SL Taiju steams through a lit-up Kinugawa valley on five Saturday evenings from 21 November
SL大樹 イルミネーション特別運行（いっしょにイルミネーション）
Tobu's steam train runs special evening trips past illuminated stations and the Kurakazaki flower field, and the line stays lit nightly until the end of February.
When21 Nov – 19 Dec 2026
WhereShimo-Imaichi – Kinugawa-Onsen
From Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 28 February 2027, Tobu Railway and local groups light up the Kinugawa Line — the route of the SL Taiju steam train between Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen. Stations along the way, the turntable square at Shimo-Imaichi and the Kurakazaki SL flower field, a well-known photo spot beside the track, are decorated every evening from 16:00 to 21:00 (times vary with sunset).
To see the lights from the train, Tobu adds special evening runs, SL Taiju 9 and SL Taiju 10, on five Saturdays: 21 and 28 November and 5, 12 and 19 December 2026.
On the opening night, 21 November, the illumination in front of Kinugawa-Onsen Station is switched on at about 18:30 as the steam locomotive pulls onto the station turntable and sounds its whistle, with fireworks at the same time.
For visitors
- SL Taiju needs an SL seat ticket on top of the fare. Riders of SL Taiju 9 get a discount voucher for the café at Kinugawa-Onsen Station.
- Heading back to Tokyo? After SL Taiju 10 reaches Shimo-Imaichi you can change to the limited express Kinu 156, leaving at 19:53 for Asakusa. Check your last train or bus home before you board — these are late-evening trips.
- Tobu also adds extra limited expresses to Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen in December and January. All seats are reserved and standing is not allowed, so buy ahead: tickets go on sale one month before on Tobu's TOBU-Ticket app/website, at staffed Tobu stations and travel agents. Buying from staff on the train or platform costs ¥200 extra.
- Tobu's NIKKO PASS covers the base fare; the JAPAN RAIL PASS does not cover Tobu lines.
Sources
- Tobu Railway news release (20 Oct 2026, PDF) (official, Japanese)
- Tobu Railway: Nikko Line extra limited expresses, Dec 2026–Jan 2027 (PDF) (official, Japanese)
Summarised in our own words from the sources above; last checked 3 Nov 2026. Plans can change — confirm with the operator before you travel.
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