Nagano Electric Railway Line
In February 2019, on a snowy day, I arrived at Nagano Station.
Seeing the snowy winter landscape, the heart of a city boy like me is excited with anticipation.
The destination: the Nagano Electric Railway.
The journey started from Nagano Station, which felt like a metropolitan cave.
Passing through a stylish entrance, I eagerly descended underground, filled with anticipation.
The sleek entrance was replaced by an underground area that looked like a retro metro from the Showa era.
The Nagano Electric Railway connects Nagano to Yudanaka over 33.2 km.
In the past, there were additional lines: the Yashiro Line from Suzaka to Yashiro and the Katou Line from Shinshu-Nakano to Kijima, but they were both discontinued by the 2000s.
This nostalgic platform is irresistible to fans of local railways.
As I mumbled to myself a strange made-up phrase, “Majestic Melancholy Platform, an unforgettable TaMaRanCh Party”, I was captivated by the vintage underground setting.
The underground platform had a nostalgic atmosphere, reminiscent of the old Shin-Kaichi Station on the Kobe Electric Railway.
There was the Tokyu 8500 series T6 train, with a somewhat unusual face. Perhaps it’s due to modifications to the middle car.
The central window with a silver frame seems like a faux connection door.
Similar to the Shin-Keisei 800 series, perhaps it has a "small face" effect?
Strangely, only this car has a transit signal light inside the destination indicator box. This photo doesn't show it lit.
Arriving at Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall) Station, then traveling to Gondo Station, then Zenkojishita Station, the underground section feels like a Showa-era Tokyo subway.
The soot on the walls resembles that of an abandoned ruin.
The columns between the platforms have vertical station name signs.
The station name board. It even includes station numbering, like the old Tokyo Metro design, but modernized.
A red fire hydrant, its soot-covered appearance radiating a Showa-era vibe, like a corner of an abandoned hospital.
And this staircase. Only on weekday mornings does it bring people to the south exit.
The font on this mirror ad feels like a time warp. I almost want to ask people, “Excuse me, what Showa year is this?”
There are unused, old illuminated advertisements. They lie flipped, a remnant of former glory.
Yellow and blue benches. No consistency, but there’s something distinctly local about it.
The "No Smoking" sign is handwritten. Oddly neat handwriting, another Showa trait.
I’ll say it again:
This is not Tokyo in the Showa era. It’s Nagano in Heisei 31.
An old-fashioned water tap. I think the faucet on the right is for cleaning.
An electronic bulletin board, probably installed recently.
I exited Shiyakusho-mae Station to explore the area. The old station interior reflects the passage of time.
The aging floor tiles and walls show how time has weathered it.
Directional sign.
The color scheme is pure Showa aesthetics.
An overly simplistic station map and timetable.
By the way, Shiyakusho-mae Station is a B-limited express stop.
From Shiyakusho-mae, I walked through the snow toward Gondo. Absolute silence, no one in sight.
Gondo is one of Nagano’s main nightlife areas. A single turn brings you to a street lined with snack bars, small taverns, and cabaret clubs.
Some bars are run by people from Taiwan or China. Which place should I try?
For me, it's Li’s place for sure.
No one’s around in the daytime. Snow continues to fall, silent.
It feels like I'm the last person in the world.
Even the rest stops are closed. Must be because it’s a weekday.
I arrived at Akiba Shrine.
According to the shrine plaque, it enshrines Kagutsuchi-no-Mikoto, the fire prevention deity.
A grand torii gate symbolizes the shrine. Located in the heart of the shopping district, it's likely cherished by locals.
I arrived at Gondo Station, boarded a train, and headed toward Suzaka.
The station name sign is identical to Shiyakusho-mae’s, styled like the old Tokyo Metro. Underground stations all have unified signage.
This station looks similar to Shiyakusho-mae, but the colors differ. Each station is assigned a unique color: orange, green, blue, etc.
This way, you don’t lose track of where you are in a moment of distraction.
A mysterious staircase at the end of the platform. Perhaps it’s for emergencies? It was pitch dark, revealing nothing of what lay beyond.
Leaving Gondo Station, I boarded a 3600 series train and pondered my next destination. Wandering the underground section had eaten up most of my time.
However, I read online about a scenic spot near the Murayama Bridge. Might as well go there.
After arriving at Murayama Station, heading a bit back toward Nagano, I found the viewpoint.
The station itself has been there since 1926, with the current station building standing since 1953. It’s said to be historically significant, though details are hazy. It’s simply old.
Although it became an unmanned station in 2009, it retains a sense of history.
The Murayama Bridge, replaced in 2009. Near it, in a small park, part of the old bridge is displayed as a memorial.
Exhibits of the old Murayama Bridge.
Then an ex-Tokyu 8500 series train passed by...
From the opposite direction, an ex-Narita Express 2100 series appeared, kicking up snow. The 2100 series, nicknamed “Snow Monkey,” is still active on the Nagano Electric Railway.
The private Green compartment from JR days is still available, for only 1000 yen. Since the special express fare on Nagano Electric Railway is 100 yen, one can enjoy the private compartment for just 1100 yen—a true bargain.
Next, a 2-car 3500 series (ex-Tokyo Metro 3000 series) of the Nagano Electric Railway arrived.
Finally, I reached Suzaka Station. The N3 train was parked there.
The contrast of snow and the 8500 series created a unique atmosphere.
But, there was really nothing around the station...
In the end, I boarded the Snow Monkey from Suzaka and returned to Nagano.
The Nagano Electric Railway once thrived during the ski boom, but now it seems to be in twilight.
Yet, I prefer the faded charm of the towns along the Nagano Electric Railway to Tokyo’s relentless hustle.
At a bar near the station, I indulged in my own sentimental musings as the day drew to a close.
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