Tadami Line: Japan's most scenic local train line (Fukushima Prefecture)

"scenic local lines," "railways with beautiful autumn foliage," and "local lines with beautiful snowscapes."

This is the Tadami Line , a JR East railway line that spans the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture and the Uonuma region of Niigata Prefecture .

This articlethe attractions of the Tadami Line, such as its scenery and points of interest along the route, and also provides a brief overview of its history.

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The Tadami Line was chosen as the number one scenic local line

The Tadami Lineis a 135.2km long JR East line connecting Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, to Koide Station in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Aizu-Wakamatsu Station can be accessed in about an hour by taking a 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 taking a Joetsu Line train from Echigo-Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen, or in about 10 minutes from Urasa Station, also on the Joetsu Shinkansen

A full ride along the Tadami Line takes over four hours. Furthermore, trains only run three round trips a day between Aizu-Kawaguchi Station and Tadami Station, so if you're traveling from afar to ride the Tadami Line, it's probably best to plan an overnight stay along the line

During the autumn foliage season, special trains such as the"Tadami Line Enjoyment Express"run between Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and Tadami Station. Even with these special trains, it can still get crowded during the autumn foliage season.

The Tadami Line is a local line that is praised worldwide for the beauty of the scenery along its route, despite the low population density along the line, which is reflected in the infrequent train service .

In the "Ranking of Scenic Local Railway Lines" held in the winter of 2022, the Tadami Line proudly took first place . In the past, it has also been selected as the number one railway line in the "Top Ten Railway Lines with Beautiful Autumn Foliage" and third in the " Top Ten Local Railway Lines with Beautiful Snowscapes ."

It has gained international recognition, being praised on the Chinese internet as "the most romantic railway in the world" and being selected as the second-best Japanese tourist destination that foreigners living in Japan want to visit after the pandemic

There are many old houses along the railway line, and the Tadami Line retains many scenes of rural Japan, the kind that were once common throughout the country

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Beautiful scenery all year round

Japan has many places where you can see beautiful scenery that is limited to certain seasons, such as cherry blossom viewing spots, autumn foliage spots, and snowscapes.
However, the Tadami Lineoffers beautiful scenery all year round.

In spring, the fresh greenery; in summer, the mist; in autumn, the vibrant foliage; and in winter, the snow—the Tadami Line delights visitors throughout the year. The fact that one visit isn't enough to fully appreciate its scenery is likely one of the reasons why the Tadami Line is so captivating

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Attractive spots along the Tadami Line

We will introduce some of the attractive tourist spots and spots where you can enjoy beautiful scenery that are dotted along the Tadami Line

Daiichi Tadami River Bridge

Located between Aizu-Hinohara Station and Aizu-Nishikata Station, the "First Tadami River Bridge" is a particularly famous scenic spot along the Tadami Line

When visiting this viewpoint by train, it is recommended to get off the train at Aizu-Miyashita Station and rent a bicycle at "Karankoron Tourist Exchange Center," which is a 2-minute walk from the station

The Karankoron Tourist Information Center is a town tourist information center housed in a renovated old farmhouse, adding to the enjoyment of your trip. After parking your bicycle at the "Michi-no-Eki Oze Kaido Mishima-juku" (Roadside Station Oze Kaido Mishima-juku), which is about a 15-minute drive east along National Route 252, take the walking path at the back of the parking lot and climb the hill on foot

Depending on the weather, you can enjoy views from the small hill of the river where bridges and trains are reflected like a mirror, or landscapes shrouded in mist

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Miyashita Arch's three brothers (bridges)

Near Aizu-Miyashita Station, there are three bridges known as the "Miyashita Arch Three Brothers (Bridges)."

From top to bottom, you'll find three arch bridges lined up: National Route 252, the Tadami Line, and Prefectural Route 237. This is a rare sight, found nowhere else in Japan

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Mugenkyo Ferry

The "Mugenkyo Ferry," which you can board near Hayato Station, is a hand-rowed ferry

You can enjoy a round trip on the Tadami River with a boatman (approximately 45 minutes) or explore the surrounding area (approximately 90 minutes including the boat ride). Please note that advance reservations are required for boarding

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Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu

"Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu"is a hot spring located within walking distance of Hayato Station, and day trips for bathing are also possible.

This natural medicinal hot spring is said to have been in operation for 1200 years, and from the open-air bath you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Tadami River Gorge

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Kaneyama Community Square

From Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba , located about 1km from Aizu-Kawaguchi Station along National Route 252 towards Aizu-Nakagawa Station , you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Tadami Line running along the river, as well as the Oshi settlement and surrounding countryside beyond

You can enjoy the picturesque scenery created by the magnificent composition

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Tagokura Hometown Museum

"Furusato-kan Tagokura"is a museum located near Tadami Station. It displays materials that convey the history and culture of the Tagokura settlement, which is now submerged at the bottom of the Tagokura Dam.

The section of the Tadami Line between Aizu-Kawaguchi and Tadami has a history of being built to transport materials for the construction of the Tagokura Dam, and therefore, exhibits related to the history of the Tadami Line are also on display

Please note that all trains that travel beyond Tadami Station will stop there for at least 10 minutes. You can use this time to enjoy some local specialty cuisine at the Tadami Town Information Center in front of the station

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History of the Tadami Line

The Tadami Line was not a railway line that opened in its entirety at the same time, but rather a line that opened in sections repeatedly

The line first opened in 1926, the last year of the Taisho era, with a section running from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Aizu-Bange Station. At that time, it was called the "Aizu Line" and not the Tadami Line

The Aizu Line underwent repeated extensions, reaching Aizu-Miyashita Station in 1941. On the other hand, the Niigata Prefecture side saw the opening of the section from Koide Station to Ooshirakawa Station in 1942, and this section was named the "Tadami Line."

In 1956, after the war, the Aizu Line was extended to Aizu-Kawaguchi Station, and the section of track from Aizu-Kawaguchi Station to Tadami Station was also constructed as a freight-only line to transport materials for the construction of the Tagokura Dam

This freight-only line was handed over to the Japanese National Railways (the predecessor of JR) after the dam was completed, and the Aizu Line was extended and opened in 1963

Then, in 1971, the line was extended from Tadami Station to Ōshirakawa Station, completing the entire line from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Koide Station, and it was renamed the "Tadami Line."
This was a full 45 years after the initial opening of the Aizu Line.

Because the Tadami Line runs along the border between Fukushima and Niigata prefectures, it has low passenger traffic, and there were times, including before its full completion, when its closure was considered. However, since the parallel National Route 252 is closed to traffic in winter, the Tadami Line has historically avoided closure as it is the only reliable means of transportation that can cross the prefectural border even in winter

However, in July 2011, 40 years after its completion, the Tadami Line faced its greatest crisis

The area suffered extensive damage, including the collapse of bridges, due to the heavy rains

In October 2012, all sections except for the Aizu-Kawaguchi Station to Tadami Station were restored. However, due to the extensive damage to this section and its particularly poor usage before the disaster, restoration work was not initially carried out

However, in areas along the railway line where roads are closed during the winter, there is strong trust in the railway. Therefore, it was decided to restore the line by adopting a "separation of ownership and operation" system, in which Fukushima Prefecture and the municipalities along the line own the land and railway facilities, while JR East operates the trains

On October 1, 2022, the Tadami Line resumed full service for the first time in 11 years

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summary

The Tadami Line is a local railway line that is particularly highly regarded for the spectacular scenery that can be seen from the train windows and along the tracks

Although it suffered extensive damage in the 2011 torrential rain disaster, it has made a miraculous recovery, and we sincerely hope that it will continue to be utilized for tourism and regional development in the future

Be sure to visit the Tadami Line, which offers captivating scenery in every season

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