<strong>Tsugaru Railways Stove Train: </strong>Every winter, this classic "stove train," operated by Japan's Tsugaru Railway Line, chugs through a snow-covered stretch of farmland in Aomori Prefecture's remote Tsugaru Peninsula.
Tsugaru Railways Stove Train: Every winter, this classic "stove train," operated by Japan's Tsugaru Railway Line, chugs through a snow-covered stretch of farmland in Aomori Prefecture's remote Tsugaru Peninsula.
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<strong>Old school heaters: </strong>Conductors warm the 1950s-era passenger car by burning embers in potbelly stoves at either end of the train.
Old school heaters: Conductors warm the 1950s-era passenger car by burning embers in potbelly stoves at either end of the train.
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<strong>Snowy landscapes:</strong> Winters in Aomori, on the northern tip of Honshu island, are bitter cold. Last year, more than six and a half meters (21 feet) of snow fell here.
Snowy landscapes: Winters in Aomori, on the northern tip of Honshu island, are bitter cold. Last year, more than six and a half meters (21 feet) of snow fell here.
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<strong>No rush: </strong>With top speeds of just 50 kilometers per hour (around 31 miles per hour), the stove train stands in stark contrast with Japan's ultra-fast Shinkansen bullet trains. But that's part of the charm.
No rush: With top speeds of just 50 kilometers per hour (around 31 miles per hour), the stove train stands in stark contrast with Japan's ultra-fast Shinkansen bullet trains. But that's part of the charm.
JNTO
<strong>Local squid and cuttlefish: </strong>On board, customers can sample Aomori food and culture. Ride conductors grill locally caught squid and cuttlefish on top of the warm iron stoves.
Local squid and cuttlefish: On board, customers can sample Aomori food and culture. Ride conductors grill locally caught squid and cuttlefish on top of the warm iron stoves.
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<strong>Connecting the past: </strong>The Tsugaru Railway Line opened in 1930 to connect Aomori's less-populated northern communities with the larger cities to the south. Today, it's a popular experience for Japan's densha otaku (train geeks.)
Connecting the past: The Tsugaru Railway Line opened in 1930 to connect Aomori's less-populated northern communities with the larger cities to the south. Today, it's a popular experience for Japan's densha otaku (train geeks.)
JNTO