- Home>
- Route & Maps>
- SL Banetsu Monogatari
Once a prominent feature throughout Japan, the steam locomotive is a sight rarely seen today. To bring back those old times, the SL Banetsu Monogatari was put into operation in 1999, drawing passengers to its run between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu with its 1946 C57 steam locomotive. Most of the service is provided along the Ban-etsu-West Line, a romantic journey through forests and along the river. Particularly noteworthy is the beautiful scenery viewed from the cars as it changes through the four seasons. Check dates and times of operation for further details.
The Train Line-up
The SL Banetsu Monogatari in autumn
- The retro SL C57 locomotive and series 12 passenger cars
The SL Banetsu Monogatari crosses a bridge
The SL Banetsu Monogatari:
Niigata – Aizu-Wakamatsu
The passenger lounge
Interior Layout of Cars
The SL Banetsu Monogatari C57＋Series 12: 7-car trains
Notes: The engine may be positioned differently depending on the operation interval. All seats on the SL Banetsu Monogatari are by advance reservation only.
Places of Interest
- Sandwiched between the great Shinano and Agano Rivers, Niigata Prefecture flourished during the Edo Period as an important stop for ships travelling from Osaka to the northern portions of Japan. This resulted in the development of a unique variety of food and culture. Of particular note are the abundance of seafood from the Sea of Japan and the sake brewing developed for the plenitude of rice in the region.
Access: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station. 
- Kitakata has long prospered as a resource collection and distribution town for surrounding farming villages. With more than 2,600 kura buildings, Kitakata has become known as a "Kura-no Machi" or "Town of Kura." Typically, a kura is a warehouse or sake storehouse, but in Kitakata, this traditional construction has been put to various uses including shops, residences, brewing floors, temples and more, becoming a closely integrated part of the lifestyle of Kitakata residents.
Access: Take the Ban-etsu-West Line to Kitakata Station. 
- Mount Bandai, Lake Inawashiro and many other wonders of nature surround Aizu Wakamatsu, a town that prospered under Tsuruga Castle, the leading castle in the Tohoku Region with more than 600 years of history behind it. Though the donjon was destroyed in the Boshin War about 150 years ago, it was subsequently reconstructed. Storehouse-style and merchant-style shops lend the town a historical feel. Spending a day walking around with a map at hand is an enjoyable way to see the town.
Access: Take the Ban-etsu-West Line to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.