen, junior high and high school students 400 yen, elementary school students 300 yen
  • Slider Park/1 time 300 yen, 2 times 500 yen
  • Gold panning experience/adults, junior high and high school students 500 yen, elementary school students 400 yen
• URL: Hosokura Mine Park
• access:
  • Railway/About 40 minutes by car from Kurikoma Kogen Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen
  • Car: Approximately 35 minutes from Tohoku Expressway Tsukidate IC, approximately 30 minutes from Wakayanagi Kananari IC

GOOGLE MAP