The"Stove Train" of Tsugaru Railway That I Wanted to Visit
The " Tsugaru Railway", operating since 1930, is the northernmost private railway in Japan.
During the winter season (from December 1st to March 31st of the following year), they run a special “Stove Train” equipped with Daruma stoves to keep passengers warm.
On this nostalgic train, they grill dried squid, and you can enjoy Japanese sake or beer while taking in the scenic winter landscapes.
The retro atmosphere of the old train,
the Tsugaru dialect spoken by the train crew,
the grilled squid, sake, and beer,
and eventually, getting to know the people sitting nearby 
made for the perfect train journey.
They also sell random T-shirts and clear files,
and even though I wasn’t sure what they were about,
they sang a song while selling them, so I ended up buying one!
There are both stove-equipped cars and non-stove cars, and the fare differs, so make sure to check with the station staff.
Also, the second-round trip train had a long line, so I highly recommend taking the first train in the morning.
Fare
- Train fare: One-way ticket + Stove Train ticket 1,000 yen
- Grilled dried squid: 800 yen
- Japanese sake: 500 yen
- Other drinks like beer are also available
How to get to Tsugaru-Goshogawara Station
From Shin-Aomori Station, it’s about 1 hour by bus.
▼Tsugaru Goshogawara Station, the starting station of the Tsugaru Railway
