Thomas the Tank Engine has returned to Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture and will be running regular trips on weekends and holidays until December this year.
Fans greeting Thomas the Tank Engine
This special service runs between Shin-Kanaya Station in the city of Shimada and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station, stopping only at Ieyama Station on the way. Passengers can enjoy a round trip tour, or get off at Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station and enjoy the Kawane Onsen hot springs before they return.
Round trip tickets are 6,000 yen for adults and 3,000 yen for children, while one-way tickets are 3,000 yen for adults and 1,500 yen. However, round-trip tickets include entry to the “Thomas Fair” at Shin-Kanaya Station where you can see Bertie the Bus, Bulgy the Double-Decker Bus, Winston the Inspection Car and Flynn the Fire Engine. Entry to the fair without a round-trip ticket is 500 yen.
The Thomas Fair at Shin-Kanaya Station
Tickets for Thomas the Tank Engine are not sold directly by Oigawa Railway and can only be bought from the Asoview or Lawson Ticket websites, from JR Central’s EX travel booking website, or as part of a tour from Daitetsu Kanko. However, all of these sites are only available in Japanese.
Thomas the Tank Engine running on Oigawa Railway
Thomas the Tank Engine has been a popular feature on the Oigawa Railway since 2014, and this year will run until December 25th. To see Thomas the Tank Engine’s schedule for 2025 and a detailed timetable please visit the Oigawa Railway’s English website.
Article by Michael Lambe. Photos courtesy of Oigawa Railway. All rights reserved.
