Uemachi Station

A hidden gem for any train lover, this “stationless” station houses a retro railway carriage, to honor a pioneer of Japanese civil engineering.

Opened to the public in April 2021, inside this unusual “station” you will find a wooden Ro481 railway carriage from the Meiji period (1868–1912), which has been restored to how it looked during its heyday. 

The four-wheeled second-class carriage is the very last of its kind left in Japan. It is being preserved as a tribute to Isami Hiroi. a local pioneer of Japanese civil engineering to whom a bronze statue was also raised nearby.

The inside of the carriage has detailed woodwork, and little details like the delicate porcelain sink and elaborate iron luggage racks are beautiful reminders of the golden age of rail travel.

The Uemachi area of Sakawa is dotted with several retro buildings to explore, and is just a short walk away from Makino Park, a large, cherry tree-filled garden dedicated to Dr. Tomitaro Makino, another local hero considered the father of Japanese botany.