Known Affectionately as “Watetsu”
Watarase Keikoku Railway is affectionately known among local residents and railway enthusiasts as “Watetsu”, a shortened form of its Japanese name.
For many visitors, the train journey itself is part of the attraction. The sight of a nostalgic local train winding through the valleys, together with old-fashioned stations and railway facilities, creates a distinctive atmosphere that is increasingly rare in modern Japan.
A Railway with Roots in the Former Ashio Line
Beginning as a Third-Sector Railway
The history of Watarase Keikoku Railway began with the conversion of the former Ashio Line into a third-sector railway.
In March 1988, it was decided that the Ashio Line would be transferred to a third-sector railway operator. Watarase Keikoku Railway Co., Ltd. was established on October 25 of the same year.
On March 29, 1989, the company took over the Ashio Line from East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and began operating the line under its present form.
The railway continued to serve as an important means of transportation for communities along the route while gradually developing into a popular sightseeing railway that takes advantage of the area’s rich natural environment.
Developing the Railway as a Tourist Attraction
During the 1990s, efforts to promote tourism along the railway increased through cooperation with local communities.
Shimoshinden Station opened in 1992, followed by the opening of the railway-car restaurant Seiryu at Godo Station in 1996.
In 1998, the sightseeing trolley train Torokko Watarase Keikoku-go began operating. The open-style cars offered passengers a closer experience of the valleys and forests along the route and helped establish the railway as a distinctive tourist attraction.
New Initiatives Since the 2000s
Since the 2000s, Watarase Keikoku Railway has continued to develop attractions that connect railway travel with local tourism.
Mizunuma Station became home to a hot spring facility, allowing visitors to combine a train journey with a relaxing bath. In 2010, the railway introduced its mascot “Watetsu no Wasshi,” and in 2012, another trolley-style sightseeing train, Torokko Wasshi-go, began service.
The Watarase Keikoku Line from Kiryu to Mato
The Watarase Keikoku Line runs approximately 44.1 kilometers from Kiryu Station in Gunma Prefecture to Mato Station in the upper reaches of the Watarase River.
As the train leaves the urban area, the scenery gradually changes to forests and mountain valleys. Passengers can enjoy views of the Watarase River, rocky cliffs, deep woodland, and other landscapes characteristic of the region.
The trains generally travel at a relaxed pace, making the railway particularly suitable for travelers who want to slow down and enjoy the scenery from the window.
Stations Supported by the Local Community
Some stations along the Watarase Keikoku Line demonstrate the strong relationship between the railway and the communities it serves.
At certain stations, local residents have served as volunteer “Furusato Station Masters”, helping with station cleaning, visitor assistance, and other activities.
These community-based efforts are one of the distinctive features of Watarase Keikoku Railway and provide a glimpse into how local people have helped preserve and support their railway.
Seasonal Valley Scenery from the Train
One of the greatest attractions of Watarase Keikoku Railway is the opportunity to enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons directly from the train.
In spring, fresh green leaves and flowers appear along the route. Summer brings mountains covered in deep green foliage, while autumn transforms the hillsides with brilliant colors. In winter, the railway passes through quiet mountain villages and peaceful snow-covered landscapes.
The sections following the Watarase River are particularly scenic, with the river, valleys, and forests forming a beautiful natural panorama.
Because the scenery changes dramatically from season to season, each journey can offer a different experience.
Popular Trolley Trains
Torokko Watarase Keikoku-go
Torokko Watarase Keikoku-go is one of the railway’s best-known sightseeing trains.
The open-style trolley cars provide a refreshing sense of space and allow passengers to experience the surrounding scenery more directly.
Unlike an ordinary train, the trolley train allows passengers to feel the breeze and seasonal mountain air as they travel through the valleys, creating a special experience that is closely associated with sightseeing on the Watarase Keikoku Railway.
Torokko Wasshi-go
Torokko Wasshi-go is a trolley-style sightseeing train that began operating in 2012. Its name comes from the railway’s mascot, Watetsu no Wasshi.
Riding through the mountains while watching forests and valleys pass by the windows is one of the experiences that best captures the character of a journey on this railway.
Seiryu Railway-Car Restaurant at Godo Station
At Godo Station, visitors can enjoy a meal inside a former railway car used as the Seiryu restaurant.
Eating inside a stationary train at the station provides a unique experience that combines railway history with local tourism.
It is also an example of how the railway’s stations themselves can become destinations worth visiting, rather than simply places to board or leave a train.
A Hot Spring at Mizunuma Station
Mizunuma Station has a hot spring facility directly associated with the station, allowing visitors to combine railway travel with a relaxing bath.
The unusual convenience of being able to enjoy a hot spring immediately after getting off the train makes Mizunuma a popular stop during a journey through the Watarase Valley.
The station is a particularly good example of how Watarase Keikoku Railway connects transportation with the region’s tourism resources.
A Variety of Distinctive Railway Vehicles
Watarase Keikoku Railway operates several types of diesel railcars as well as sightseeing vehicles such as trolley trains. The trains are also recognizable for their distinctive designs and colors.
The subdued copper-brown color used on many vehicles blends beautifully with the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Diesel Railcars
Regular passenger services use several types of diesel railcars, with differences in seating arrangements and onboard features.
The WKT-550 series, for example, is also used as a trolley-style sightseeing vehicle designed to help passengers enjoy the scenery along the route.
Trolley Train Coaches
Torokko Watarase Keikoku-go uses specially adapted passenger coaches and other sightseeing cars.
Individual cars have friendly names such as Kawasemi and Yamasemi, adding to the character of the sightseeing train.
Diesel Locomotives
Some trolley trains are hauled by DE10-class diesel locomotives.
Some locomotives feature distinctive copper-colored bodies with gold stripes, making them particularly appealing to railway enthusiasts and photographers.
The Distinctive Copper-Brown Train Design
One of the visual trademarks of Watarase Keikoku Railway is its subdued copper-brown color scheme.
The color evokes both the natural surroundings of the railway and the history of the Ashio Copper Mine, which played an important role in the development of the region.
The trains also feature carefully designed details such as headmarks, animal-themed plaques, company logos, and railway emblems.
A Railway Connecting Regional History and Tourism
Watarase Keikoku Railway is much more than a means of transportation. Running through the mountainous communities along the Watarase River, it provides a gateway to the region’s natural scenery, history, and local culture.
Along the route are areas associated with the history of the Ashio Copper Mine, scenic valleys, hot springs, traditional stations, and other attractions. Getting off the train at different stations and exploring these places on foot can provide a deeper understanding of the region.
Featured in Films and Television Dramas
The Watarase Keikoku Railway and its surrounding landscapes have also appeared in Japanese films and television dramas.
The railway and its scenery have been featured in films such as Bokutachi Kyuko: A Ressha de Iko and Tenshi no Koi, as well as the television drama series Aibou.
The nostalgic atmosphere of a local railway winding through the mountains makes the area particularly well suited to visual storytelling, and some visitors have been inspired to explore the railway after seeing it on screen.
A Relaxed Railway Journey for Exploring Rural Japan
Watarase Keikoku Railway is a railway where the journey itself can be the destination.
Rather than rushing toward a particular sightseeing spot, travelers can simply relax on the train, watch the Watarase River and surrounding mountains pass by, and get off at different stations to enjoy hot springs, local food, and nearby attractions.
The scenery changes throughout the year, from fresh spring greenery and lush summer forests to brilliant autumn foliage and quiet winter mountain villages.
For travelers exploring eastern Gunma and the Ashio area of Tochigi, riding Watarase Keikoku Railway is more than just a convenient way to get around. It is an opportunity to experience a nostalgic railway journey through one of Japan’s beautiful mountain valleys.