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The Mimasaka Slow Life Train is now running, a special journey around Okayama Prefecture's railway heritage!
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Table of Contents
- Don't worry if you miss this flight! There are only two chances a year!
- "Mimasaka Slow Life Train"
- Full of highlights! Special "hospitality" events at each stop
- Experience retro railway heritage at Tsuyama Station and Mimasaka-kamo Station!
- A tour of Showa and film locations! Takano Station and Mimasaka-takio Station
- Revealing precious facilities in the mountains! Mimasaka-kawai Station and Nagi Station
- Ticket enquiries and other information
Don't worry if you miss this flight! There are only two chances a year!
The Mimasaka Slow Life Train is actually not a once-a-year event. It normally runs twice a year, in spring and autumn (mainly around May and November), so even if you miss this November run, you'll have a chance to ride it again the following spring . Operation dates and detailed information are regularly announced on the official websites of JR West and Tsuyama Learning Railway Museum, so be sure to check them out and plan your next Mimasaka Slow Life Train trip!
Tsuyama Learning Railway Museum | Official website
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"Mimasaka Slow Life Train"
This train is a three-car train with all reserved seats, and will operate as the "Mimasaka Slow Life Train" between Tsuyama Station and Nagi Station (between Nagi Station and Chizu Station it will operate as a local train with all unreserved seats). At each station the train stops at, warm local "omotenashi" (welcoming and service) events will be held, attracting visitors.
The outbound journey departs Tsuyama Station at 11:50 and arrives at Chizu Station at 14:45.
The return journey is scheduled to depart Chizu Station at 14:53 and arrive at Tsuyama Station at 16:35.
Please note that the stop time at Nagi Station is short.
Full of highlights! Special "hospitality" events at each stop
At each station where the Mimasaka Slow Life Train stops, you can enjoy various events, exhibitions, and gourmet food sales that make use of the local characteristics (※Event content may be subject to change).
Experience retro railway heritage at Tsuyama Station and Mimasaka-kamo Station!
Tsuyama Station: A steam locomotive welcomes you
At Tsuyama Station, a C11 steam locomotive is on display in the rotary. Additionally, about a 10-minute walk away is the Tsuyama Learning Railway Museum, where you can learn about the history of Japanese railways.
Stop times: Departure at 11:50 on the outbound journey, arrival at 16:35 on the return journey.
Mimasaka-kamo Station: Enjoy the precious semaphore and gourmet food
This station is a treasured spot for railway enthusiasts, as it was the last station in Japan to use semaphore signals (old-fashioned mechanical signals).
Items for sale : Pound cake, pie choux, apple pie (outbound trip only), wild vegetable rice, curry, jerk chicken burger, udon, wagyu beef skewers, yakitori, hot coffee, chai, etc.
Event: When shopping on the way there, you can participate in a lottery, and if you win, you can exchange it for local specialties on the way back (there is no lottery on the way back).
Stop time: 36 minutes on the outbound journey, 17 minutes on the return journey.
A tour of Showa and film locations! Takano Station and Mimasaka-takio Station
Takano Station: Experience the nostalgic "Showa" era
Exhibition: The "Nostalgic Showa Exhibition" will be held only on the 8th. Here, home appliances and movie posters from the Showa(1926-1989) will be on display.
Stop time: 5 minutes on the way there.
Mimasaka-takio Station: A film location and a cultural property station building
The wooden station building, which was built in Showa and retains its original appearance, is registered as a "Registered Tangible Cultural Property" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
This place is famous as the location for the final installment of the popular Japanese film "Otoko wa Tsurai yo," and in recent years it has also been used as the location for the graduation song of a former member of the popular idol group "Nogizaka 46."
event :
The theme song for "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" will be performed (only on the 9th).
Local bands will perform (9th only).
You can enjoy taking photos with staff dressed as the film's main character, Tora-san, and with a face-in panel.
Items for sale: Lunch boxes (8th and 9th), yakisoba (9th only), railway goods (Tsuyama Learning Railway Museum goods, etc.), original Slow Life Train panel magnets, etc.
Stop time: 34 minutes on the outbound journey.
Revealing precious facilities in the mountains! Mimasaka-kawai Station and Nagi Station
Mimasaka-kawai Station: Tour of the manual turntable and experience operating it
This small station, nestled quietly in the mountains near Monomi Pass, still retains a valuable manual turntable (a manual device for changing the direction of locomotives).
event :
Visit the manual turntable, a heritage site of modern industrial development.
Experience driving a track bicycle (cancelled in case of rain).
Event hours: 11:00-14:30.
Participation requirements : Elementary school students and above (elementary school students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). When the train stops (13:58-14:14), only those on the Slow Life Train can participate.
Items for sale : Fried chicken, mochi, abaokowa (rice cakes), aba apple pie, ginger tsukudani (simmered in soy sauce), etc.
Stop time: 17 minutes on the outbound journey.
Nagi Station: Old memories and Yosakoi dance performance
This station is located at the foot of Monomi Pass on the Tottori side, and the stairs leading up to the platform are decorated with photos of old memories.
event :
Performance by a Yosakoi group (9th only, from 14:35).
You can enjoy the hospitality for approximately 35 minutes until the return journey from Chizu Station.
For sale: Persimmon leaf sushi, handmade baked goods, local specialties, etc.
Stop time: 2 minutes on both the outbound and return journeys.
Ticket enquiries and other information
All seats on the Mimasaka Slow Life Train are reserved, so tickets must be purchased in advance.
For ticket inquiries :
JR West Customer Service Center: 0570-00-2486
*Please check the JR West official website or the "Midori no Midori" ticket counter for purchasing methods. For foreign visitors tourists, it is convenient to purchase tickets on the JR West official website (English version, etc.) or at a travel agency.
Events, hospitality enquiries :
Mimasaka Local Railway Tourism Executive Committee Secretariat (Tsuyama Learning Railway Museum): 0868-35-3343
Don't miss this opportunity to experience Japan's railway heritage and interact with the warm-hearted local people!
