SL Ginga Steam Train — Vintage Railroad Journey

The SL Ginga is a restored steam locomotive operating tourist trains between Hanamaki and Kamaishi (90km) through the mountainous interior of Iwate. The train runs weekends and holidays from April to October, hauling vintage passenger cars along the JR Kamaishi Line. The journey takes about 4.5 hours, winding through forested valleys, crossing iron bridges, and passing through tunnels carved through mountains. The locomotive (C58-239) dates to 1940 and was restored in 2014. The train is named after Kenji Miyazawa's story 'Night on the Galactic Railroad' (Ginga Tetsudo no Yoru) — Miyazawa was from Hanamaki, and the train's interior design references his fantasy tale with constellation motifs and starry decorations. The journey includes stops at small rural stations where local vendors sell regional foods and souvenirs. Passengers can move between cars and spend time in the observation car or visit the locomotive during stops.