VOL.215 MAY 2026
[SPRING SPECIAL ISSUE] ENJOYING JAPAN’S SPRING BY LOCAL TRAINS Scenic Springtime on the Tarumi Railway

A train on the Tarumi Railway travels through a “tunnel” of cherry blossoms near Tanigumiguchi Station in Gifu Prefecture.

The Tarumi Railway stretches for a total of 34.5km from Ogaki Station to Tarumi Station, in Gifu Prefecture. This local railway line runs through the mountain gorges, partly following the course of the Neo River. It connects many wonderful places to see cherry blossoms in spring, so it is sometimes called the “cherry blossom line” and drawing many visitors. In this article, we spoke with KAWASE Narumi of the Planning and Sales Department, Tarumi Railway Co., Ltd., about some must-see spots along the local train line.

Route map of the Tarumi Railway

Starting from Ogaki Station in Gifu Prefecture, roughly 40 minutes by train from Nagoya station in Aichi Prefecture, the Tarumi Railway winds its way through the mountains of Gifu. Originally opened in 1956 as the JNR¹ Tarumi Line, covering only a portion of its current route, the line was re-established in 1984 as the Tarumi Railway under a third-sector² railroad company, and extended by around 11km from Komi Station to Tarumi Station. Operating today as a single-car train with a solo driver, it passes through landscapes of rice paddy fields and mountain-surrounded gorges. “This railway packs an amazing amount of Japanese history, culture, food experiences and nature into a compact route,” says KAWASE, who works as a public relations officer and attendant on the Tarumi Railway.

As it heads through the mountains, the Tarumi Railway crosses 12 bridges in total: one over the Ibi River, one over the Sai River, and 10 over the Neo River. Because the route crosses rivers that meander through the landscape, it offers some dynamic-looking views from the window. “I think this rapidly-changing scenery along this route, winding between mountains and rivers, is really something unique to Japan,” says KAWASE.

In spring, the route is adorned with cherry blossoms in full bloom at various spots along the line.

At Suimon River, just a short walk from Ogaki Station, visitors can admire the cherry blossoms while drifting along the river on a raft from late March through early April. From late April to early May, visitors can experience a tarai-bune (traditional Japanese tub boat shaped like a barrel) surrounded by fresh greenery (advanced reservations required). Ogaki City, home to Ogaki Station, has been known for centuries as “the City of Water” thanks to its abundant underground water. It is a popular spot among visitors who come for raft trips that pass around 100 cherry blossom trees and fresh greenery along the banks of the Suimon River, which flows through the center of the town.

From Ogaki Station, passengers make their way north on the Tarumi Railway to Tanigumiguchi Station. The surrounding area is almost blanketed by cherry trees planted there, and when they are in full bloom, passengers can enjoy the magical sight of the train passing through the “cherry blossom tunnel.”

Meanwhile, Tanigumi-san Kegon-ji, located about 10 minutes by bus from Tanigumiguchi Station, is a historic temple dating back to the Heian period (late 8th to late 12th centuries). In spring, the cherry trees lining its approach bloom beautifully, and the temple is well known as a celebrated viewing spot.

Hinata Station is another scenic spot along the route, as the train makes its way north. This station is popular as a perfect place for photographs, because the waiting room with cherry trees standing directly behind it, the nearby railway bridge and tunnel, and the train itself can be captured in a single shot.

Visitors who get off at Tarumi Station (the terminal station) and walk 15 minutes up a slope are greeted by the sight of the Neodani Usuzumi-Zakura, literally meaning “diluted ink cherry blossom,” one of Japan’s “three great cherry blossom trees.” Over 1,500 years old, this tree was designated a Natural Monument of Japan in 1922. Its pale pink buds open up into white flowers, before turning gray after the peak of the bloom. On a typical year, around 8,000 people a day visit this tree between late March and early April.

“It is precisely because the Neodani Usuzumi-Zakura has been lovingly protected by local people for over 1,500 years that it continues to stand in magnificent form to this day. Many descendant trees of this venerable giant are planted alongside the railway tracks, transforming the Tarumi Railway into a mass of pink blossom that is well worthy of its nickname, ‘cherry blossom line.’ Visitors can also enjoy exploring the areas around the stations on foot.”

But beautiful scenery is not the only delight on offer along the Tarumi Railway. Visitors can also enjoy regional specialties made with seasonal ingredients from along the railway line: wild vegetables in spring and sweetfish from the Neo River in summer. In fall, the region’s prized fuyugaki, a persimmon sometimes known as “the king of sweet persimmons” come into season. In winter, the local specialty is game cuisine. The Tarumi Railway operates special seasonal themed trains that allow passengers to enjoy local cuisine on board, and they are said to be highly popular.

Another essential part of the Tarumi Railway’s appeal is the nostalgic atmosphere created by its colorful, unique-looking train cars and station buildings.

With six cars currently in operation, the designs include not only a light blue car which evokes the clear waters of the Neo River, but other brightly-colored designs featuring advertisements for local companies. Passing through the rich natural scenery, these trains with their vivid-looking designs are a charming sight.

Seventeen of the Tarumi Railway’s 19 stations remain unstaffed, and most of these retain the old-fashioned appearance they had when the railway first opened. There is a charmingly nostalgic air to this line, from the hand-written signs to the wooden waiting room buildings; these are not replicas, but the original structures, preserved over the decades. “These days, more and more young people are coming here, attracted by the ‘Showa-retro’³ atmosphere,” says KAWASE.

Getting off at one of these old-fashioned stations and strolling around in the nearby area while waiting for the next train is an experience unique to a local line. Visitors are sure to love a trip to this railway when the cherry blossoms bloom and the fresh green leaves of spring appear.

• 1. An abbreviation for “Japanese National Railways.” In 1987, the company was privatized and split into six regional passenger railway companies and one freight railway company, among others.
• 2. A third-sector railway company is a business entity established through joint investment by a private-sector company and either the national government or a local government.
• 3. “Showa-retro” is a nostalgic movement in Japan, which is about appreciating objects, designs, cultural aspects and atmospheres which evoke the lifestyle and culture of the Showa period (1926 to 1989).

By MURAKAMI Kayo
Photo: SOU Inc.; Ibigawa Town; Ogaki Tourism Association; PIXTA