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

[Mutro]

On 1/16/2025 at 4:12 AM, UnfinishedKit said:

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

Thanks for posting @UnfinishedKit! Great find!  My plan is to rent a bike and tour around Tsuwano for the three hours. Save the sake for the return leg.  

[Mutro]

A Follow-up...

 

Five weeks before my scheduled ride on the SL Yamaguchi, I tested the reservation site (English version - see link from  @Yavianice post above) to see if (1) it really worked and (2) to gauge the demand.  So I figured the time difference between Japan and the US Pacific, and got on the website 30 days ahead of the test date and time. I discovered that the site worked as advertised, but already all the Green Car seats were gone and only a handful of seats remained on the regular seats for both directions, Shi-Yamaguchi > Tsuwano and Tsuwano > Shin-Yamaguchi!   Yikes!   How could this be?  So I contacted my good friend in Matsuyama (using LINE) who agreed to join me on the SL adventure. He calmly replied with his hypothesis: it's the Golden Week phenomena; as many people are looking for vacationing ideas for this week; but no need to panic as our actual SL date is after the Golden Week.  Ah ha!  He must be right. I happened to be in Tokyo during Golden Week a few years ago, and the entire city seemed deserted! I was able to ride my bicycle through Ginza, virtually unhindered, at least in the early morning hours. As the actual date of our SL ride approached, my friend in Matsuyama, sensing my anxiety, volunteered to make the reservations for me, himself and his wife on the Japanese reservation website, from his home in Matsuyama.

 

On the actual date and time, 30 days ahead, he called me and assured me that he was indeed able to get us seats for both directions, (hurray!)  but he was surprised that the Green Car seats were already gone!  My ideal plan was to ride the Green Car one way and the regular car on the return, or visa versa. What's going on?  Are they even running Green Cars any more, or is the demand so great?  He didn't have an answer.  But at least we have our SL Yamaguchi tickets!

 

Today, 28 days before the SL ride, I see on the reservation website that all outbound (Shin-Yamaguchi > Tsuwano) seats have sold out, and only the regular coach seats remain on the inbound (Tsuwano > Shin-Yamaguchi.

Edited April 26 by Mutro

[cteno4]

I wonder if they are selling blocks to a booking agent or tour groups so few reservation seats left. Ticket reservation stuff has gotten really out of hand around the world.

 

jeff

[Mutro]

SL Yamaguchi Trip Report Part I

 

My journey to ride the SL Yamaguchi started today from JR Hakata, riding the limited express Huis Ten Bosch. Why am I in Hakata for a SL Yamaguchi ride? you might ask…  Well one thing led to another and before I realized it, the SL Yamaguchi became just the trigger to travel the Japanese countryside in all forms of transport.  So for the next few weeks, I’ll be riding trains airplanes busses taxis and bicycles, culminating with the SL Yamaguchi in Shin-Yamaguchi. In fact the longest part of my journey will be on my bicycle (my other favorite form of travel) from Nagasaki to Hiroshima, 33,300’ of climbing over 487 miles   But that’s another story for another day…

BTW, if you plan to ride the Huis Ten Bosch from Hakata, the regular car seats are very nice, but in my opinion, it’s worth the up charge to reserve the Greencar Car #1, row 1 (any of the Seats 1A - C) as you get the front row window view! 

 

 

Edited May 6 by Mutro
more pics!

[katoftw]

Awesome.  Where's part 2? 😂 

[Mutro]

 SL Yamaguchi Trip Report 2

Decided to take the Seaside Liner from  Huis Ten Bosch to Isahaya on the Omura Line. But with a lovely name like Seaside Liner, I was expecting a bit more than a spiffed up commuter interior… But the views to the sea is stunning. 

 

 

Edited May 9 by Mutro
file or server error

[Mutro]

SL Yamaguchi Trip Report 3

Finally reaching Nagasaki on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome. This is my first time on this Shinkansen line and completes my Shinkansen Bingo Card. 

Tomorrow I start the bicycle ride to Hiroshima!

 

 

Edited May 9 by Mutro

[Mutro]

SL Yamaguchi Trip Report 4

After three days of cycling from Nagasaki along the rugged coastline of western Kyushu, we’ll be arriving in Karatsu. After cycling 219 km and climbing 3,000 meters, we’re about a third of our way to Hiroshima, our final destination. We’ve passed through a patchwork of picturesque fishing villages and terraced rice fields cascading into the sea. We are cycling through UNESCO World Heritage area.

Along the way, I stopped and chatted with a friendly 92 year-old who was busy weeding along the narrow country road. It was her contribution, she tells me.

 

I hope to explore the town of Karatsu and maybe do some trainspotting as it’s our rest day in Karatsu.

Edited Sunday at 10:20 PM by Mutro

[Mutro]

SL Yamaguchi Trip Report 5

Its a rest day from cycling today in Karatsu so I decided to take the local JR Chikuhi Line. Got on the Kuha 103-1514 to Chikuzen Maebara, a local transit center where you can transfer to go further to Hakata. 

 

 

 

 

But rather than transfer to the train bound for Hakata, the views of the beaches beckoned me to take the opposite train back towards Karatsu, and disembark at Shikaka Station,

and take a short walk to the sandy shores of Obiishi Beach. 

Not single soul on the beach!

Life is good!

 

[Mutro]

SL Yamaguchi Trip Report 6

We crossed from Kyushu to Honshu via a pedestrian tunnel under the Straights of Kammon yesterday. This tunnel, which connects the cities of Shimonoseki and Mojiko, is bored under the sea just north of the Shinkansen tunnel and is accessed by 180’ deep elevators on each ends.   Unfortunately, my friend dropped his iPhone as we entered the elevator and it slipped through the crack, dropping all the way down the 180’ shaft 🥺… But I digress.

 

JR Mojiko Station

Mojiko station is a Government Designated Important Cultural Asset, opened on February 1, 1914.  The 2-story building constructed in the Renaissance style with high historical valuable is one of the oldest station buildings in Kyushu

 

Kitakyushu Railway History Museum
Nearby is the Kitakyushu Railway History Museum, a great find for any railway enthusiast. 

It’s small but a real gem, showcasing several restored locomotives and railroad memorabilia.  There are a couple of nice model railroad layouts in N and HO as well as a well-stocked omiyage / railway nicknack store. 

 

 

Following descriptions by the museum

 

Japanese National Railways No. 59634

First year of manufacture1922

Production company etc.Kawasaki Shipyard

The 9600 type was the first domestically produced freight locomotive, and 770 were made. It was used throughout Kyushu and was affectionately nicknamed Kyuroku. Its distinctive feature was the high car body height, due to the boiler being located above the driving wheels. 
This locomotive was transferred from the Yonesaka Line to the Gotoji Locomotive Depot in 1974. Fans called this locomotive, which had come all the way from afar, "Thank you for your hard work," because of its number. It worked in the Chikuho region for less than a year, but it was one of the last steam locomotives in the Kitakyushu region.

Japanese National Railway C59 No. 1

First year of manufacture1941

It was born as the main locomotive on the Tokaido and Sanyo main lines. It 
was assigned to Moji in 1956 and used for the sleeper express "Asakaze" and the express "Unzen", and in 1962 it was transferred to Kumamoto. 
It also pulled Kumamoto's first express "Mizuho", which was launched that same year. 
When the electrification of Kumamoto was completed in 1965, it was scrapped as it had no other place to be transferred to due to its heavy axle load for main line use. Nine cars of the same model were dismantled, but this car was kept on display at Kokura Factory as a quasi-railway monument. It had traveled the equivalent of 62 times around the earth before being scrapped.
 

Japanese National Railways Kuha 481 No. 603

First year of manufacture1969

Production company etc.Nippon Sharyo

The 481 series, which can run on both AC and DC, is an advanced version of the electric express "Kodama" that appeared in 1958, and was born in conjunction with the electrification of Kumamoto. 
This car was born in 1969 as Kuro 481-5 and was active in the Tohoku region, but in 1983 it was assigned to the Kagoshima Depot, where it was converted into a regular seating car and its car number changed to Kuha 481-603. After being used as the express "Nichirin", "Kamome" and "Ariake" in Kyushu, it has been preserved at the Kokura Factory since 1997.

 

 

Japanese National Railways ED72 No. 1

First year of manufacture1961

Production company etc.Toshiba

It was introduced as an AC electric locomotive for use in the Kitakyushu electrification project. Since it had a heating boiler, it was characterized by its long car length and the presence of a middle bogie in the center where no power was transmitted. 
As heating was changed from steam to electricity and the boiler became unnecessary, it was no longer necessary to limit it to passenger use, and in its later years it was also used for freight trains. This vehicle was a prototype locomotive and is slightly different in style from other locomotives of the same type, but it was preserved at Oimatsu Park in Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City as Kyushu's first AC electric locomotive.

 

Japanese National Railways Kiha 07 No. 41

First year of manufacture1937

Production company etc.Nippon Sharyo

This is a typical pre-war mechanical (clutch-driven gear change) diesel railcar, and when the cars were coupled together, the drivers on both sides would signal to each other as they drove. In 1952, the gasoline engine was changed to a diesel engine. 
This car was allocated to Bungomori Locomotive Depot in 1957 and used on the Miyahara Line. It was retired in 1969 and was carefully stored at Bungomori Locomotive Depot and Oita Depot. This is the only car of its type manufactured before the war that has retained its original form.

 

Japanese National Railways EF10 No. 35

First year of manufacture1941

Production company etc.Toshiba

When the Kanmon Tunnel was opened in 1942, this section became the only electrified section, and an EF10-type DC electric locomotive was deployed specifically for the tunnel, with the locomotives being replaced at Shimonoseki and Moji. In 1961, the Kyushu side was electrified with 20,000 volts AC, and the Honshu side with 1,500 volts DC, and the role was handed over to dual-purpose locomotives. 
This locomotive was then used in various parts of Honshu until 1979, and after its retirement it was preserved in Moji Osato Park.
 

 

Japanese National Railways Kuhane 581 No. 8

First year of manufacture1967

Production company etc.Hitachi, Ltd.

It debuted as the world's first sleeper train express "Gekko". 
It is a convenient express train that can operate both day and night as a seated express train during the day. In 1970, the number of trains increased and it was used for express trains between Kansai and Kyushu, such as "Tsubame" and "Hato". In 1984, it was converted into a local train at Kokura Factory and reborn as the AC train 715 series (Kuha 7151), and was mainly used on the Nagasaki and Sasebo lines until 2000. After being scrapped, it was repainted in the express train livery it had when it was first introduced and was preserved at Kokura Factory.
 

 

Series 14 Sleeper Car

First year of manufacture1972

Production company etc.Nippon Vehicles

The 14 Series 11 sleeper express train was manufactured by Nippon Sharyo in 1972 as the second generation sleeper express train. It began operation as a replacement for the 20 Series "Sakura" and "Mizuho". The preserved "Suhanef 14 Series 11" has a diesel engine under the floor, and can send electricity to five cars including the train itself. When it was manufactured, it was a three-tiered sleeper with a conductor's room, but in 1982, the sleepers were remodeled to two tiers. It was in service for a long time, but the sleeper express "Mizuho" was discontinued in 1994, the "Sakura" in 2005, and the "Fuji" and "Hayabusa" in 2009, and this was the last operation, but it was in service as a special train in Kyushu until 2010, and was preserved at the Kumamoto Vehicle Center after its retirement.