Ōigawa Railway

Ōigawa Railway is a private railway company based in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1925, it operates two 1,067 mm gauge lines in the Ōi River region: the Ōigawa Main Line between Kanaya and Senzu, and the Ikawa Line between Senzu and Ikawa. The company also operates a bus service near Sumatakyō Onsen in Kawanehon. Although the railway provides local transportation, its public identity is strongly associated with tourism, preserved rolling stock, mountain scenery, and steam-powered excursions. The Ōigawa Main Line is one of Japan’s best-known heritage railway routes. The company operates preserved steam locomotives and historic passenger equipment through a landscape of rivers, forests, and mountain valleys. Its rolling stock and period atmosphere have made the line attractive for film and television production, particularly for stories set in earlier periods. The railway has also appeared as a setting or visual reference in anime, including the third season of Laid-Back Camp. Internationally, Ōigawa Railway maintains sister-railway relationships with the Brienz Rothorn Railway in Switzerland and Taiwan’s Alishan Forest Railway, reflecting its position within the global heritage-railway community. A major part of the company’s tourism business is its Thomas & Friends program. Six themed locomotives associated with the franchise—Thomas the Tank Engine, James the Red Engine, Percy, Toby, Hiro, and Rusty—are based at Shin-Kanaya Station. Thomas trains operate between Shin-Kanaya and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station, adding a family-oriented attraction to the company’s traditional steam-railway offering. Ōigawa Railway was formerly part of the Meitetsu Group. In 2015, it was restructured and sold to Eclipse Hidaka, a food, hotel, and investment company headquartered in Hidaka, Hokkaido. The change placed the railway under a different ownership structure while leaving its core identity centered on regional tourism and heritage transport. The company’s infrastructure was seriously affected by Tropical Storm Talas in September 2022. The storm damaged the Ōigawa Main Line, leading to the suspension of services between Kawane-Onsen Sasamado and Senzu. Steam operations were consequently limited to the Shin-Kanaya–Kawane-Onsen Sasamado section. Passengers traveling toward Senzu, the Ikawa Line, or the Sumata Gorge area were advised to connect at Ieyama with community buses operated by Kawanehon Town. In June 2024, Akira Torizuka became president and announced a target of raising ¥2.1 billion, with support from national and local governments, to restore the full Main Line by 2029. Ōigawa Railway’s brand therefore combines public transport, destination tourism, railway preservation, popular-character licensing, and regional economic activity. Its distinctive proposition is not simply movement between stations, but travel through a historic railway environment and the surrounding natural and cultural landscape. The company remains active, although the condition of the Main Line after the 2022 storm is a central operational and financial issue.

Ōigawa Railway was founded in 1925 in Shizuoka Prefecture and developed around railway transportation in the Ōi River area. Its network ultimately came to comprise the Ōigawa Main Line, running from Kanaya to Senzu, and the Ikawa Line, extending from Senzu to Ikawa. Both lines use the Japanese narrow-gauge standard of 1,067 mm. The Ikawa Line is particularly notable because it is described as Japan’s only rack railway line in operation. Over time, the railway’s role evolved from conventional regional transportation toward a combined transport-and-tourism model. The mountainous terrain, river scenery, and preserved railway equipment made the route suitable for sightseeing. Ōigawa Railway retained and operated steam locomotives and historic rolling stock, creating a heritage experience that became central to the company’s identity. The Main Line’s period equipment and scenery also attracted film and television productions, especially productions requiring a prewar or historical atmosphere. The railway has additionally been used as a setting in anime, including Laid-Back Camp. The company expanded its visitor appeal through character-themed services. Its Thomas & Friends program uses six themed locomotives—Thomas, James, Percy, Toby, Hiro, and Rusty—which are based at Shin-Kanaya Station. Thomas services run between Shin-Kanaya and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station. This program complements the railway’s traditional steam operations by bringing family entertainment and licensed character experiences into its tourism portfolio. Ōigawa Railway was owned within the Meitetsu Group for many years. In 2015, it was restructured and sold to Eclipse Hidaka, a Hokkaido-based company with interests in food, hotels, and investment. This transaction changed the railway’s corporate ownership while preserving its emphasis on regional railway tourism. The company’s modern history has been shaped by natural-disaster damage. Tropical Storm Talas struck the region in September 2022 and caused substantial damage to the Ōigawa Main Line. Services between Kawane-Onsen Sasamado and Senzu were suspended, and steam trains were confined to the section between Shin-Kanaya and Kawane-Onsen Sasamado. The disruption also affected travelers continuing toward the Ikawa Line and the Sumata Gorge area. Ōigawa Railway advised passengers to transfer at Ieyama to community buses operated by Kawanehon Town for connections toward Senzu. In June 2024, Akira Torizuka took office as president and identified restoration of the damaged Main Line as a central priority. The company set a fundraising objective of ¥2.1 billion, with anticipated assistance from national and local governments, and stated an aim of restoring the full line by 2029. The recovery plan illustrates the importance of public-sector cooperation to a regional railway whose value extends beyond fare revenue to tourism, local mobility, and the economies of communities along the route. Today, Ōigawa Railway operates as an active Japanese railway brand with a distinctive heritage-tourism proposition. Its activities span scheduled passenger services, steam excursions, themed trains, mountain railway travel, and bus connections. The company’s sister-railway agreements with the Brienz Rothorn Railway in Switzerland and the Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan further connect it to international railway preservation networks.

• 2024

  Restoration program announced

  [1]Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  New president Akira Torizuka set a ¥2.1 billion fundraising target and a 2029 goal for restoring the full Ōigawa Main Line.

• 2022

  Tropical Storm Talas damages the Main Line

  [1]Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The storm caused substantial infrastructure damage and suspended service between Kawane-Onsen Sasamado and Senzu.

• 2015

  Ownership transferred from the Meitetsu Group

  [1]Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Ōigawa Railway was restructured and sold to Eclipse Hidaka.

• 1925

  Ōigawa Railway founded

  [1]Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The private railway company was established in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

A scenic Japanese heritage railway combining regional transport with steam-era nostalgia, family entertainment, and destination tourism.

• Passenger and heritage railway

  Ōigawa Main Line

  The Kanaya–Senzu route is the company’s principal scenic railway. It is known for preserved steam locomotives, historic rolling stock, and views of the Ōi River and surrounding mountain landscape. The line functions both as regional transport and as a destination attraction. Following storm damage in 2022, through service on the section between Kawane-Onsen Sasamado and Senzu was suspended, leaving the restored operating section and replacement connections central to the company’s recovery plans.

• Mountain railway

  Ikawa Line

  The Ikawa Line runs from Senzu to Ikawa through mountainous terrain. It is notable for being described as the only rack railway line in Japan. The route serves the wider sightseeing region, including access toward the Sumata Gorge area, with travel connections affected by the Main Line disruption after Tropical Storm Talas.

• Heritage tourism

  Steam locomotive excursions

  Ōigawa Railway operates preserved steam locomotives and historic passenger cars as sightseeing services. The trains are a defining part of the brand and are used to present the railway’s historical atmosphere alongside the scenery of Shizuoka’s interior. After the 2022 storm damage, steam operations were limited to the Shin-Kanaya–Kawane-Onsen Sasamado section.

• Licensed family tourism

  Thomas & Friends themed trains

  The company’s Thomas & Friends offering includes six themed locomotives associated with Thomas, James, Percy, Toby, Hiro, and Rusty. Based at Shin-Kanaya Station, the themed trains operate between Shin-Kanaya and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station. The program broadens the railway’s appeal from railway enthusiasts and scenic travelers to families and children.

• Bus transportation

  Regional bus service near Sumatakyō Onsen

  Ōigawa Railway operates a bus line near Sumatakyō Onsen in Kawanehon. Bus transportation forms part of the company’s broader regional mobility and tourism activities and is also relevant to travel planning around sections of the railway affected by infrastructure disruption.

• 2024

  Fundraising plan for Main Line restorationStrategy

  Background

  The railway continued to face the operational consequences of the 2022 storm damage.

  Action taken

  President Akira Torizuka announced a goal of raising ¥2.1 billion with support from national and local governments to restore the full Ōigawa Main Line by 2029.

  Aftermath

  The plan established a long-term public-private recovery objective, although the cited material does not confirm completion or the final funding result.

  Restoration fundraising target. ¥2.1 billion target (Announced in 2024 for restoration targeted by 2029)

  Source

• 2022

  Service adjustments after Tropical Storm TalasStrategy

  Background

  Tropical Storm Talas caused substantial damage to the Ōigawa Main Line, making the section between Kawane-Onsen Sasamado and Senzu unavailable.

  Action taken

  The company suspended affected rail services, limited steam operations to the Shin-Kanaya–Kawane-Onsen Sasamado section, and directed passengers toward community-bus connections at Ieyama.

  Aftermath

  Access to Senzu, the Ikawa Line, and the Sumata Gorge area continued through alternative transport arrangements while restoration remained pending.

  Source

• 2015

  Restructuring and sale to Eclipse HidakaM&A

  Background

  Ōigawa Railway had been a subsidiary of the Meitetsu Group before a corporate restructuring and ownership transfer.

  Action taken

  The railway was sold to Eclipse Hidaka, a Hokkaido-based company involved in food, hotel, and investment activities.

  Aftermath

  The transaction placed Ōigawa Railway under independent ownership outside the Meitetsu Group.

  Source

• 2024

  Akira Torizuka appointed president with restoration fundraising target[1]Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  Akira Torizuka became president and set a goal of raising ¥2.1 billion with national and local government assistance to restore the full Ōigawa Main Line by 2029.

• 2022

  Tropical Storm Talas damages the Ōigawa Main Line[1]Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Severe damage from Tropical Storm Talas led to the suspension of railway services between Kawane-Onsen Sasamado and Senzu. Steam trains were restricted to the Shin-Kanaya–Kawane-Onsen Sasamado section, while passengers heading farther into the region were directed to connecting community buses.

1. 1Ōigawa Railwayen.wikipedia.org