2025 SL Yamaguchi Schedule Posted

[Mutro]

The c571.jp website now shows the 2025 scheduled dates of the SL Yamaguchi operation from May through September.

 

Google Translate: "This is the operation schedule for 2025. The dates with a colored background are operation days. *Operation dates after October 2025 will be announced as soon as they are decided. *All locomotives are scheduled to be D51."

 

Kato's SL Yamaguchi is one of my favorite models, and I hope to ride the actual SL on May 24th!  If you plan to be there, let me know!

[UnfinishedKit]

A mate of mine wrote a book (the book?) on Yamaguchi sake. I wonder how many breweries you could taste at by SL. 

[ED75-775]

Thank you, thank you, thank you @Mutro! I was just thinking it'd be nice to have another Japan trip in mid-2025, and the schedules as posted in your link include operating days in June while I'm planning to be in Kyushu and West Japan! Having travelled on that train in 2019, I've been wanting another trip on it since, and yes, I too have the Kato model of the Yamaguchi plus both its steam locomotives.

 

@UnfinishedKit the train lays over at Tsuwano for three hours and five minutes (arr. 1307 dep. 1612) so that's quite a chunk of time. I guess the question is, how long does a typical sake tasting last for, and more to the point, how many breweries are there and where are they in relation to Tsuwano Station? The Lonely Planet maps of Tsuwano make it look quite small and compact, but then again maps are deceptive like that.

 

Alastair

[Kamome]

Similar to Hitoyoshi. A long wait until the return journey and not a huge amount to see and do. You could kill some time by taking the SL on one run and using local trains to get into position for some good photos on the outbound or inbound journey.  

 

I’d probably suggest this on the journey towards Tsuwano. Take a local train before the SL Yamaguchi to Chōmonkyō, gets some photos, then take another train up the line to take the SL on the return journey from Tsuwano back to Yamaguchi city. This will allow you to get some great shots as it crosses the river. 

[Mutro]

How to get tickets:

I reside in the US, and will be arriving in Japan only two week prior to my planned SL ride. I expect these tickets will go fast and probably be sold out before I arrive. My test trials to purchase JRWest tickets online have not been successful. 

 

Is there a way to obtain advance tickets (30 days prior) from the US?

 

What to do in Tsuwano: 

I'm hoping that the Tsuwano Station Turntable, a short distance from the station, is available for viewing the turnaround, coaling and watering. A blog by Wayfarer Daves provides an excellent description for a SL enthusiast.  After lunch, if there's enough time left, I plan to bicycle around Tsuwano (my other passion). Nearby Tonomachi Dori and Taikodani Inari Jinja are short bike ride away.  It appears rentals bikes are available at Kamai Bicycle, across the street for visiting local sights. 

 

 

[Yavianice]

@Mutro Getting tickets is easy. Go to https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/route_search/ , select SL Yamaguchi and select the date/time/route. 

 

If you want to use a JR West Pass, you MUST purchase it on the official site https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/ (and NOT some third party vendor or travel agent). Then there is a separate portal to make the reservations. 

Same goes for the overpriced Japan Rail Pass. https://japanrailpass.net/en/

I'd also recommend you go to Hagi (there is a JR buss connecting Tsuwano and Hagi). Hagi is a very historically relevant town in Japanese history, and very interesting.

 

You can always book it from a ticket machine or ticket office as soon as you arrive in Japan. When I rode the SL Yamaguchi, I booked it 1 week ahead at a ticket office in japan without a problem. But that was back in 2017, so ymmv. 

Edited January 10 by Yavianice

[RS18U]

14 hours ago, Mutro said:

How to get tickets:

I reside in the US, and will be arriving in Japan only two week prior to my planned SL ride. I expect these tickets will go fast and probably be sold out before I arrive. My test trials to purchase JRWest tickets online have not been successful. 

 

Is there a way to obtain advance tickets (30 days prior) from the US?

 

 

 

 

This will be interesting to see what responses there are.  We tried to get tickets for the 36+3 in Kyushu before going over for our March trip last year with no luck; once I had it figured out it was sold out for the day we needed.

 

Even the manager of out Tokyo office couldn't get tickets for the Spacia X train for the weekend I was there in November, again all sold out.

[katoftw]

The return journeys are normally easier to get seats.

 

But things have been weird with thus service for years. And they only have one steamy this season.  And limited running days.

 

 

[Mutro]

17 hours ago, Yavianice said:

@Mutro Getting tickets is easy. Go to https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/route_search/ , select SL Yamaguchi and select the date/time/route. 

Thanks @Yavianice very much! 

 

Is this a new online JRWest booking website?  I've booked online for JR Kyushu and JR East In the past, but JRWest bookings I've tried in the past required a Japan address, preventing me to book from the US.  

[katoftw]

Been around for a fewxl years at least.

[UnfinishedKit]

The Shimane sake brewers association lists three breweries in Tsuwano so a challenge to get round all 3 and get a bowl of Inaka soba in three hours. 
 

However on  a different note whilst looking for something else I found these 1971 photos of the Tsuwano loco depot and roundhouse. 
 

http://tsushima-keibendo.a.la9.jp/JNR/yamaguchi/yamaguchi.html