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The Iizaka Line, operated by Fukushima Kotsu Co., Ltd., runs through Fukushima City in Fukushima Prefecture , connecting Fukushima Station and Iizaka Onsen Station. What is the history behind the establishment of Fukushima Kotsu and the Iizaka Line?
What is the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line?
The Iizaka Line is a private railway line operated by Fukushima Kotsu, connecting 12 stations over 9.2 km from Fukushima Station to Iizaka Onsen Station in Fukushima City. It is affectionately known as the "Iizaka Train" or "Iiden. " The Iiden logo also features the English words " GOOD TRAIN ," playing on the Japanese word "ii" (good). It serves as a means of transportation for commuters and students within Fukushima City, as well as a route to Iizaka Onsen, as its name suggests .
1000 series train running on the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line (photographed by the author, as well as the photos below)
The trains currently in service are the former Tokyu Corporation (formerly Tokyo Kyuko Electric Railway) 1000 series trains, which have been operating in the Tokyo metropolitan area since 2017. The 7000 series trains that preceded the 1000 series were also originally introduced by Tokyu.
Fukushima Transportation's direct predecessor, Shindachi Railway
The Iizaka Line opened exactly 100 years ago, in 1924 during the Taisho era. However, the plans for a railway connecting Fukushima Station and Iizaka Onsen, and the roots of Fukushima Kotsu, the company that currently operates the Iizaka Line, go back even further, so I'll give a brief introduction.
In 1887, during the Meiji era, a company called Nippon Railway opened the railway line that is now the JR Tohoku Main Line, and Fukushima Station was established. Following this, local influential figures planned a railway line connecting Fukushima Station and Iizaka Onsen. Initially, it was difficult to realize due to a lack of funds, but the project was eventually realized when influential figures from the local Shinobu County (present-day Fukushima City, etc.) and Date County (present-day Date City , etc.), who were the initiators of the project, teamed up with Keijiro Amemiya , a well-known businessman
On a personal note, one of the initiators, a prominent figure in Date County, is my maternal ancestor four generations ago, and my great-grandfather and grandfather were also from Date. Coincidentally, my father was also from along the Iizaka Line. Therefore, although I myself have never lived in Fukushima Prefecture, I have visited many times and feel a sense of familiarity with the Iizaka Line.
In 1907, the " Shinobu Railway Company " was granted a patent, and in 1908, a line opened that ran north from Fukushima Station along the east side of the Tohoku Main Line, then turned west at what was then Nagaoka Village, and headed towards Iizaka Onsen (Yuno). In terms of current roads, the line initially ran along National Route 4, and then along National Route 399. The " Shinobu Railway " was named because it connected Shinobu County and Date County
Subsequently, the Shindachi Railway expanded its lines mainly along the east bank of the Abukuma River through mergers with other companies. In 1925, it was renamed " Fukushima Electric Railway ."
The birth of the Iizaka Line
Meanwhile, in 1918, the "Iizaka Railway," connecting Fukushima, Shimizu, and Iizaka, was planned. This later-planned line corresponds to the current Iizaka Line.
(So, although my ancestors were the founders of the Shindachi Railway, they actually had no connection to the Iizaka Line.)
The Iizaka Railway changed its name to " Fukushima Iizaka Electric Railway " in 1921, and the current Iizaka Line opened in April 1924. In October of the same year, it was renamed again to " Iizaka Electric Railway ." At the time of its opening, the line from in front of Fukushima Station to the current Museum and Library Station ran on tracks along the road east of the current route; in other words, it was a streetcar line.
The Iizaka Electric Railway and the Fukushima Electric Railway once competed to attract visitors to Iizaka Onsen, but in 1927, the Fukushima Electric Railway merged with the Iizaka Electric Railway . At this time, the former Fukushima Electric Railway line came to be called the " Iizaka East Line ," and the former Iizaka Electric Railway line came to be called the " Iizaka West Line ." In 1942, the Iizaka West Line began to run directly into Fukushima Station instead of in front of it, taking on the same form as the current Iizaka Line.
Fukushima Electric Railway, which strengthened its bus business during and after the war, changed its name to " Fukushima Kotsu " in 1962. It was at this point that the company finally adopted its current name.
What happened to Fukushima Transportation?
In 1971, approximately 10 years after the establishment of Fukushima Electric Railway, which later became Fukushima Kotsu, theIizaka East Line,, was abolished. As explained above, considering the origins of Fukushima Kotsu, the Iizaka East Line was the main line, while the Iizaka West Line was a side line, and it opened later. However, only the side line survived.
Subsequently, in 1986, the transportation (railway and bus) business was separated from the company, and a new " Fukushima Kotsu Co., Ltd. " was established. In 2009, it came under the umbrella of a holding company called " Michinori Holdings ," where it remains today. Although there were times when management was difficult, the reorganization of bus routes and rationalization of management have been successful, and in recent years, it has been operating smoothly among local transportation operators. Fukushima Kotsu will continue to play a major role as a means of transportation for the citizens of Fukushima and tourists.
Let's take a ride! Iizaka Line
From here, I will introduce the Iizaka Line, including my own experience of riding the line in August 2024
Fukushima Station: Entrance to the platform for the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line and Abukuma Express Line (the building on the left is the JR station building)
The Iizaka Line starts at Fukushima Station, which is served by JR's Tohoku Main Line, Tohoku Shinkansen, and Yamagata Shinkansen, but the platforms for the Iizaka Line and Abukuma Express Line are separate from those of the JR lines. Quietly located next to the JR station building at Fukushima Station are the platforms for the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line and the Abukuma Express Line.
*Abukuma Express Line: A railway line that runs 54.9 km from Fukushima Station to Tsukinoki Station in Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture, passing through Yanagawa Station, Marumori Station, etc
Tickets for the Iizaka Line can be purchased from these automatic ticket vending machines. Please note that nationwide transportation IC cards such as Suica cannot be used on the Iizaka Line. However, " NORUCA ," an IC card issued independently by Fukushima Kotsu, can be used.
There is also an 800 yen "Ii Den 1-Day Free Ticket" available, which allows one adult, one elementary school student, and up to two infants unlimited travel on the Iizaka Line for one day, plus access to the public baths and special offers at stores along the line
The Iizaka Line and the Abukuma Express Line share entrances, ticket gates, and platforms. After entering the ticket gate, the platform on the right is for the Iizaka Line, and the platform on the left is for the Abukuma Express Line.
Because they both start from Fukushima Station and share platforms, the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line and the Abukuma Express Line may be thought of as similar railways, but their origins are completely different
As you can see from this article, Fukushima Kotsua privately operated railway company,. The power source for running the trains (the electricity supplied to the overhead wires) is 1,500V DC, which is common for private railways in Japan.
In contrast, Abukuma Express is a third-sector railway operator established in the 1980s, taking over the former JNR Marumori Line and other lines that were under construction . Although it is a limited company, it is funded by Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Kotsu, Fukushima City, Date City, and others. Because it is not part of JR, it is often referred to as a private railway, but since it is funded by the prefecture and cities, it cannot be strictly called a private railway .
The relationship between Abukuma Express and JR, the successor to Japanese National Railways, remains unbroken. Abukuma Express trains , after departing Fukushima Station, run on the JR Tohoku Main Line tracks for 4.7 km until the junction at Yanome Signal Station. In Miyagi Prefecture, trains also run from Tsukinoki Station onto the Tohoku Main Line and continue to Sendai Station. Due to this relationship, the electrification system is the same as the Tohoku Main Line: 50Hz AC, 20,000V.
I took the first train of the morning from Fukushima Station. Trains on the Iizaka Line consist of either three or two cars, and the first train I was on had just been reduced to two cars on August 5th.
There are also carriages with curtains hanging inside that say Iizaka Onsen
Soneda Station
At Soneda Station, next to Fukushima Station,the station building constructed when the station was moved to its current location in 1942 is still in use today.
Nanasen Rest Area at Soneda Station
A retired 7000 series train is preserved on the station grounds, and its interior is open to the public as "Oyasumi-dokoro Nanasen" (Rest Area Nanasen). The first car of the two-car train is a rest area with its original interior from when it was in service,while the second car is a working space equipped with power outlets and Wi-Fi. Using Oyasumi-dokoro Nanasen itself is free, but a valid Iizaka Line ticket or an entrance ticket to Soneda Station is required.
In addition, there are several other interesting stations along this short line, such as " Museum Library Station ," which, as its name suggests, is the closest station to the Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art ; " Sakuramizu Station ," which has a train depot and is likely to attract railway enthusiasts ; and " Ioji-mae Station ," which is the closest station to Ioji Temple , the family temple of the Sato clan, who produced the Sato brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu, who followed Minamoto no Yoshitsune
A 25-minute train ride from Fukushima Station will take you to the final stop, Iizaka Onsen Station. The station building has a charming, traditional hot spring town atmosphere. a famous hot spring resort with a long history, is just a short walk from the station. With plenty of public baths and free footbaths available, you can easily enjoy the hot springs.
The Iizaka Line has transported countless commuters, students, and tourists for over 100 years , and will continue to do so in the future. In addition to tourist attractions being within walking distance of each station along the line, the line also operates a "cycle train" during the daytime,allowing passengers to bring their own bicycles on board, and rental bicycles are available at Iizaka Onsen Station, offering a variety of ways to enjoy sightseeing along the line. Why not take a ride on the Iizaka Line and embark on a journey to discover the charms of Fukushima and Iizaka?
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