[Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture] Japan's most scenic local line "Tadami Line"

There are local trains that are praised with expressions such as ``local
lines with spectacular views The Tadami Line a JR East line that straddles the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture and the Uonuma region of Niigata Prefecture .
In this article, the attractions of the Tadami Line, such as its scenery and spots along the line , as well as briefly introduce the history of the line.

Tadami Line ranked #1 for scenic local lines

The Tadami Line is a JR East line with a total length of 135.2km, connecting Aizuwakamatsu Station in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture to Koide Station in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture.
Aizuwakamatsu Station can be accessed in about an hour by train on the Ban'etsu West Line from Koriyama Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
The other station, Koide Station, can be accessed in about 40 minutes by train from Echigo-Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen, or about 10 minutes from Urasa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen.

It takes more than 4 hours to ride the entire Tadami Line.
Additionally, the train that runs between Aizu-Kawaguchi Station and Tadami Station, which is an intermediate section, usually only makes three round trips a day, so if you're going to ride the Tadami Line from a distance, it's best to stay overnight along
the line I think. In addition, special trains such as the rapid ``Tadami Line Kankan'' run between Aizuwakamatsu Station and Tadami Station, especially during the autumn leaves season.
However, it can get crowded during the autumn foliage season.

Although the Tadami Line is a line where the population along the line is small, which is reflected in the number of trains, it a local line that is praised worldwide .
In "Scenic Local Line Ranking" poll held in the winter of 2022 the Tadami Line was ranked #1.
In the past, it has been ranked
1st in the list of ``Best Railway Lines with Beautiful Autumn Leaves'' ``Best Local Lines with Beautiful Snowy Views It has gained international recognition, being acclaimed on the Chinese internet as ``the most romantic railway in the world,'' and being selected as the 2nd place in the list of ``Japanese tourist destinations to visit after the coronavirus'' by foreigners living in Japan. It seems to be getting higher.
There are many old houses along the Tadami Line, and many of the Japanese countryside scenes that were once seen all over Japan remain along the Tadami Line.

Beautiful scenery all year round

There are many places in Japan where you can see beautiful seasonal scenery, such as ``famous cherry blossom spots,'' ``famous spots for autumn leaves,'' and ``snowy scenery.''
However, the Tadami Line offers beautiful scenery all year round .

Fresh greenery in spring, mist in summer, red leaves in autumn, and snow in winter delight visitors all year round.
Perhaps one of the reasons why the Tadami Line attracts so many people is that you cannot fully enjoy the scenery in just one visit.

Attractive spots along the Tadami Line

We will introduce some of the attractive sightseeing spots and spots where you can enjoy beautiful scenery along the Tadami Line.

Daiichi Tadami River Bridge

Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, located between Aizu Hibara Station and Aizu Nishigata Station, is a particularly famous scenic spot on the Tadami Line.
When visiting this view spot by train, we recommend getting off the train at Aizu Miyashita Station and renting
a bicycle The Kankoron Tourist Exchange Center is a tourist information center in a renovated old folk house that will make your trip even more enjoyable.
Then, park your bicycle at the Roadside Station Oze Kaido Mishima-juku, which is located about 15 minutes east on National Route 252, and then take the promenade at the back of the parking lot and walk up the hill.
Depending on the weather, from the small hill you can enjoy views such as the mirror-like reflection of bridges and trains on the river surface, and scenery shrouded in mist

Daiichi Tadami River Bridge＜Information＞

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Miyashita Arch third brother (Hashi) younger brother

There are three bridges called
``Miyashita Arch Three Brothers'' near Aizu Miyashita Station A total of three arch bridges are lined up from top to bottom: National Route 252, Tadami Line, and Prefectural Route 237, making this a rare bridge that can only be found here in Japan.

Miyashita Arch third brother (Hashi) younger brother <Information>

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Ferry of Kirigenkyo

The Mugenkyo no Ferry, which can be boarded near Hayato Station, is a hand-rowed ferry.
Guided by the boatman, you can take a round trip down the Tadami River (about 45 minutes) or enjoy a walk around the area (about 90 minutes including the boat ride).
Please note that advance reservations are required for boarding.

Ferry of Kirigenkyo <Information>

  • Name: Ferry of Kirigenkyo
  • Location Otsumaki, Hayato, Mishima-machi, Onuma-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Inquiry number: 0241-42-7211 (weekdays), 0241-54-2855 (holidays)
  • Business hours: 7:00 - sunset (advance reservation required)
  • Closed: Late November to mid-April of the following year. Even outside of winter, service may be canceled at short notice due to weather and river conditions.
  • URL Kirigenkyo no Ferry Official Reservation Site

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Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu

Source: Wikipedia
Author's own work - Author's own work, CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, by https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124238828

``Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu'' is a hot spring that is within walking distance from Hayato Station and is open for day-trip bathing.
It is a natural medicinal hot spring that is said to have been open for 1200 years.
You can enjoy a spectacular view of the Tadami River Valley from the open-air bath.

Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu＜Information＞

  • Name: Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu
  • Address: 888 Yunohira, Hayato, Mishima-machi, Onuma-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Contact number 0241-52-3324
  • URL Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu

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Kaneyama Fureai Square

"Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba" which is located about 1 km from Aizukan-Kawaguchi Station on National Route 252 towards Aizu-Nakagawa Station , you can see the Tadami Line that runs along the river and the Oshi village and Satoyama village in the back. You can have a panoramic view of the.
You can enjoy the elegant scenery created by the stunning composition.

Kaneyama Fureai Square <Information>

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Hometown Hall Tagokura

"Furusatokan Tagokura" is a museum located near Tadami Station.
Materials conveying the history and culture of the Tagokura village, which is currently submerged to the bottom of the Tagokura Dam, are on display.
The Tadami Line's Aizu Kawaguchi-Tadami section has a history of being built to transport materials for the construction of the Tagokura Dam, so materials related to the Tadami Line's history are also on display.

All trains running beyond Tadami Station will stop at Tadami Station for at least 10 minutes.
It would be a good idea to take advantage of this stop time to sample local gourmet food at the Tadami Town Information Center in front of the station.

Kaneyama Fureai Square <Information>

  • Name Furusatokan Tagokura
  • Address: 1299 Tanaka, Tadami, Tadami-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Inquiry number 0241-72-8466
  • Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last reception at 16:00)
  • Closed on Tuesdays (the following weekday in the case of holidays), year-end and New Year holidays
  • URL Furusatokan Takokura

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History of Tadami Line

Source: Wikipedia
Author: BehBeh, CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, by https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12736176

The Tadami Line is not a line where all sections opened at the same time, but rather a line where partial openings were repeated.
The line first opened in the section from Aizuwakamatsu Station to Aizu Sakashita Station in 1926, the last year of the Taisho era.
The name was also "Aizu Line", not Tadami Line.
The Aizu Line was repeatedly extended and reached Aizu Miyashita Station in 1941.
On the Niigata Prefecture side, the section from Koide Station to Oshirakawa Station opened in 1942, and was named the Tadami Line.

After the war, in 1956, the Aizu Line was extended to Aizu-Kawaguchi Station.
Furthermore, the section of track from Aizu-Kawaguchi Station to Tadami Station was also constructed as a freight line to transport materials for the construction of Tagokura Dam.
After the dam was completed, this freight line was handed over to the Japanese National Railways (predecessor of JR), and the Aizu Line was extended and opened in 1963.

In 1971, the line between Tadami Station and Oshirakawa Station was extended, and the line was extended to include Aizuwakamatsu Station and Koide Station, and the line was renamed the Tadami Line.
It was 45 years since the Aizu Line first opened.
Because the Tadami Line passes through the prefectural border between Fukushima and Niigata prefectures, passenger flow is low, and there were even times when consideration was given to abolishing the line, even before the line was fully operational.
However, since the parallel National Route 252 is closed during the winter, the Tadami Line has a history of avoiding closure as the only means of transportation that can cross prefectural borders reliably even in the winter.

However, in July 2011, 40 years after the Zentsutsu line was released, the biggest crisis for the Tadami Line occurred.
Heavy rains caused significant damage, including the bridge being washed away.
The following year, in October 2012, the area was restored except for the section between Aizu-Kawaguchi Station and Tadami Station, but restoration work was not initially carried out in this section due to the extensive damage and the particularly poor usage conditions before the disaster. It was.
However, in areas along the railway line where roads are closed in the winter, trust in the railway is strong, and by adopting a ``separation system'' in which Fukushima Prefecture and the municipalities along the line own the land and railway equipment, and JR East operates the trains. , I decided to restore it.
On October 1, 2022, the entire Tadami Line resumed operation for the first time in 11 years.

summary

The Tadami Line is a local line that is highly praised for its spectacular views from the train windows and along the tracks.
In addition, although it suffered severe damage during the heavy rain disaster in 2011, it made a miraculous recovery.
I sincerely hope that the Tadami Line will continue to be utilized for tourism and regional development.
Please be sure to visit the Tadami Line, which offers charming scenery in each season.

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