Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
Japan has some of the most accessible steam locomotive operations in the world, and 4 hours west of Tokyo by Shinkansen is JR West's SL Yamaguchi. This train travels 62km from Shin-Yamaguchi station to Tsuwano station up mountain grades and through the rural Japanese countryside in modern retro-styled coaches designed after trains from the Taisho-era. At the end of the line is Tsuwano, known as the Little Kyoto of San'in, with koi swimming along the main streets.
JR West maintains two locomotives at Umekoji Roundhouse in Kyoto to operate this service: C57 1 and D51 200. With C57 1 down for maintenance, all trains in the 2026 summer schedule were operated by D51 200. The D51 was the most prolific steam locomotive in Japan, with over 1000 examples built between 1936 and 1945, and 180 are preserved across Japan, Taiwan and Sakhalin Island in Russia.
Come along for a round trip on what might be one of Japan's best kept secrets behind one of the most powerful operating steam locomotives in the entire country.
Japan has some of the most accessible steam locomotive operations in the world, and 4 hours west of Tokyo by Shinkansen is JR West's SL Yamaguchi. This train travels 62km from Shin-Yamaguchi station to Tsuwano station up mountain grades and through the rural Japanese countryside in modern retro-styled coaches designed after trains from the Taisho-era. At the end of the line is Tsuwano, known as the Little Kyoto of San'in, with koi swimming along the main streets.
JR West maintains two locomotives at Umekoji Roundhouse in Kyoto to operate this service: C57 1 and D51 200. With C57 1 down for maintenance, all trains in the 2026 summer schedule were operated by D51 200. The D51 was the most prolific steam locomotive in Japan, with over 1000 examples built between 1936 and 1945, and 180 are preserved across Japan, Taiwan and Sakhalin Island in Russia.
Come along for a round trip on what might be one of Japan's best kept secrets behind one of the most powerful operating steam locomotives in the entire country.
