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Tadami Line

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

"a local line with spectacularThere are local railway lines that are praised with expressions such as
, a JR East line that spans the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture and the Uonuma region of Niigata Prefecturethe Tadami Line.
This articlethe charms of the Tadami Line, such as its scenery and points of interest along the route, and also briefly introduces its history.

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.
Station can be accessed in about an hour by taking a Ban'etsu West Line train from
Koriyama Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen. 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 operating between Aizu-Kawaguchi Station and Tadami Station are limited to only three round trips per day. Therefore, if you're traveling from afar to ride the Tadami Line, it'san overnight stay along the lineadvisable to plan
During the autumn foliage season,the "Tadami Line Enjoyment Train"run between Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and Tadami Station.
, it can still get crowded during the autumn foliage season.

for the beauty of the scenery along its route, despite the low population density along the line, which is reflected in the infrequent train servicea local line that is praised worldwide.
held in the winter of 2022the "Ranking of Scenic Local Railway Lines",first placetook
In the past,"Top Ten Railway Lines with Beautiful Autumn Foliage"the number oneTop Ten Local Railway Lines with Beautiful Snowscapesthird in the
It has also been praised as "the most romantic railway in the world" on the Chinese internet and was selected as the second "Japanese tourist destination that foreigners living in Japan want to visit after the pandemic," indicating that its international recognition is also growing.
There are many old houses along the line, and the Tadami Line retains many of the quintessential rural Japanese landscapes that were once common throughout Japan.

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.

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

The "First Tadami River Bridge," located between Aizu-Hinohara Station and Aizu-Nishikata Station, is a particularly famous scenic spot along the Tadami Line.
When visiting this viewpoint by train,rent a bicycleit is recommended to
Karankoron Tourist Information Center is a town tourist information center converted from an old farmhouse, adding to the enjoyment of your trip.
After parking your bicycle at "Michi-no-Eki 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,such as the river surface reflecting the bridge and trains like a mirror, or the scenery shrouded in mistyou can enjoy views

Daiichi Tadami River Bridge＜Information＞

Google Maps

Miyashita Arch's three brothers (bridges)

Near Aizu-Miyashita Station,the "Miyashita Arch Three Brothers."there are three bridges known as
From top to bottom, they carry National Route 252, the Tadami Line, and Prefectural Route 237, a total of three arch bridges lined up side by side. This is a rare sight, found nowhere else in Japan.

Miyashita Arch Three Brothers (Bridge) <Information>

Google Maps

Mugenkyo Ferry

The "Mugenkyo Ferry," which departs from near Hayato Station, is a hand-rowed ferry.
With a guide from the boatman, you can take a round trip across the Tadami River (approximately 45 minutes) or enjoy a stroll around the surrounding area (approximately 90 minutes including the boat ride).
Please note that advance reservations are required to board.

Mugenkyo Ferry ＜Information＞

  • Name Mugenkyo Ferry
  • Location: Ozumaki, Hayato, Mishima-machi, Onuma-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Inquiry number: 0241-42-7211 (weekdays), 0241-54-2855 (holidays)
  • Opening hours: 7:00 - sunset (advance reservations required)
  • Closed from late November to mid-April. Even outside of winter, the service may be suspended suddenly due to weather or river conditions
  • URL　Mugenkyo Ferry Official Reservation Site

Google Maps

Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu

Source: Wikipedia
Own Works – Own Works, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124238828,

Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yuis a hot spring located within walking distance of Hayato Station, and day trips for bathing are also possible.
It is a natural medicinal hot spring said to have been established 1200 years ago.
From the open-air bath, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Tadami River Gorge.

Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu <Information>

  • Name: Hayato Onsen Tsurunoyu
  • Address: 888 Yunohira, Hayato, Mishima-machi, Onuma-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Inquiry number: 0241-52-3324
  • URL　Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu

Google Maps

Kaneyama Community Square

located about 1km from Aizu-Kawaguchi Station along National Route 252 towards Aizu-Nakagawa StationKaneyama Fureai Hiroba, 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 savor the picturesque scenery created by this magnificent composition.

Kaneyama Community Square <Information>

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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 was built to transport materials for the construction of the Tagokura Dam, so materials 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.

Kaneyama Community Square <Information>

  • Name: Hometown Museum Tagokura
  • Address: 1299 Tanaka, Tadami, Tadami-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Inquiry number: 0241-72-8466
  • Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:00)
  • Closed on Tuesdays (or the following weekday if Tuesday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays
  • URL　Furusato-kan Tagokura

Google Maps

History of the Tadami Line

Source: Wikipedia
, author: BehBeh, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12736176,

The Tadami Line was not a railway line that opened in its entirety at once, but rather one that opened in sections repeatedly.
The first section to open was from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Aizu-Bange Station in 1926, the last year of the Taisho era.
At that time, it was called the "Aizu Line," not the Tadami Line.
The Aizu Line was extended repeatedly, reaching Aizu-Miyashita Station in 1941.
On the Niigata Prefecture side, the section from Koide Station to Ooshirakawa Station opened in 1942, and this section was named the "Tadami Line."

In 1956, after the war, 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-only line to transport materials for the construction of the Tagokura Dam.
After the completion of the dam, this freight-only line was handed over to the Japanese National Railways (the predecessor of JR), and the Aizu Line was extended and opened in 1963.

Then, in 1971, the line was extended from Tadami Station to Ohshirakawa Station, completing the entire line from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Koide Station, and it was named 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, passenger traffic is low, and there were times, including before the line was fully completed, when its closure was considered.
However, because the parallel National Route 252 is closed during the 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 full opening, the Tadami Line faced its greatest crisis.
Heavy rains caused significant damage, including the collapse of bridges.
In October 2012, all sections except for the Aizu-Kawaguchi Station to Tadami Station were restored, but due to the extensive damage to this section and its particularly poor usage before the disaster, restoration work was initially not carried out.
However, in the areas along the line where roads are closed during the winter, there is strong trust in the railway, and 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, and JR East operates the trains.
On October 1, 2022, the Tadami Line resumed full operation for the first time in 11 years.

summary

The Tadami Line is a local railway line particularly highly regarded for the spectacular scenery that can be seen from its train windows and along the tracks.
Furthermore, despite suffering extensive damage in the 2011 heavy rain disaster, it has made a miraculous recovery.
We sincerely hope that the Tadami Line will continue to be utilized for tourism and regional development.
Please do visit the Tadami Line, which offers captivating scenery in every season.

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