SL Ginga

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SL Ginga

This tour train connects JR Hanamaki and Kamaishi Stations. It was designed after Kenji Miyazawa’s Night on the Galactic Railroad.

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This tour train, SL Ginga, began operation by JR East Japan in 2014 between Kamaishi Line’s Hanamaki Station and Kamaishi Station, aiming to support the Tohoku Region’s reconstruction and revitalize the local community. The steam engine is a recreation of C58 style (C58 239) which had been preserved at Morioka City’s transportation park.

Kenji Miyazawa, a prominent writer from Iwate, wrote a children’s story, “Night on the Galactic Railroad.” The story takes place around Kamaishi Line, and the train’s interior and exterior are designed based on Night on the Galactic Railroad. On the exterior, the constellations and animals in the story are painted. The interior is coordinated in the Taisho and Showa Period retro styles when Miyazawa was actively writing, and there is a Kenji Miyazawa Gallery in four themes and also a planetarium which shows an original program.

The train runs on Saturdays and Sundays one way per day. For example, if it leaves Hanamaki Station for Kamaishi on Saturday, Sunday’s train goes from Kamaishi Station for Hanamaki. All seats are reserved and you can get the train ticket and the reserved-seat ticket at the JR ticket window, ticket vending machines or travel agencies. The seat tickets are also available at Ekinet.

Highlights

  • A moving museum where you can experience Kenji Miyazawa’s “Night on the Galactic Railroad.”
  • When the SL Ginga leaves Hanamaki Station, you can watch the traditional Deer Dance, and Kamaishi Tiger Dance at Kamaishi Station. (They may be canceled depending on the Corvid infection situation)
  • Between Hanamaki and Tono and Tono through Kamaishi, two commemorative tickets are given while available.
  • One of the rare railroads that you can ride on a steam engine.

Photos

  • In spring, enjoy cherry blossoms from the train © Iwate Tourism Association

    In spring, enjoy cherry blossoms from the train © Iwate Tourism Association

  • The arched bridge which reminds you of Night on the Galactic Railroad
© Iwate Tourism Association

    The arched bridge which reminds you of Night on the Galactic Railroad © Iwate Tourism Association

  • The retro interior with classic stained glasses

    The retro interior with classic stained glasses

  • The sofa car is decorated with photos of steam engines

    The sofa car is decorated with photos of steam engines

  • The powerful sight of SL running through fields

    The powerful sight of SL running through fields

Reviews

1
  • 文龍 Sky

    是以宮澤賢治銀河鐵道之夜為主題的蒸汽火車,銀河號預計將在2023年退休。

Details

Name in Japanese
SL銀河
Telephone
050-2016-1600 (JR East Customer Support)
Closed
Open every day
Hours
6:00am – midnight
Admission
840 yen (Adult), 420 yen (Child)
*The prices are for a reserved seat between Hanamaki and Kamaishi. You also need a train ticket.
*Please refer to the JR East “Have fun riding SL Ginga” website.