Sanriku Railway

The Sanriku Railway Train runs long the rocky Sanriku Coast of Iwate prefecture. The two lines, the Kita Rias Line and the Minami Rias line, connect the northern and southern ends of the coast. The trains began operating in 1984 as Japan’s first “third sector” railway line, meaning it was half public and half private.
The Kita Rias line runs between Kuji Station in northern Iwate and Miyako Station in central Iwate, while the Minami Rias line runs between Kamaishi in central Iwate and Sakari in southern Iwate.
Though the train lines shut down for a while after being damaged by the 2011 East Japan Earthquake, it reopened in 2014. Today, Sanriku Railway offers special train tours where you can see the affected areas and listen to the stories of the earthquake.
Visit in the winter to ride on the kotatsu (heated table) train. Kotatsu trains are available on both the Kita and Minami Rias lines. On the kotatsu trains, there are special events that allow you to experience traditional Iwate culture.