Akita Nairiku Line

Akita Nairiku Line
Akita Nairiku Line and Mount Moriyoshi
Overview
Native name秋田内陸線
StatusOperational
OwnerAkita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company
LocaleAkita Prefecture
Termini
Stations29
Websitewww.akita-nairiku.com
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company
Rolling stockAN8800 series DMU, AN8900 series DMU, AN2000 series DMU
History
Opened1930 (1930)
Technical
Line length94.2 km (58.5 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

The Akita Nairiku Line (秋田内陸線, Akita Nairiku-sen), nicknamed Smile Rail (スマイルレール), is a Japanese railway line located in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. It operates between Takanosu in the city of Kitaakita and Kakunodate in the city of Semboku. The Akita Nariku Line is the only railway line operated by the third-sector company Akita Nairiku Jukan Tetsudo (秋田内陸縦貫鉄道, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Tetsudō; lit. 'Akita Inland Longitudinal Railway').

Service outlines

Trains on the line are operated as "Local" (all-stations), "Rapid", or "Special Rapid", along with the Express Moriyoshi service.

Station list

All stations are in Akita Prefecture.

Transfers are available only at Takanosu (JR Ou Main Line) and Kakunodate (JR Tazawako Line and Akita Shinkansen).

  • Local trains stop all stations.
    • Rapid = Can only be used by paying a rapid fare.
    • Express Moriyoshi - Express fare costs 160 yen up to 50 km, 320 yen for longer journeys
    • ●：All trains stop
    • ◆・▲・▼：Partly trains stop（▲：Only inbound、▼：Only outbound）
    • |：Pass
Stations km Rapid Express Moriyoshi Connects Locale
Distance Amount distance
Former Aniai Line section Takanosu 鷹巣 - 0.0 ● ● JR East：■Ou Main Line（Takanosu Station） Kita-Akita
Nishi-Takanosu 西鷹巣 1.3 1.3 ● |
Jōmon-Ogata 縄文小ヶ田 2.4 3.7 ● ●
Ōnodai 大野台 2.4 6.1 ● |
Aikawa 合川 3.6 9.7 ● ●
Kamisugi 上杉 2.4 12.1 ● |
Yonaizawa 米内沢 2.9 15.0 ● ●
Katsurase 桂瀬 5.5 20.5 ● |
Ani-Maeda Onsen 阿仁前田温泉 4.7 25.2 ● ●
Maeda-Minami 前田南 1.9 27.1 ● |
Kobuchi 小渕 2.0 29.1 ● |
Aniai 阿仁合 3.9 33.0 ● ●
Arase 荒瀬 2.4 35.4 ◆ |
Kayakusa 萱草 2.7 38.1 ◆ |
Okashinai 笑内 2.8 40.9 ◆ |
Iwanome 岩野目 2.4 43.3 ◆ |
Hitachinai 比立内 2.7 46.0 ● ●
New section Okuani 奥阿仁 3.7 49.7 ▲ |
Ani-Matagi 阿仁マタギ 2.6 52.3 ● ●
Tozawa 戸沢 8.9 61.2 ▼ | Semboku
Kami-Hinokinai 上桧木内 4.7 65.9 ● ●
Sadori 左通 1.8 67.7 ▼ |
Ugo-Nakazato 羽後中里 4.0 71.7 ▼ |
Former Kakunodate Line section Matsuba 松葉 3.3 75.0 ● ●
Ugo-Nagatoro 羽後長戸呂 2.9 77.9 ▼ |
Yatsu 八津 5.0 82.9 ▼ |
Saimyoji 西明寺 4.0 86.9 ● ●
Ugo-Ota 羽後太田 3.0 89.9 ▼ |
Kakunodate 角館 4.3 94.2 ● ● JR East：■Akita Shinkansen・■Tazawako Line

History

Aniai Line

On December 10, 1934, the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the Aniai Line (阿仁合線) connecting Takanosu with Yonaizawa over a length of 15.1 kilometers.[1] Following World War II, the JGR became the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and the line was further extended to Hitachinai by October 15, 1963.[1]

Kakunodate Line

On November 1, 1971, the JNR Kakunodate Line began operations from Kakunodate to Matsuba,[1] with construction continuing north towards Hitachinai to provide a connection to the Aniai Line. However construction was suspended in 1980 due to JNR funding constraints.

Closure

The Kakunodate Line was closed by JNR on 11 September 1981, and the Aniai Line on 22 June 1984.

Reopening

The third-sector Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company reopened both the Aniai Line – as the Akita Nairiku Kita ("North") Line – and the Kakunodate Line – as the Akita Nairiku Minami ("South") Line – on November 1, 1986.[1] It also recommenced construction of the suspended link which opened on April 1, 1989, creating the current through-route.[1]

Nicknames

Between 2012 and 2017, the line was nicknamed the Akita Bijin Line (あきた美人ライン, Akita Bijin Rain), referencing the prefecture's beautiful women, known as Akita Bijin. On November 1, 2017, the nickname was changed to Smile Rail Akita Nairiku Line (スマイルレール秋田内陸線, Sumairu Rēru Akita Nairiku-sen).[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
  2. ^ "秋田内陸縦貫鉄道，新愛称「スマイルレール秋田内陸線」に". railf.jp (in Japanese). November 1, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
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