[Fukushima Prefecture] This is how “Fukushima Kotsu” was born & the descendants of the Fukushima Kotsu founder took a ride on the “Iizaka Line”
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Iizaka Line runs through Fukushima City in Fukushima Prefecture , connecting Fukushima Station and Iizaka Onsen Station.
How did Fukushima Kotsu and the Iizaka Line come about?
What is Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line?
The "Iizaka Line" is a line operated by the private railway "Fukushima Kotsu" that connects 12 stations and 9.2 km from Fukushima Station in Fukushima City to Iizaka Onsen Station.
It has nicknames such as ``Iizaka Densha'' and ``Iiden.''
has the English letters `
GOOD TRAIN ' written by ``GOOD'' As well as being a way to commute to work and school within Fukushima City, it is also a way to get to Iizaka Onsen,
The vehicles used are the 1000 series trains of the former Tokyu Corporation (currently Tokyu Corporation), which have been active in the Tokyo metropolitan area since 2017.
The 7000 series trains before being replaced by the 1000 series were also vehicles introduced by Tokyu.
Shindatsu Trajectory, the direct predecessor of Fukushima Transportation
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 the company Fukushima Kotsu, which currently operates the Iizaka Line, go back even further, so I will briefly introduce them.
In 1887 during the Meiji era, a company called Japan Railways opened the current JR Tohoku Main Line, and Fukushima Station opened.
Then, a railroad was planned by local influential people to connect Fukushima Station and Iizaka Onsen.
Although it did not come to fruition at first due to a lack of funds, the founders, influential people in the local Nobuo District (currently Fukushima City, etc.) and Date District (currently Date City, etc.), and the businessman Keijiro Amemiya ( By teaming up with Keijiro Amenomiya and others, we will be able to make this a reality.
Although this is a personal matter, one of the founders, one of the influential figures in Date County, is my ancestor from four generations ago on my mother's side, and my great-grandfather and grandfather were also from Date.
Also, by coincidence, the author's father was also from the Iizaka Line.
Therefore, although I have never lived in Fukushima Prefecture, I have visited it many times and feel an affinity for the Iizaka Line.
In 1907, Shindatsu Railway Co. , Ltd., and in 1908, the train ran north along the east side of the Tohoku Main Line from in front of Fukushima Station, turned west at what was then Nagaoka Village, and headed toward Iizaka Onsen (Yuno). The route has opened.
In terms of current roads, the route first ran along National Route 4, then National Route 399.
The `` Shindata Orbit '' was named because it connects Shino Date
Reference map: Fukushima Kotsu Iizakato Line route map - Railway history map
After that, Shindatsu Railway expanded its routes mainly on the east bank of the Abukuma River through mergers with other companies.
In 1925, the name was changed to Fukushima Electric Railway
Birth of the Iizaka Line
Meanwhile, in 1918, the ``Iizaka Orbit'' connecting Fukushima, Shimizu, and Iizaka was planned.
This route, which was planned later, corresponds to the current Iizaka Line.
(Thus, although the author's ancestor was the "initiator of the Shindatsu Railway," he actually has no connection to the Iizaka Line.)
Iizaka Tramway changed its name to Fukushima Iizaka Electric Tramway opened
in April 1924 In October of the same year, the name was changed again to
Iizaka Densha At the time of its opening, the route from Fukushima Station to the present-day Art Museum Library Station was a streetcar that ran along the tracks on the road on the east side of the current route.
Iizaka Electric Railway and Fukushima Electric Railway once competed to attract customers to Iizaka Onsen, but in 1927 Fukushima Electric Railway merged with Iizaka Railway .
After this, the former Fukushima Electric Railway line became known as the `` Iizaka Higashi Line ,'' and the former Iizaka Electric Railway line became the
Iizaka West Line In 1942, the Iizaka Nishi Line began to run directly into Fukushima Station instead of in front of Fukushima Station, and became similar to the current Iizaka Line.
Fukushima Electric Railway, which strengthened its bus business during and after the war, changed its name to
Fukushima Kotsu It was at this point that the company adopted its current name.
After Fukushima Transportation
In 1971, about 10 years after the Fukushima Electric Railway was renamed and Fukushima Kotsu was established, the Iizaka Higashi Line, , was abolished.
As you have seen in the explanations so far, considering the history of the company Fukushima Kotsu, the Iizaka Higashi Line was the main line, and the Iizaka Nishi Line was a subsidiary line, and it was the Iizaka Nishi Line that opened its doors. It was later.
However, only the marginal lines survived.
Later, in 1986, the transportation (railway and bus) business was separated from the company and a new company, Fukushima Kotsu Co., Ltd. , was established, and in 2009, it became affiliated with a holding company called
Michinori Holdings Which brings us to now. Although there were times when business was difficult, the company has been successful in reorganizing bus routes and streamlining its management, and in recent years has been doing well among local transportation operators.
Fukushima Transportation will continue to play a major role in transporting Fukushima residents and tourists.
Let's take a ride! Iizaka Line
From here, I will introduce the Iizaka Line, including my experience of actually riding the Iizaka Line in August 2024.
The Iizaka Line originates from Fukushima Station, where JR's Tohoku Main Line, Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, etc. board, but the platform is separate from each JR line.
Next to the JR station building at Fukushima Station, there is a quiet platform for the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line and Abukuma Express Line.
*Abukuma Express Line: A railway line that connects 54.9km from Fukushima Station to Tsukigi Station in Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture via Yanagawa Station, Marumori Station, etc.
Tickets for the Iizaka Line are purchased from automatic ticket vending machines like this one.
Please note that national transportation IC cards such as Suica cannot be used on the Iizaka Line.
you can use NORUCA issued by Fukushima Kotsu
The 800 yen "Ii" package includes unlimited rides on the Iizaka Line for one day for one adult, one elementary school student, and up to two infants, as well as access to public baths and benefits at stores along the line. ``One day free electric ticket'' is also on sale.
The Iizaka Line and the Abukuma Express Line share the same entrance, ticket gate, and platform.
After entering the ticket gate, the platform on the right is the Iizaka Line, and the platform on the left is the Abukuma Express Line.
You might think that the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line and the Abukuma Express Line are similar railways because they both originate from the same Fukushima Station and share the same platform, but their roots are completely different.
As you have seen in this article, Fukushima Kotsu is, and still , a privately-run railway operator .
The power source for running the trains (the electricity running on overhead wires) is 1,500V DC, which is common on private railways in Japan.
a third-sector railway operator that was established in the 1980s to take over the former JNR Marumori Line and lines that were under construction .
Although it is a joint-stock company, Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Kotsu, Fukushima City, and Date City are mutual investors.
It is often called a private railway because it is not a JR company, but since it is funded by the prefecture and city, it cannot technically be called a private railway .
The relationship between Abukuma Express and JR, the successor of Japanese National Railways, is still intact, and when Abukuma Express trains depart from Fukushima Station, the 4.7km journey to the Yanome signal station is along the JR Tohoku Main Line tracks. I run.
Also, on the Miyagi Prefecture side, there is a train that connects to the Tohoku Main Line from Tsukigi Station and runs to Sendai Station.
Partly because of this, the electrification system is the same as the Tohoku Main Line, 50Hz/20,000V AC.
The author boarded the train that left Fukushima Station first thing in the morning.
Trains on the Iizaka Line are either 3 or 2 cars, and the first train I rode on had just been reduced to 2 cars on August 5th.
Some cars even have curtains that say Iizaka Onsen written on them.
At Soneda Station, next to Fukushima Station, the station building that was built when the station moved to its current location in 1942 is still in use .
A retired 7000 series train is preserved on the premises, and the inside of the train is open to the public as a ``rest place Nanasen''.
The interior of the 2-car train No. 1 is a resting area with the original interior design at the time of operation, and the second car is a working space, equipped with power outlets and Wi-Fi .
It is free to use Nanasen, but you will need a valid Iizaka Line ticket or Soneda Station entrance ticket.
In addition, as the name suggests, the nearest station to the Fukushima Prefectural Museum `Art Museum Library Station ,'' and
Osakusui Station where railway fans are likely to want to stop because there is a train depot by Tsugu Sato,
who followed Minamoto no Yoshitsune. , there are many stations dotted around the area that are worth seeing, such as
-mae Station the closest Temple , the family temple of the Sato family that gave birth to the brothers Nobu and Tadanobu.
After a 25-minute ride from Fukushima Station, you will arrive at the final stop, Iizaka Onsen Station.
This station building has the atmosphere of a hot spring area.
a famous hot spring with a long history , is just outside the station .
There are plenty of communal baths and free footbaths, so you can easily enjoy the hot springs.
summary
For 100 years, the Iizaka Line has carried many commuters, students, and tourists.
And we will continue to play that role.
In addition to sightseeing spots within walking distance of each station along the line, there is a ``cycle train'' that allows you to ride your own bicycle on board , and there is also bicycle rental at Iizaka Onsen Station. Therefore, there are many ways to enjoy sightseeing along the line.
Why not take the Iizaka Line on a journey to discover the charms of Fukushima and Iizaka?
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