Jomo Electric Railway Ogo Station Power Receiving Tower

Ogo Station Power Receiving Tower: A Living Monument of Japan's Early Electric Railway Era

Standing quietly beside the tracks at Ogo Station on the Jomo Electric Railway in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, the Power Receiving Tower (受電鉄塔, Juden Tettō) is a remarkable survivor from the dawn of Japan's regional electric railway network. Built in 1928 when the Jomo Line first opened, this steel-frame tower has been faithfully receiving high-voltage power from the electric utility for nearly a century, making it one of the oldest pieces of railway electrical infrastructure still in its original location in Japan.

Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 2007, the tower is part of a larger complex of heritage structures at Ogo Station that together paint a vivid picture of early Showa-era railway engineering. For visitors interested in Japan's industrial heritage, railway history, or simply the charm of discovering off-the-beaten-path cultural sites, the Ogo Station complex offers a uniquely authentic experience at the foot of majestic Mt. Akagi.

What Is the Power Receiving Tower?

The Ogo Station Power Receiving Tower is a steel-frame structure standing 8.5 meters tall, located approximately 40 meters south of the Ogo Station substation. Its primary function is to receive three-phase alternating current (AC) high-voltage power transmitted from the electric utility company. On its north side, the tower is fitted with manually operated rotating insulators (回転碍子) that serve as disconnectors, allowing the power supply to be safely interrupted when needed.

What makes this tower particularly noteworthy from an engineering standpoint is its distinctive "chair-shaped" (椅子形) configuration. The structure consists of two gate-shaped steel towers arranged in a north-south alignment and connected together, creating an unusual silhouette that is immediately recognizable. This design is a creative solution to the structural requirements of supporting heavy electrical equipment and power lines while maintaining stability, and it reflects the ingenuity of early Showa-era electrical engineering.

Why It Was Designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

The Power Receiving Tower was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財) on July 31, 2007, along with several other structures at Ogo Station. The designation recognizes several key values of this structure.

First, it is a rare surviving example of early electric railway power infrastructure from the late 1920s. While many similar structures across Japan have been replaced or demolished over the decades, the Ogo Station tower remains in its original form and location. Second, the distinctive chair-shaped design formed by connecting two gate-type towers represents an inventive approach to structural engineering that is rarely seen elsewhere. Third, the tower functions as an integral part of a complete set of railway heritage structures at Ogo Station — including the station building, train depot, substation, lightning protection tower, relay tower, and dead-end tower — all dating from the 1928 opening of the Jomo Line. Together, these structures form one of the most complete ensembles of early electric railway infrastructure remaining in Japan.

The Ogo Station Heritage Complex

The Power Receiving Tower does not stand alone as a cultural property. It is part of a remarkable collection of registered Tangible Cultural Properties at Ogo Station, all built in 1928 when the Jomo Electric Railway commenced operations. Understanding the full complex enhances the appreciation of each individual structure.

The Ogo Station Building (大胡駅駅舎) is a charming wooden station building that has served passengers continuously since the line opened. The Ogo Train Depot (大胡駅電車庫) is a rectangular wooden depot with clapboard siding and king-post truss construction, recognized as one of the earliest surviving train depots in Japan. It houses historic rolling stock including DeHa 101, a railcar built in 1928 that is maintained in operational condition. The Ogo Station Substation (大胡駅変電所) converted the received AC power to DC power for train operations. Supporting electrical infrastructure includes the Lightning Protection Tower (避雷鉄塔), the Relay Tower (中継鉄塔), and the Dead-End Tower (引留鉄塔), each serving a specific function in the power distribution system.

The entire complex has also been recognized as a Gunma Prefecture Modern Heritage site and received the Japan Society of Civil Engineers' Heritage Award as part of the Jomo Electric Railway Related Facilities Group in 2016.

The Jomo Electric Railway: A Brief History

The Jomo Electric Railway (上毛電気鉄道) was established in 1926 and opened its sole line — the 25.4-kilometer Jomo Line — on November 10, 1928, to coincide with the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Showa. The line connects Chuo-Maebashi Station in Maebashi with Nishi-Kiryu Station in Kiryu, traversing the scenic southern foothills of Mt. Akagi.

The railway was built with remarkably advanced specifications for a regional line of its era, including 1,500-volt DC electrification — the same voltage used by many mainline railways. Construction took only about nine months from groundbreaking to completion, an impressive feat that speaks to the enthusiasm and determination of its founders.

Originally, there were ambitious plans to extend the line from Ogo southward to Honjo via Isesaki, but financial difficulties during the economic downturn prevented their realization. Today, the Jomo Electric Railway remains a subsidiary of Tobu Railway and continues to serve as an important transportation link for the communities along the southern base of Mt. Akagi. It operates a fleet of two-car trains, including former Keio Inokashira Line and Tokyo Metro vehicles, giving the line a nostalgic character beloved by railway enthusiasts.

Visiting the Ogo Station Complex

The Ogo Train Depot offers guided tours by reservation, typically available from 13:00 to 15:00 daily (subject to operational requirements). The approximately 30-minute tour includes access to the interior of the historic wooden depot, the workshop with its original belt-driven machinery, preserved rolling stock such as the 1928-built DeHa 101 railcar and the DeKi 3021 electric locomotive (originally from the Tokyu Corporation), and a small museum of railway artifacts. An admission fee of 170 yen applies, which includes a commemorative hard-ticket entry pass.

The Power Receiving Tower and other electrical infrastructure can be viewed from the station platform and surrounding areas. Special events are held at the Ogo Train Depot several times a year, typically in January, April, and around Railway Day in October, featuring activities such as locomotive rides, behind-the-scenes tours, and railway-themed festivities.

To arrange a depot tour, contact the Jomo Electric Railway headquarters by telephone (027-231-3597) or through the inquiry form on their website.

Nearby Attractions

The Ogo Station area is a convenient base for exploring several attractions in the southern Akagi region. Michi-no-Eki Green Flower Farm Ogo is a roadside station featuring a distinctive Dutch-style windmill, petting zoo, playground, and local produce market, located a short distance from Ogo Station. Gunma Flower Park Plus (scheduled to reopen in autumn 2025 after renovation) is a large botanical park on the slopes of Mt. Akagi, about 15 minutes by taxi from Ogo Station, known for its spectacular tulip displays and seasonal illuminations. Mt. Akagi itself offers hiking, lake views at Lake Onuma, and seasonal foliage within easy reach from the Jomo Line. Nishi-Kiryu Station at the eastern end of the Jomo Line features another registered Tangible Cultural Property — its elegant 1928 Mansard-roofed station building, selected as one of the 100 Best Stations in the Kanto Region.

Purchasing the Akagi Nanroku 1-Day Free Pass (赤城南麓1日フリー切符, 1,300 yen for adults) allows unlimited rides on the entire Jomo Line for the day, making it easy to visit multiple heritage sites along the route.

Access Information

From Tokyo, take the Tobu Railway limited express "Ryomo" from Asakusa Station to Akagi Station (approximately 2 hours), then transfer to the Jomo Electric Railway and ride to Ogo Station (about 15 minutes). Alternatively, take the JR Shinkansen to Takasaki Station, transfer to the JR Ryomo Line to Maebashi Station, then take a shuttle bus to Chuo-Maebashi Station and ride the Jomo Line to Ogo Station. Ogo Station is a staffed station with a single island platform serving two tracks. The train depot and heritage structures are located immediately west of the station, within a one-minute walk.