The previous day we had taken the limited express Revaty Kegon out to Tobu-Nikko and visited Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Day two of the trip belonged to steam locomotives and turntables — and as it turned out, we watched a turntable at work twice, at two different stations.
Shimo-Imaichi Station — A Hidden Sacred Ground for Railway Fans
“Shimo-Imaichi” is a bit of a mouthful if you’re not used to it, but the station is well worth a stop if you like railways.
Shimo-Imaichi has both an engine shed and a turntable for its steam locomotives, so you can watch a locomotive emerge from the shed and be turned, right in front of you.
A turntable is the equipment used to rotate a steam locomotive through 180 degrees. The one at Shimo-Imaichi is in active service, which makes this a rare place to watch the process at close range.
We began the morning by travelling from Tobu-Nikko across to Shimo-Imaichi to watch SL Taiju being turned. This is a different train from the SL Taiju Futara we would board later — the two work different sections, so Shimo-Imaichi gives you a chance to see both.
What Froze the Mascots Wasn’t the Turntable — It Was the Whistle
Watching a locomotive slowly change direction is impressive enough on its own. But what startled the mascots most wasn’t the turntable at all. It was the whistle.
A sound like the ground itself shifting — and every one of them stood frozen for several seconds. That was the moment we understood that the sheer presence of a working steam locomotive does not come through in photographs or video.
It’s worth experiencing whether or not you’re a railway fan, and perhaps especially if you’ve never stood next to a steam locomotive before. Sound is the one thing you can’t take home with you.
Back to Tobu-Nikko to Board SL Taiju Futara
Having watched the turning, we headed back to Tobu-Nikko Station. This was the main event: boarding SL Taiju Futara.
Departing Tobu-Nikko at 13:03, arriving Kinugawa-Onsen at 14:06 — about an hour on board.
What does a seat on SL Taiju Futara cost? Ours came to ¥1,080 per adult (as of October 2024). Note that this is a reserved seat ticket rather than a limited express ticket, and a separate base fare ticket is also required. Every seat is reserved, so booking ahead is the safe approach — weekends and holidays can sell out early.
Once under way, smoke and steam drift past the window. The pace and the sound are nothing like a Shinkansen or a modern limited express. There’s a distinct sense of riding something that was never built to get you anywhere quickly.
At Kinugawa-Onsen, the Train We’d Just Ridden Was the One Turning
Kinugawa-Onsen Station has a turntable of its own. And what you watch turning there is the very SL Taiju Futara you have just stepped down from.
That morning at Shimo-Imaichi, we had been watching an unfamiliar locomotive rotate. By the afternoon it had become “the train we were sitting on an hour ago is turning right in front of us.” The same sight — but having ridden it first changed it completely.
Being able to see the turntable at both Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen is one of the quiet pleasures of the Tobu Nikko Line. If your schedule allows it, do both.
Home to Asakusa on the SPACIA X
From Kinugawa-Onsen we changed to the SPACIA X for the journey home.
Departing Kinugawa-Onsen at 15:21, arriving Asakusa at 17:35 — two hours and fourteen minutes. We were in Car 3.
What does the SPACIA X cost? Kinugawa-Onsen to Asakusa came to ¥1,940 per adult (as of October 2024). That figure is the limited express charge; a separate base fare ticket is also required.
The SPACIA X entered service in 2023 as Tobu Railway’s new flagship limited express. With seating that runs from the Cockpit Lounge to private compartments, it’s the kind of train where the ride itself becomes the reason for the trip.
On board there’s a café counter called GOEN CAFE, serving drinks and sweets made specifically for the SPACIA X. Coffee taken while the scenery slides past is its own small luxury, and the mascots were thoroughly content. Popular items do sell out, so it’s worth going along early.
In the morning we were frozen in place by a steam whistle; by late afternoon we were drinking coffee aboard a brand-new express. Feeling close to a century of engineering difference in a single day, on a single line, is what makes the Tobu Nikko Line such a rewarding trip.
Summary | Two Turntables in One Day — Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen
| Station / train | What to see | Cost (Oct 2024, per adult) |
|---|---|---|
| Shimo-Imaichi Station | Engine shed and turntable; SL Taiju being turned | — |
| SL Taiju Futara No. 72 | Tobu-Nikko 13:03 → Kinugawa-Onsen 14:06 | Reserved seat ticket ¥1,080 |
| Kinugawa-Onsen Station | The SL Taiju Futara you rode, being turned | — |
| SPACIA X No. 8 | Kinugawa-Onsen 15:21 → Asakusa 17:35 | Limited express charge ¥1,940 |
Steam locomotives, a brand-new flagship express, and turntables at both ends. There aren’t many lines where a single trip gives you all of that. If you’re heading for Nikko or Kinugawa-Onsen, it’s well worth breaking the journey here.
Day one of this trip is covered in a separate article — taking the Revaty Kegon out to Tobu-Nikko and visiting Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
→ Riding the Revaty Kegon to Tobu-Nikko — A Day at Nikko Toshogu Shrine