In Chiba Prefecture, there is a cute train that runs through fields of rape blossoms. This train runs on the ″Isumi Railway.” On the Isumi Railway, the yellow-bodied ″Nanohana Train” runs when the rapeseed flowers bloom. Just looking at the Nanohana Train from a distance makes my heart feel warm. This time, we will introduce in detail the Chiba Prefecture Isumi Railway’s Nanohana Train, which runs through the spectacular rapeseed fields.
①【Isumi Railway】 Spectacular railway with rape blossoms and cherry blossoms!! ︎
Isumi Railway is a railway company located in Otaki, Otaki-cho, Isumi-gun, Chiba Prefecture. The origin of the name Isumi Railway is that the starting and ending stations are located in the Isumi region. The Isumi Railway is also known as the “Nanohana Railway” because some trains run when the rapeseed flowers are in bloom.
❶History of Isumi Railway.
Isumi Railway has a very long history, spanning over 90 years. The history of Isumi Railway can be roughly divided into the following three eras.
① The Kihara Line era of the former Japanese National Railways
In 1930, the 15.9km section of the Kihara Line between Ohara and Otaki was opened as the Kihara Line of the former Japanese National Railways.
②R Kihara Line era
In 1987, the line was transferred from the former National Railways to the JR Kihara Line.
③Isumi Railway era
It began operations as Isumi Railway in 1988.
❷About the current Isumi Railway.
The current Isumi Railway is operated by the Third Sector. The third sector refers to business entities created through joint investment between national and local governments and private companies. The total route distance of Isumi Railway is 26.8km, and there are currently 14 stations. The entire line is single track.
▲Isumi Railway “Fusamoto Station” famous for rape blossoms and cherry blossoms
❸The railway has faced many existential crises.
To put it simply, Isumi Railway is a railway that has faced many existential crises. The main reasons are the depopulation of areas along railway lines, the declining birthrate, and the shift to automobiles as a means of transportation. In the first year of Isumi Railway’s opening, there were 1.12 million annual users. After that, the number continued to decline year by year, reaching 600,000 people per year in 2000 and 450,000 people per year in 2005. As a result, Isumi Railway’s management crisis has become more serious. By the way, the deficit in 2019 was 194.21 million yen.
❹Reasons why Isumi Railway is able to survive.
The reason Isumi Railway has been able to survive is because they have turned it into a “sightseeing train”. Isumi Railway, which was suffering from deficits, was transformed by the appointment of Isumi Railway’s second-generation president, Akira Torizuka, who later became known as a charismatic president. At the morning assembly in front of his employees, Ryo Toritsuka declares, “I will not fire a single person.” The Isumi Railway, which had previously been used for people’s transportation, has been transformed into a sightseeing train. As a result, Isumi Railway, which was a loss-making local line and a local burden, will regain its vitality. Since then, it has come to attract attention as a symbol of local tourism.
➁What is Isumi Railway’s transformation into a sightseeing train?
Here we will introduce in detail the transformation of Isumi Railway into a sightseeing train.
❶ Moomin train operation.
Isumi Railway has been operating the Moomin train since October 2009. The Moomin train is a yellow train with Moomin family characters drawn on the sides. The reason why the Moomin train is operated is because the scenery of the Isumi Railway seen from the train window resembles Moominvalley. Moomin characters are depicted all over the train, so it’s fun to actually find them on the train.
❷Train passing through the cherry blossom tunnel.
Isumi Railway runs a train that passes through a cherry blossom tunnel during the cherry blossom season. Isumi Railway is a single track. The cherry blossom branches are close to the train, and when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it looks like the train is passing through a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Therefore, the view from the train window is outstanding, and you can enjoy the train journey while looking at the beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom.
▲The view from the platform of Fusamoto Station, the most famous station on Isumi Railway
▲ Rapeseed flowers, cherry blossoms, and railroad tracks on National Route 465 between Koyamatsu Station and Higashi Fusamoto Station.the sceneryphotographdothing iscan.
❸Nanohana train operation.
Isumi Railway operates a rape blossom train during the peak rape blossom season. The Nanohana Train is a sightseeing train with a yellow body, the same color as rape blossoms, that runs through fields of rape blossoms in full bloom.
The Nanohana train is a diesel car that was used in the past, so it has a lot of analog atmosphere. When you look at it from a distance, you can see it running through a field of rapeseed flowers in a cute way, and it’s popular among young women, who often post it on social media. The flowering period of rape blossoms usually starts around mid-February. The best time to see them is from mid-March to mid-April. Please take a look at the collaboration between the beautiful rape blossom field and the rape blossom train.
➂Access information to Isumi Railway
Here you will find detailed information about access to Isumi Railway. The address of Isumi Railway is 264 Otaki, Otaki-cho, Isumi-gun, Chiba Prefecture.
❶Route by car from Isumi City Hall to Ohara Station (starting station)
Isumi City Hall (7400-1 Ohara, Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture) ⇒ Inamiboshu-dori Round Trip ⇒ Ohara Chuo Shopping Street ⇒ Prefectural Route 175 ⇒ Ohara Station
The total travel distance is approximately 700 m, and the travel time is approximately 2 minutes.
Summary of Isumi Railway.
This time, we introduced the Chiba Prefecture Isumi Railway’s Nanohana Train, which runs through the spectacular rapeseed fields. Chiba Prefecture Isumi Railway runs many fun trains that excite passengers, such as the ″Moomin Train,” ″The Train that Passes Through the Cherry Blossom Tunnel,” and the ″Nanohana Train.” There are also plenty of events, so you can have a memorable and fun time. When you visit Chiba Prefecture, we highly recommend riding the Isumi Railway.
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