The nearest steam locomotive to Tokyo – the Paleo Express. From Kumagaya rugby town the steam locomotive leisurely chugs its way to scenic Chichibu.
Paleo Express Information Share
The Paleo Express will take its first run of 2022 on Saturday March 19th, 5 weeks later than in 2021. Presumably due to the difference in weather – winter 2021 was very mild, but winter 2022 is very cold. Tickets will go on sale from February 19th 2022. This post also contains information for the popular “Waku Waku Tetsudo Festival” that is held annually in May.
The Steam Locomotive (SL) Paleo Express that runs between Kumagaya and Chichibu is the closest steam locomotive ride to Tokyo. Thanks to the Shinkansen from Tokyo and Ueno stations, it takes less than 40 minutes to get to the Kumagaya station. From there you can enjoy a leisurely ride to Chichibu on one of their locomotives. The steam locomotive, or “SL” as its affectionately known in Japan, was out of commission in 2020 for routine maintenance. The inspections were completed in time for the 2021 season. And the C58363 steam locomotive cheered the railways once again!
The Paleo Express is named after an aquatic mammal, the Paleoparadoxia, that existed in the Neogene period. Remains of the mammal have been found in the Chichibu area. You can see the fossils at the Ogano Fossil Museum or you can also see statues of Paleoparadoxia at the site where they were found at Hannya no Oka Park. Currently, that site has a Doko Demo (Anywhere) Door like from the Doraemon anime.
Shortly after you set off from Kumagaya you are in enveloped in stunning rural scenery. With the hypnotic chug of a steam train on tracks, the feel of the raw power of the engine, the unparalleled scent of SL smoke and the distinctive sound of a SL whistle you will surely never forget this rare opportunity to experience a train journey from bygone years.
Paleo Express to Nagatoro / Chichibu
On a camping trip to Chichibu to see the Moss Phlox in 2017, I had intended to take my four kids on the SL from Kumagaya to Nagatoro. The train goes all the way to Mitsumine Station, but Nagatoro is the nearest station to Nagatoro Autocamp where we were glamping. My husband was going to drive to Nagatoro station with the camping goods, after dropping us at Kumagaya. In theory we would have arrived at roughly the same time; the train might be slightly quicker. Things didn’t quite go as planned.
We were too late leaving the house to catch the very punctual SL in Kumagaya. Once again, a long awaited ride on a SL has evaded me. I have wanted to ride this particular SL since I first saw it in Nagatoro in 2006. It will happen someday! I want to share the information I collated about the SL ride in the hope it is of interest to others.
The SL train operates on weekends, holidays and for seasonal events, from March to December annually. In 2021, it started from February. Possibly to make up for the lower capacity per train due to the coronavirus. But also as the weather was much milder in 2021 it was presumably safer for the steam train to run even in February. This year, 2022, the first ride isn’t until March 19th. After that the steam locomotive will run on weekends and select dates only.
The journey
On the scheduled days it makes just one journey; a round trip from Kumagaya Station to Mitsumine Station. It departs from Kumagaya promptly at 10.10 am on a weekend, 10.12 am on a weekday. Please note it only operates on weekdays for holidays and special events. Dates are provided below in the timetable section. On the return leg, the SL leaves Mitsumine Station at 2.03 pm on weekends, 2 pm on weekdays.
The full trip (71.7 Kilometers) takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes one way as it stops for almost 10 minutes at a few different stations. Between the scenery and the unique experience of riding a Steam Locomotive the journey flies by. There are toilets in two of the carriages. In addition, you can buy original bento and goods on the SL. The SL Bento is 800 yen. You can keep the bento cover which is an image of the SL train with the train’s mascots on it. The Pork Miso Bento also comes with a keepsake cover, that costs 850 yen. Some of the original goods include a train with chocolate in it, Paleo cookies, a SL train and mobile phone straps of the SL’s mascots Paleo-kun and Paleo-chan.
2020 Electric Locomotive
Instead of the steam locomotive in 2020 they had an Electric Locomotive, pictured above. These photos were taken September 2020. I took them at a trainspotting location in the Arakawa area of Chichibu at the Arakawa Roadside Station. In August and September Dahlia grow along the side of the tracks. The photo below is just a local Chichibu Tetsudo train, taken in August 2020.
When I first wrote this article in 2017 there was no English website for the Paleo Express, but sometime in the last 3 years Chichibu Railway created an English webpage for the service. It has all the essential information. Chichibu Railway English web page for the steam and electric locomotives. The timetable is from that site:
2022 Timetable
Please note the Steam (or Electric) locomotive mainly operates on weekends and public holidays only. It only operates on weekdays for special occasions, for example on Saitama Day (November 14th). Often there are special events held by the railway seasonally, such as the ghost train for Halloween. The additional (weekday) dates for 2022 are:
- Thursday 31st March
- Monday March 21st (weekend timetable)
- Friday 1st April
- Friday April 29th (weekend timetable)
- Weekend timetable for the public holidays of Golden Week ~ May 3rd, Wednesday May 4th, Thursday May 5th
- Friday May 27th
- Friday June 3rd
- Monday July 18th (weekend timetable)
- Wednesday July 20th
- Friday July 22nd
- Friday July 29th
- All Fridays in August
- Mountain Day August 11th (weekend timetable)
- Monday August 15th
- Weekend timetable for the public holidays of Silver week (September 19th and 23rd)
- Monday October 10th (weekend timetable)
- Weekend timetable for the public holidays in November (3rd and 23rd)
- Fridays in November except the 11th
- Saitama Day Monday November 14th
The very last run of 2022 will be on the weekend of December 3rd and 4th, coinciding with the UNESCO Chichibu Night Festival.
Waku Waku Railway Fes 2022
This is a great event for little kids and train lovers and just a fun day out for all. In a normal year, they have a mini SL for the kids as well as live performances, mascots visiting and the opportunity to dress up in railway master and driver clothes. There are live performances and festival stalls with food, goods and activities. Several mascots are available for meet and greet and photos. And the first 3000 visitors through the door receive a commemorative present.
However, in 2022, the event is scaled down. Moreover, it is the first time in three years that the event will go ahead. Another big change is that the location is completely different to “normal”. This year it will be held at a relatively new park, SL Tenshadai Koen (on Google maps), close to Mitsumineguchi station. The park was opened in 2020 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Chichibu Railway. In addition, in 2022 only the first 1000 visitors will receive a commemorative present at the festival. But they will actually have some stage events, hands on experiences and food vans.
Date: Saturday May 14th
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Location: SL Tenshadai Park, 1625 Arakawashiroku, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1912 (Google Map)
Access: 2 minute walk from the Paleo Express (Chichibu Railway) Mitsumineguchi Station
Official event web page
Cost of Paleo Express
The price has gone up in 2022. It costs 740 yen one way for a reserved seat, 520 yen for an unreserved seat on the SL train itself, plus you need to have your base ticket for the section of the line travelled. The price is the same for children and adults. A base ticket from Kumagaya to Mitsumineguchi costs 950 yen. The ticket for the SL train is a nice keepsake with a scenic photo of the SL on front.
You can buy a ticket from one month in advance, to 30 minutes before the train departs, for both reserved and unreserved seats. You can purchase on the day if they are not at full capacity. Only people with a reserved seat are guaranteed passage. The passenger cars are made up of 4 people box seats. During Covid-19 they are only allowing upto 70% of the train’s capacity. You can book a ticket in advance on their website. They have an English PDF explaining how to use the system.
Contact
Phone: 048-523-3317
Hodosan Ropeway close to Nagatoro Station
Things to do in Chichibu
This is just a small sample, use the Chichibu tag to find dozens of things to do in the Chichibu area.
This looks brilliant! Ill be in japan for 6 days in june. I really want to take this train! Im worried now ill totally forget as im travelling everywhere and elsewhere before then!
I shall try to remind you 🙂 When in June? I am looking forward to reading about your newest adventures here. How long has it been?