10 Hidden Stations in the Northern Kanto Region to Visit This Summer, Especially for Those in Their 50s

The Northern Kanto region (Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures) is home to many hidden stations that stir the wanderlust of mature travelers, ranging from the remnants of harsh railway lines surrounded by mountains so deep you would never guess they are close to the Tokyo metropolitan area, to local stations buried in idyllic rural landscapes.

Because you are at the milestone of your 50s, we present 10 select hidden stations in Northern Kanto that you should visit not just to see the scenery, but to reflect on the historical background of the railways and the journey of the local communities.

1. Doai Station (Gunma Prefecture, Joetsu Line)

An otherworldly realm spreading 70 meters underground, the 'Number One Mole Station in Japan' boasting 462 steps Located at the foot of Mt. Tanigawa, the down-line platform is deep at the bottom of the long, long New Shimizu Tunnel. The staircase leading from the surface station building to the platform has 462 steps, there are no escalators, and a cool silence and a space like a concrete fortress spread out. As you walk down the stairs step by step, or climb them while catching your breath, you can have an overwhelming experience, reflecting on the enthusiasm of the climbers who once aimed for Mt. Tanigawa and the incredible nature of Japanese railway civil engineering.

2. Yubiso Station (Gunma Prefecture, Joetsu Line)

A station standing next to Doai Station, looking up at the 'loop line'—the footprints of a mountain crossing attempted in the Taisho era Often overshadowed by Doai Station, this is also a station with a very deep history and structure. The up-line platform is on the surface, where you can overlook the dynamic terrain of the 'loop line,' where the tracks draw a circle to climb the mountain. On the other hand, the down-line is inside a tunnel, where silence drifts. It is a famous station where you can feel the drama of history, where the railway was laid with tenacity to cross the harsh Shimizu Pass.

3. Omae Station (Gunma Prefecture, Agatsuma Line)

The terminus of the Agatsuma Line, a silent station where the railway abruptly ends deep in the hot spring village Located in the mountains surrounded by Mt. Asama and Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane, this is the end of the Agatsuma Line. Only a few trains arrive per day. The sight of rusted rails ending abruptly in the grass carries a strong sense of loneliness unique to the terminal station of a local line. The Agatsuma River flows right next to the station, and you can spend a quiet time just listening to the murmuring, as if looking back on your life so far.

4. Oga Kogen Station (Tochigi Prefecture, Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line)

With only a heliport in the surroundings, a mountain station that reigns as one of the 'hidden stations of the Kanto region' This station stands alone in the deep mountains at an altitude of about 750m, near the border between Tochigi and Fukushima Prefectures. There are no houses or shops in front of the station; there is only an emergency heliport and a substation. The average number of daily passengers is extremely low, and it is considered one of the most isolated hidden stations in the Kanto region. Standing on the platform surrounded by dense forests, the time spent fully savoring the silence is exceptional.

5. Sori Station (Gunma Prefecture, Watarase Keikoku Railway)

A station of hydrangeas where the beautiful gorge of the Watarase River and the old wooden waiting room evoke travel sentiment This is a difficult-to-read station name pronounced 'Sori.' The long platform surrounded by deep mountains and the retro wooden waiting room that makes you feel history have been carefully preserved and are designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. Beautiful hydrangeas bloom in early summer, and the mountains turn fiery red in autumn. While listening to the sound of the clear stream of the Watarase River, you can immerse yourself in the memories of the railway that once transported copper from the Ashio Copper Mine.

6. Haramuko Station (Tochigi Prefecture, Watarase Keikoku Railway)

A hidden station standing on a narrow cliff at the prefectural border, where you can feel the lingering scent of the history of the Ashio Copper Mine This is a quiet, unmanned station on the Watarase Keikoku Railway, located just after entering Tochigi Prefecture from Gunma Prefecture. It has a simple appearance with just a single platform on a narrow site sandwiched between the mountainside and the Watarase River. As the entrance to the town of 'Ashio,' which once supported Japan's modernization and walked through a turbulent history, it has a unique, somewhat sad yet calm atmosphere.

7. Nakano Station (Gunma Prefecture, Watarase Keikoku Railway)

An extremely simple unmanned station that exists as if clinging to the slope of an idyllic mountain village Located between Hanawa Station and Konaka Station, it stands as if blending into the quiet mountain village scenery of the surroundings. The platform is very short, just enough for the length of a train, and there is only a simple roof. On a quiet afternoon when sightseeing trains pass by, the sound of trees swaying in the wind fills the surroundings, and the station itself, which makes no particular claim, feels like a luxury.

8. Taki Station (Tochigi Prefecture, Karasuyama Line)

A station where you can feel the breath of the 'Ryumon Falls,' a vast and famous waterfall that roars right in front of the station Although it is not a completely isolated unmanned area, it is famous for the magnificent 'Ryumon Falls,' 65 meters wide and 20 meters high, on the Egawa River, just a short walk from the station. When you get off the train, the roar of the waterfall can already be heard from afar. It is a perfect station for an adult stroll where you can enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the Karasuyama Line running through idyllic rural areas and the contrast with dynamic nature at the same time.

9. Morigane Station (Ibaraki Prefecture, Suigun Line)

A silent mountain village station embraced by the rich nature of Okukuji and the flow of the Kuji River This is a station on the Suigun Line located in a deep mountain area called Okukuji, in the northern part of Hitachiomiya City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Near the station, the Kuji River, famous for sweetfish fishing, flows slowly, and the surrounding idyllic mountains and rural scenery show a beautiful harmony. The deep silence after the nostalgic diesel car runs away with its engine sound makes you forget the busyness of everyday life.

10. Nakane Station (Ibaraki Prefecture, Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Minato Line)

A station floating alone in the middle of a vast, expansive rural landscape, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city Just a few minutes away from Katsuta Station, which is near Mito Station, you will find yourself on a local train that suddenly opens up to reveal this station in the middle of a vast expanse of rice paddies as far as the eye can see. There is nothing to obstruct the view around the station; in early summer, you can see lush green rice ears, and in autumn, a golden carpet spreads out. It has a picturesque beauty that feels like a snapshot of Japan's original landscape, making it a perfect hidden station near the sea to stand and linger while being blown by a nostalgic breeze.