'Autumn view' along Watarase Valley Railway
(Watarase Keikoku Tetsudo)
わたらせ渓谷鉄道（桐生市、みどり市、日光市）
Enjoy the scenery of the colorful gorge from a open window train!
DATE
TIME & SCHEDULE
Eleven normal trains run daily as well as the special ‘Trolley (Torokko,トロッコ)’ trains below run a few times during the high seasons.
Trolley (Torokko トロッコ) Trains
*Depart: Time leaving Kiryu station towards Ashio Station
*Return: Time leaving Ashiko station towards Kiryu Station
Friday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd November (not 29th Nov)
Depart 10:32 / Return 13:57
*29th: No Trolley Trains
Saturday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd November (not 30th Nov)
Depart 9:30, 10:32 & 13:35 / Return 11:37, 13:57 & 15:34
*30th: only depart 9:30 & 13:35 / Return 11:37 & 15:34
Sunday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th November
Depart 9:30, 10:32 & 13:35 / Return 11:37, 13:57 & 15:34
Monday 4th November
Depart 9:30, 10:32 & 13:35 / Return 11:37, 13:57 & 15:34
*11th & 18th: 10:32 / Return 13:57
*25th: No Trolley Trains
Tuesday 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th November
Depart 9:30 & 13:35 / Return 11:37 & 15:34
Wednesday 6th, 13th, 20th November (not 27th Nov)
Depart 10:32 / Return 13:57
*27th: No Trolley Trains
Thursday 7th, 14th, 21st November (not 28th Nov)
Depart 10:32 / Return 13:57
*28th: No Trolley Trains
*The above times are based on the 2024 timetable, so please check the railway’s official site (or here).
*We recommend booking a ticket for the Troroko (トロッコ) trains in advance from Lawson (convenience store) or from Omama station (大間々駅) station in advance as it may be sold out on the day.
COST
A one-way fare from end to end (Kiryu-Mato) is 1,130 yen. However, you can also buy a one-day pass for 1,880 yen, which would be cheaper depending on how far you are going.
For the Torokko Trolly train (open-view carriage), you need an add-on ticket for 520 yen one way.
Cost of a return trip from Kiryu to Ashio or Mato: 2,920 yen (Buy One-day pass + 2x Trollo Train)
*Prices were accurate in July 2024
How to enjoy the autumn leaves on Watarase Valley Railway
Picturesque scenery
Beautiful view
Fun train ride
Beautiful autumn leaves
Fun for kids and family
Fun for couples
Traveling solo
Enjoy for 1 whole day!
🚞🍁 A fun and relaxing way to enjoy the beautiful Japanese mountains 🍂🍃
🚞 Watarase Valley Railway is a cool railway that runs through the ⛰ mountains between Tochigi and Gunma prefectures and is a great way to sit back and enjoy the 🍁autumn foliage in the fall.
🍁 🍂 ⛰ Sakura is especially nice near Tsudo, Godo, Mizunuma and Kami-Kambai stations.
The open carriage (Torokko Trolly train) is especially cool, but regular trains also have a really good view. 👀 The open carriage trains are very popular, so if you can only get a regular train, make sure to check out the window beside the driver where passengers can take cool pictures from the front of the train. 📸
The start of the Watarase Valley Railway dates back to 1914 when it was opened to transport ore mined from the Ashio Copper Mine 🪨 which once produced 40% of coper in Japan (The mine closed in 1973).
Since 2009, the railway has focused on tourism and is a popular attraction to enjoy the 🌸 sakura cherry trees and 🍁autumn leaves . You can also use the railway to visit many attractions.
If you have time you can visit, a historical soy source factory at Oomama sta (大間々駅), explore Mt. Akagi from Mizunuma sta (水沼駅), Ashio Copper mine from Tsuudo sta (通洞駅), visit Furukawa Kakemizu Club from Ashio sta (足尾駅), hiking from Konaka sta (小中駅) , Tsuudo (通洞駅) and Mato (間藤駅), and take a bus to visit Nikko shrines bus from Ashio (足尾駅) or Mato (間藤駅) stations.
What to do from stations on Watarase Valley Railway in Autumn
- Culture
- Mizumuma Onsen (at Mizunuma Sta)
- Tomihiro Hoshino Museum (bus from Godo sta)
- Visit Ashio Copper Mine (at Tsudo Sta)
- Visit Furukawa Kakemizu Club (from Ashio sta)
- Active
- Hiking (from Konaka, Tsuudo, & Mato sta)
- Cycling
- Walking around small villages
- Visit Mt. Akagi (Bus from Mizunuma sta)
- Visit Nikko (Bus from Ashio or Mato stations)
- Food / Drink
- Eat at the train restaurant Seiryu (at Godo Sta)
- Himokawa Udon (near Aioi sta)
- Soy source brewery (Oka Naozaburo shoten near Omama Sta)
- Visit sake brewery (Kondo Shuzo near Oomama sta)
Guesthouse & Airbnbs
There is a nice Bed & Breakfast near Omama Station, however there are not many other places to stay along Watarase Valley Railway, so it would be best tostay in Kiryu or Nikko.
Western Style Hotels
There are business style budget hotels near Kiryu Station or you can stay in a Onsen Nikko which has many hotels.
Ryokan (Japaese Style) Hotels
There are many Ryokan’s in Nikko which has many hotels some with natural hotpsprings (Onsens).
Access
(How to get to 'Autumn view' along Watarase Valley Railway)
① Getting to Aioi station (Change from Tobu line from Tokyo)
How to get there
Public Transport
1h 50 min from Asakusa by train
Car
2hrs 20 min drive from Tokyo area by car
Location & Address
Address
Aioi Station (相老駅)
2-756 Aioi cho, Kiryu City, Gunma Pref. Japan 321-4218
群馬県桐生市相生町2-756
Access from Tokyo
By Public Transport
Via Tobu Line from Asakusa Station (Train)
From Asakusa in Tokyo, take the Ryomo Limited express towards Akagi station and get off at Aioi station. Approx. 1hour 50min.
We recommend using a travel app like Google Maps or Japan Transit Planner to find train times.
By Car
Via Ota-Kiryu IC on Kita-Kanto Expressway
25 min drive from Ota-Kiryu IC (太田桐生) on the Kitakanto Expressway (Kitakanto Jidoshado).
We recommend using a travel app like Google Maps or Japan Transit Planner to find train times.
② Getting to Ashio station
How to get there
Public Transport
Car
3hrs drive from Tokyo area by car (via Nikko)
3hrs drive from Tokyo area by car (via Watarase Valley)
Location & Address
Address
Ashio Station (足尾駅)
6 Kakemizu, Ashiomachi, Nikko city, Tochigi Prefecture
栃木県日光市足尾町掛水6番地
Access from Tokyo
By Public Transport
From Tokyo via Watarase Valley Railway (TOBU Line)
From Tokyo, take the Tobu line to Aioi sta (100-110min). change to Watarase Valley Railway and travel up in to the mountains until you get to Ashio sta. (90min).
From Tokyo via Watarase Valley Railway (JR Line)
From Tokyo take the Shinkansen to Takasaki station (90min) and change to the JR Ryomo line to Kiryu sta (50 min). From Kiryu station take the Watarase Valley Railway to Ashio station (90min).
From Tokyo via Nikko (TOBU Line)
From Asakusa (Tokyo) take the Tobu Line (express) to Tobu-Nikko sta (2h). From in front of the station, change to bus to Ashio station(1h). Approx. 3.5 hours
From Tokyo via Nikko (JR Line)
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) to JR Utsunomiya station (50min) and change for the JR Nikko line to Nikko station (50min). Walk to Nikko station (3min) and take the bus to Ashio sta (1h).
We recommend using a travel app like Google Maps or Japan Transit Planner to find train times.
By Car
From Kiotaki Interchange (via Nikko)
30 min drive from Kiotaki IC on the Nikko-Utsunomiya Douro (Expressway).
*Driving route through Nikko
From Isesaki Interchange (via Gunma)
90 min drive from IsesakiIC on the Kita-Kanto Expressway (Kita-Kanto Jidoshado).
*Driving route through Watarase Valley
We recommend using a travel app like Google Maps or Japan Transit Planner to find train times.
Contact Details (Event Organizer)
Japanese Official Website (External, Japanese site)
Train time search (External, Japanese site)
How to Enjoy Spring Sakura Blossom from Watarase Valley Railway (Internal, English site)
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